PELKKÄ POUTANEN – experimental musician mixing different folk traditions and classical, electronics and roots music, art pop, noise and vocal music.

Poutanen has been described as an earthquake, a big bang, hypnotic, insightful and original. Her background in music is broad and her music speaks out. Pelkkä Poutanen is known for an acrobatic voice that includes techniques from Scandinavian and Finno-Ugrian folk singing to techniques of throat singing. In her music she mixes various international folk traditions, electronics, classical and roots music, art pop, noise and vocal music, creating exciting new soundscapes. She is inspired by viewing things from unusual perspectives, and thus sees genres as tools to be used just like instruments.

Pelkkä Poutanen’s second album (out 20 March 2026) is an exceptional twin album release. The first of the two albums, Jossain on kai sateenkaari, vaikkei sitä tähän näy (Somewhere There Must Be a Rainbow, Even If It Can’t Be Seen From Here) confronts death, the will to live (or the loss of it), and the state of the world. It is available on all streaaming services, CD and vinyl. The second album, Nekin jotka eivät jo kuolleet, tulevat kuolemaan (Even Those Who Haven’t Died Yet Will Die) consists of two wordless 25 minute pieces, tracing light and darkness. It is a special edition available only as a digital download and on cassette at shows.

Pelkkä Poutanen’s solo debut album Pyhä veri vuotaa (Eclipse Music, 2022) was nominated for Teosto-award, which is one of the biggest art prizes in Scandinavia. It was also nominated for Ethno Emma -award. Songlines wrote ”[–] it’s enticing, haunting, mesmerizing, spiritual and hypnotic”, and listed one of the songs in ”The 10 Best New Albums From Around the World” in April 2022.

”When a performer can do just about anything with her voice, one need only sit back and marvel at the possibilities. — — Once one gets past the acrobatic vocals, one is amazed by the rich sound world.”
– FMQ, Amanda Kauranne, Feb 2022