PERTTI’S CHOICE IS BUZZING.

Pertti’s Choice proudly represents a growing group of outsider artists from different genres and art forms. Creation is constant and it draws from many directions. These unexpected, imaginary visionaries will blow your mind.
Pertti’s Choice’s musical selection is as versatile as are its artists. As hammond artist Kalle Salonen says: “we are free, take us!”

Pertti’s Choice Agency is actively engaged in promoting inclusion and diversity of the Creative industry. Pertti’s Choice is commited to promoting equal status and compensations for artist according to Finnish Musician’s Union recommendations.

Pertti’s Choice Agency bookings / management Teuvo Merkkiniemi, teukka@pertinvalinta.fi

BANDS

KALLE SALONEN

KALLE SALONEN’s music has that irresistible attraction. This talented Hammond virtuoso can easily catch the listeners attention with his magical musical worlds based on jazz, funk, soul and blues music. It is not strange after all, because Salonen became familiar with many musical instruments already as a little child and you can hear the experience of many years’ in his production. The sounds are flowing into your ears like warm wind with professional, experienced touch, seasoned with delicate nuances.

Salonen has been leading the Kalle Salonen Band since 2012 as the driving force and beating heart of the band. The band's producer and drummer Hannu Pikkarainen has been closely involved in music making. The chemistry between Salonen and Pikkarainen is magnificent and they work great together. The band has released two full-length albums, Cat Slide (2013, Texicalli) and Barracuda Man (2016, Texicalli). Both albums are collections in which you can hear Salonen's unlimited love for all genres. This sophisticated, addictive jamming will make your hips swing!

Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/kallesalonenjazzband/

MC KOO

MC KOO is a Helsinki-based rap artist who has been making music for 14 years. His lyrics are filled with attitude and they are made in collaboration with a rap-mentor called Lossi T. MC KOOs debut album Koon Maailma was released in 2017 by the Finnish label Hikinauhat. The album’s single releases Kuuma Mimmi and Kolamies have gained hundreds of thousands of listens in online streaming services. The artist's music videos have also become a big hit: they've been viewed on YouTube for over 650,000 times. The music of this rapper really attracts! With its popular acclaim, MC KOO has not stayed idle at home, but has been gigging around and released new music in the beginning of 2019. Single track Maailmalle gives the listener a pleasant dose of sunshine and makes you want to put this song on heavy-rotation. The music is produced by 6mäki (Tre Funk III, Horse Attack Sqwad), Xmies (Unbeatable, Freerap) and Rinneradio, among others.

MC KOO’s songs are an entertaining combination of good vibes and important everyday issues with infectious beats and sounds. In these songs you can hear the stories about beautiful women, bullying and family issues. MC KOO’s phrasing is very convincing and makes the listener think different aspects of life from a variety of perspectives. This is rap music is at its best!

Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Musician/MC-KOO-1606831992948074/

ORGAN FREE

ORGAN FREE is Kalle Salonen’s project for happening jazz and more liberal expression. In addition to the Hammond organ, Salonen has taken his virtuosity to the various worlds of the synthesizer. Paragons include, amongst others, Peter Brötzman, Paal Nielsen Love, Ken Vandermark, Mats Gustavsson and Evan Parker. Paraphrasing Kalle Salonen himself, he has stepped into the world of space, psychedelia, fizz and joy. Organ Free is a trio with Hannu Pikkarainen on the drums, Antero Priha on trumpet and Kalle Salonen on keyboard.

SAM HEAT

SAM HEAT aka Sami Helle is a singer–songwriter, who is known as the legendary bassist of Finnish punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät. In 2013, Helle recorded the jazz cassette Just a Standard Guy with his band Sami Helle Quintet. Years went by and Sami Helle continued to play music. At last, in 2019, Sam Heat released his long-awaited full-length solo album Blue Moments though Finnish label Hikinauhat. Helle has written all the lyrics and compositions for the songs. On the album, Helle sings in English and plays the piano with a breath-takingly tender touch. This is sheer honey for the ears!

The lyrics on the album Blue Moments are written in an honest, captivating way. The songs are about important things for Sam Heat, without irony or humour, just the way he feels his everyday life. He is telling stories about racing cars, coffee and his dad, amongst others. The songs come directly from the artist's heart - they draw Helle's life story, what happened in the past and how will the life be in future. Sam Heat doesn't compose music like the other artists do, and no one else can compose music like Sam Heat does. The music of Sam Heat is enjoyably flowing, unique art full of many feelings, making the listener cry sweet tears of joy.

Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qarnFeiBOTg

KARI Aalto Rastakarai

Sba-daba-dub-a-daba will be heard in the chorus of this summer’s number one hit song. The song is reggae artist Kari Matti Alias Aalto’s own production. The singer, known from Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät for example, has loved relaxed and peaceful reggae since he was a child. One of his all-time favorites are Bob Marley and the Wailers. Kari’s reggae is sung in Finnish and he’s worked the songs with producer Hannu Pikkarainen. Kari Matti Alias Aalto is currently recording his first album, which will be released later in 2020. Live performances will be held with the newly formed live band Kari Aalto & Rastakarai – we’ll see you at the gigs!

HASSUT TASSUT

PKN disbanded but that didn’t stop Toni and the new bands. Hassut Tassu Duo came into being in autumn 2018 when Eeva Lusenius started working at Lyhty. Toni Välitalo was playing drums in the back room and Eeva sat down on the piano and started singing and playing Fröbelin Palikat. That was it; a new group was born.

Hassut Tassut (Funny paws) perform famous children’s songs and also create their own material. “In the beginning we were called Lastensydän (Children’s heart) because we are a bit childish. We like children’s songs and we still listen to them,” explains the keyboardist Eeva Lusenius. The duo tells the name Hassut Tassut comes from the song Faaraon Kissa (Pharaoh’s cat). “Pharaoh’s cat has sandpaper paws. When you feel them they tickle,” annotates Eeva.