Aili Ikonen, one of Finland’s most charismatic singers, releases her new album Piirrä minut (Draw me) on 13 October. The album launch show will take place on the following day at Helsinki’s Savoy Theatre.
Aili Ikonen counts among the most celebrated of Finnish singers. 13 October will see the release of her new album, Piirrä minut, which promises to unveil a more personal and intimate side of the vocalist: sketches of fleeting moments, sleepless nights, burning thirst and colours blending with water. Coming out on Groovy Records, the album sees Ikonen in the double role of composer-lyricist. Her solo debut Laulan charmed audiences widely upon its release last year, and the sophomore will now take both her style and the Finnish vocal jazz to a new, bolder direction. Backing the leading lady is a quintet of frontline Finnish jazz musicians: bassist Mikko Pellinen, trumpeter Janne Toivonen, saxophonist-flutist William Suvanne, pianist Tuomas J. Turunen and drummer Mikko Arlin. The new material can be enjoyed live for the first time in the album launch concert at the Savoy Theatre on 14 October.
The new pieces are saturated in emotion, get under the listener’s skin and captivate with their ethereal tints and nuances. They draw upon everyday observations and capture little intense moments in life: quiet, overwhelming joy; longing for the carefree days of youth; free fall and love that brims over the rim of the soul. In addition to Ikonen’s own swinging band the album features a string quartet, led by the versatile violinist Maija Linkola. Naturally, the strings invest Ikonen’s pieces with an additional dimension. “The album records my fingerprint and captures my vision as a songwriter perhaps better than ever,” Ikonen says. “Having a string quartet play on my album is also a dream come true for me.”
Aili Ikonen (b. 1982) belongs to the frontline of Finnish singers of today. In recent years, Ikonen has appeared on a number of well-received albums, including the solo album Laulan (2016); Jazzbasilli (2013) made in collaboration with the award-winning trio Herd; and Tribute to Ella that paid homage to one of the most notable jazz singers of all time, Ella Fitzgerald. She featured as a soloist at the Presidential Independence Day Reception in 2015. In the summer it was announced that Ikonen will be joining the ranks of the legendary vocal group Rajaton as of late 2018.
Watch the video for song “Että näkisin sinut taas” below:
Aili Ikonen: Piirrä minut
Groovy Records (GROOVYCD1701 / GROOVYLP1701, 13 Oct 2017)
Distributor: Playground Music
1. Että näkisin sinut taas / 2. Piirrä minut / 3. Nuori vapaa nainen / 4. Yöllä / 5. Laulu merestä / 6. Syli / 7. Tää ei voi odottaa / 8. Katselen taivaalta / 9. Armaalle
Compositions and lyrics: Aili Ikonen, except 3. comp. & lyr. Aili Ikonen & Mikko Pellinen and 6. comp. Aili Ikonen & Mikko Pellinen, lyr. Aili Ikonen
Arrangements: Mikko Pellinen, except 9. Aili Ikonen
Aili Ikonen, vocals, violin (6) / Janne Toivonen, trumpet & flugelhorn / William Suvanne, saxophones, Flute & clarinet / Tuomas J. Turunen, piano / Mikko Pellinen, double bass / Mikko Arlin, drums & percussion
+ Maija Linkola, violin (1, 5, 8) / Laura Airola, violin (1, 5, 8) / Rémi Moingeon, alto violin (1, 5, 8) / Riikka Lampinen, cello (1, 5, 8)
Piirrä minut Album Launch Show
Sat 14 Oct at 19:00
Savoy Theatre (Kasarmikatu 46-48, 00130 Helsinki)
Tickets: 29 / 22,50 /10 €, Show & Dinner 63 / 57 / 44 € available at Lippupiste
Event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1061860633914970/
http://www.ailiikonen.fi
http://www.facebook.com/aili.ikonen
Photo: Tero Ahonen.