Biography

KAMA Kollektiv, centered around trumpeter and vocalist Kirsi-Marja "Kiki" Harju, released their third album As If I Lived A Different Life in May 2024. Based in Amsterdam, the band seamlessly navigates between jazz and art pop, painting pictures of alternative realities and wonderlands in their expression.

The Finnish-led and multinational KAMA Kollektiv pays homage to all those potential lives we could live if we weren't stuck in our current reality. Released digitally and on CD by the Dutch label SONNA Records on May 10th, As If I Lived A Different Life dives into an imaginative world where dragons lurk in the shadows of plastic trees and dreams subtly escalate into grand adventures. From colorful fantasy realms, the band examines our perceived reality with a sarcastic touch.

The compositions and lyrics of the album are crafted by trumpet player and vocalist Kirsi-Marja "Kiki" Harju and bassist Jonathan Nagel. Harju's compositions and lyrics are derived from glimpses of dreams and thoughts, aiming to articulate emotions and topics that are otherwise difficult to communicate. Nagel's lyrics draw inspiration from wordsmiths like E. E. Cummings and William S. Burroughs, blending absurdity, poetic beauty, and socio-political critique. In addition to Harju and Nagel, the distinctive sound of KAMA Kollektiv is shaped by drummer Joe Korach and pianist/keyboardist Ida Alanen, who has recently received acclaim in Finland for her debut album.

Musically, KAMA Kollektiv seamlessly navigates between the crystalline Nordic jazz expression and ambitious sung art pop. The opening track Eick paints images of fantastical and otherworldly landscapes with wordless vocals, plucked lyrics, and nostalgic trumpet lines. On the other hand, Plastic Trees represents the band's more lively and straightforward pop-oriented expression.

The material on the album doesn't neatly divide into straightforward jazz instrumentals and sung pop songs; often, elements of both can be found within the same track. A good example of this is Tiimalasi, where a rhythmic bass riff and dominant trumpet give way to a Finnish-language song in the final minutes of the track.

"Our creative goal in making this album was to develop the band's sound in a new direction and produce a captivating piece of art that encompasses a collection of exciting stories. The narratives of the album bring together our experiences of isolation, self-examination, surrender, rejection, disappointments, connections, authenticity, high expectations, and lack of time," explains trumpet player and vocalist Kirsi-Marja Harju about the intentions and thoughts behind the album.

Tracklist

1. EickKirsi-Marja Harju
2. The EssentialJonathan Nagel
3. Hate To Be FakeKirsi-Marja Harju
4. Dream In A DreamKirsi-Marja Harju
5. Tiimalasi Kirsi-Marja Harju
6. Plastic TreesJonathan Nagel
7. As If I Lived A Different LifeJonathan Nagel
8. SpacialKirsi-Marja Harju