"Child star, Child star. Did you think this love was true? It came and went so fast. They loved somebody, but it wasn't you. Go back to the real world, while you are still young".

This is what Ron Sexsmith used to sing to us. Luckily Aksu doesn't listen to Ron that much and he has grown up to be the oldest child star in Finland. And Aksu don't need to worry about our love fading away. His charmful and innocent views wrapped into adorable treehouse electro pop songs. Who wouldn't like that. If you're old, wise and skeptical, don't worry. It might be naiive music, but you'll find out that Aksu is able to create really good pop songs.


Aksu Website

Delightful pop music. Plenty of pretty pop melodies, male-female duets and somewhat witty lyrics that make you smile for days. "Though shopping with you / ain't always a pleasure / well honey I treasure all of your flaws" they sang in a song that was about Winona. I could love them just because of that song. But there's more reasons too. The biggest reason being that they are a really good pop band who have written lots of great indie pop tunes. They are on a break now because Aksu is taking most of Aksu's time.





All Stars Website

Artisokka: Hey, Ed. We know you're running one of the best indie pop labels in the world, would you like to release our debut album.

Ed: Well this is so perfect music that I definitely will do that.

Well I suppose it didn't go like that, but Shelflife Records did release Artisokka's debut album and that itself will prove that Artisokka has a good thing going on. Soft, warm and beautiful indie pop. Wonderful soundscapes and songs that gently float into your heart.



Artisokka Website
Artisokka at myspace

Highly talented Astrid Swan writes inspiring music. Astrid first came to surface as an important member of the pop group Treeball, but has since been given the chance to fill our hearts with her amazing solo material as well. She surely has taken the chance and her wonderful solo debut Poverina was also released in the states by excellent label Minty Fresh records. Looking for strong female singer-songwriters. Well look no further. Astrid is an excellent choise.


Astrid Swan Website
Astrid Swan at myspace

Haunting brilliance and a perfect calming antidote against all the pressing business and stressful moments of your life. Baby Sweetcorn has been a class act starting since the beginning of their career. This is melancholic piano pop. Ranging from intimate and confessional ballads to tunes that could fill a dancefloor. A great band.





Baby Sweetcorn Website
Baby Sweetcorn at myspace

Bananaskin is way too overlooked in Finland. This is high quality pop music. Light, breezy and melodic pop music in the vein of early Cardigans perhaps. Absolutely adorable female vocals and well-crafted songs. Their albums have been produced by Mr Ian Catt who has also worked with legendary indie groups such as Trembling Blue Stars, Heavenly and Saint Etienne. So that should be an interesting sidenote. However, the reason why you should check out their songs is just the simple fact that their songs are damn good.

Bananaskin at myspace

Beacon St. Radiants is a Turku-based group that can give you beautiful pop melodies, plenty of country/americana flavours. There's some tiny resemblance to 90's US indierock as well. Some main influences could be the likes of Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Jesse Malin, but it's not that simple. They have a wide range of ideas and visions. Acoustic softness can turn to indierock and then on to mellow americana. If it sounds like Dinosaur Jr on one song, it might the give a bow to Neil Young in the next one. Excellent stuff definitely.



Beacon St. Radiants Website
Beacon St. Radiants at myspace

Power pop group that has a fair share of alt country in their songs too. They've worked with Michael Carpenter and Joe Algeri and they've played several times on International Pop Overthrow festivals. This is definitely one of the bands you should check out if you are into country-tinged power pop. Plenty of hooks, harmonies, jangly guitars and good songs. Well you know the drill. Nothing fancy. Just genuine, hook-ridden melodic pop songs waiting to stir your heart. Ten years of pop music behind and they are still going strong.




Ben's Diapers Website
Ben's Diapers at myspace

Stockholm! Stockholm! A nice city apparently, but most importantly a perfect song by Big White Monkees. It brings so many good memories too. How I loved those moments when the concert had ended and people were just shouting stockholm!, stockholm! and finally forcing money monkey back to stage to play this pretty tune and when he came, everyone sang along.

I don't know is there a future for Big White Monkees. It's a fun side project for guys that you can spot playing their hearts out in groups such as Bridget, Pocket Knife, Boomhauer and Leaky Soles. Who knows, they might return when you least expect it. Anyway, the old songs are still at myspace for you to enjoy. It's excellent stuff. Dando-ish guitar pop and a whole lot of fun.

Big White Monkees at myspace

Blanco Nino is new band that rises from the same group of friends as Goodnight Monsters and Jennifer Ever. These boys certainly seem to be enthusiastic music lovers and the bands just keep coming. The start of Blanco Nino is great which is not a surprise. The boys know their pop and are good songwriters. Shining pop songs with really lovely arrangements. Songs are refreshingly different. Sometimes it's pop a'la BMX Bandits, sometimes it's playful indie rock and then gentle and soft pop beauty that can bring sweden's Popsicle to mind (for me Baby Look At Yourself does that).

Blanco Nino at myspace

Excellent pop group from the northern part of Finland. Acoustic guitars, piano and amazingly beautiful vocal harmonies play a key part in their music. The music is that semi-acoustic beautiful pop music that ranges from traditional singer-songwriter pop all the way to piano-driven balladry and continues to drift even close to alternative adult pop. Think of early Posies for example. One of the strongest newcomers during the recent years. Highly recommended if you are into classic pop songwriting. Truly wonderful arrangements too.

Bookends Website

I hate this pop eternally..give me something else. Well how about some rock'n'roll that will put your pants on fire. If it gets too hot Boomhauer throws in some blues and flavours the cake with sweeter country tunes. So even if you don't hate pop eternally, you might need to give Boomhauer a chance. Lead goofball Saku Krappala is a great songwriter and his sweet country ballads should appeal to pop audiences as well.



Boomhauer Website
Boomhauer at myspace

According to their press release Boys of Scandinavia "bridges the gap between electro-funk and post-punk". With their music they set up a highly addictive electronic indie-disco for the modern want-to-be lovers. There are plenty of guitars as well, so even the ones who hates electronic music shouldn't run away. Tuomo's sad and dramatic vocals sounds great and the song material is excellent. I have to admit that this is not stylewise exactly my kind of music, but still very enjoyable even to me. And if you are into bands like New Order, LCD Soundsystem, Depeche Mode, Interpol etc, then you are in for a real treat and have a new favourite band.

Boys Of Scandinavia Website
Boys Of Scandinavia at myspace

Bridget is definitely one of the bands that gave me the inspiration to start making this website several years ago. Oh how I loved them then. And still do. Unfortunately the band has not been very active during the last few years, but things look better now and they've been recording new songs.

While waiting for new songs you can listen to their old tracks at myspace. It's definitely worth it. Bridget is a truly wonderful indie pop band and they might even be the dearest band for me ever.


Bridget Website
Bridget at myspace

Captain Cougar is a new band from Jyväskylä who are currently making their debut album. They make absolutely beautiful folky indie music. Eeva's wonderful female vocals is major part of their charm, but the key is still the beautiful and heartwarming song material. Just listen to their songs on their myspace and I'm sure you will love them. It's just dazzlingly beautiful.




Captain Cougar at myspace

Guitar pop / powerpop with lots of beautiful harmonies. First album produced by power pop legend Dom Mariani. That should get you interested, but the reason to fall in love with them is that they are a great band. A classic power pop group. Simple songs about girls they either have, have lost or are only dreaming about. A huge amount of hooks and even greater amount of vocal harmonies. They will always have a place in my heart.


Cartoon Tree website
Cartoon Tree at myspace

One of the best bands in Finland at the moment. Thankfully the world starts to notice that too and they've gotten some well-deserved recognition. At least in the indie pop world. Anyway, this is perfect pop craftmanship. Influenced by bands like The Smiths and The Kinks, but it doesn't sound too much like anything else. Wonderful melodies, thoughtful lyrics and just fabulous pop music.


Cats On Fire Website
Cats On Fire at myspace

Cessna is almost legendary finnish indie pop group. This Tampere-based band has never gotten any huge success, but they might still be the best known finnish band among foreign indie pop fans and certainly have fans all over the globe. Their records have been released by US-based indie labels like Radio Khartoum and Jigsaw Records. And deservably so, because all of their releases have been excellent. A class act and almost godfathers to younger indie pop freaks like yours truly.

Hey, let's forget that twee pop for a while. I want some melodramatic pop music that has the ability to rock as well. Something that reminds me of 80's australian indie in the vein of The Triffids, Hoodoo Gurus and The Go-Betweens. Well Cheerleaders United should be an excellent choise then. This Kouvola-based group is capable of creating truly convincing and strong pop music. There's lot of gorgeous singing and stylish playing in their somewhat dramatic pop music. Plenty of excellent rockers and beautiful ballads too.


Cheerleaders United Website
Cheerleaders United at myspace

The Conquistadors from Vaasa. Men behind masks, but if you look closely you might recognice that there are some familiar faces underneath the masks. Yes, some Vaasa popsters (who are also some of the nicest people on the planet) are behind The Conquistadors. A guess they didn't have enough bands already. Anyway, this time it's more electronic and more dancable. Every song has been recorded the same day it was written.




The Conquistadors Website
The Conquistadors at myspace

Cosmobile is able to create wonderful rock music. A basic rock trio, but they are capable of getting the most out of it. It all sounds simple, but it can still get quite challenging and the songs don't play by the usual rules. Twisted melodies, extremely rhythmic songs and really good sounding stuff. Taking influences at least from 60's garagepop, psychedelic rock and post-punk and mixing it all up creating something very unique in the process. If you only want to hear pretty sunny pop songs, Cosmobile is not your cup of tea. But if you want to rhythmic rockers that does have some pop sensibility, you will end up in right place by hitting those links below.

Cosmobile Website
Cosmobile at myspace