Anna Järvinen (SWE)
Anna Järvinen's name, besides the obvious fact that it's completely Finnish despite her Swedishness, sounds very down-to-earth, even homely, to Finnish ears. It is really not a name for a superstar, and there is little pretentiousness in her appearance either. But this may actually be a major part of her appeal. Järvinen sounds and looks cosy and likeable, and even when she's completely absorbed in her music, she still feels very approachable. The quietly creeping melodies take over both the listener and the singer, she closes her eyes before her music, and a blissful smile appears on her face. It is disarming to watch and to listen to, for sure.
Järvinen's 2007 debut Jag fick feeling surprised even the artist herself with its success. Songs about longing, love and places once lost suddenly made the ex-vocalist of the band Granada one of the best-liked singers in Sweden. The album, recorded with the musicians of the progressive folk rock band Dungen, was a critical success that was particularly applauded for its simultaneously light and thoughtful melancholy, and for its warm, humane feeling. Järvinen's ability to touch demanding subjects devotedly but without pompousness was proclaimed unique.
The album also brought Järvinen to Finland – back to the country she had left when she was six years old. Songs filled with homesickness and nostalgia turned the Finnish audience into putty in her hands, and Järvinen became one of the oftenest-visiting Swedish artists in this country's clubs. As the singer now appears for the first time on Ilosaarirock Festival stage, the listeners are better to be prepared for an awe-inspiring experience. What's on offer is a meandering journey, where small becomes massive, every sound matters and emotion is just a step away from ecstasy and deliverance. Järvinen's music is full of yearning for a lost world that may never even have existed, but which is vividly brought into life by these songs and their charming singer.
www.annajarvinen.com
myspace.com/annajarvinen
