Samae Koskisen Korvalääke

(FIN)

This singer-guitarist, and bassist when need be, belongs to the first division in the new wave of Finnish singer-songwriters. Now that gloom and doom is all the rage in rock, he goes against the grain with his optimistic and melodic songs that deal shamelessly with ordinary daily life, while rhythmically often leaning on a clear motown influence. Check out his excellent new album Hyvä päivä (A Good Day)!

Samae Koskinen, from the small town of Riihimäki, came to fame with his band Sister Flo, which navigated from indie rock to folk rock and the edges of psychedelia, even experimental improvisation, in the course of six albums. He started his solo career while running Sister Flo, but has for the last three years concentrated on it. Still he has also found time to sing some fierce metal with The Arkham Library and play in the band of singer Kauko Röyhkä and his producer Riku Mattila. In the spring he performed his new songs, now played by a 5-man band, with just him and a string quartet. Samae knows rock/pop history extensively and feels free to use whatever periods speak to him the most at any given time. A real renaissance man!