Paula Julia Vesala (born December 10, 1981) is a Finnish singer-songwriter, actress, and playwright. She was one of two singers and main lyricist in the pop rock duo PMMP along with Mira Luoti. Her solo career began in 2015 under the stage name "Vesala". She has composed songs for other well-known Finnish artists such as Vesa-Matti Loiri, Jenni Vartiainen, and Antti Tuisku.
Paula Vesala | |
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 Paula Vesala performing at Lappeenrannan Yöt 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Paula Julia Vesala |
| Also known as | Vesala |
| Born | 10 December 1981 Kärsämäki, Finland |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels |
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Career
editEducation
editVesala attended the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where she studied music education and classical singing as well as the piano and violin.[1] Since 2011, she has studied dramaturgy at the Helsinki Theatre Academy and later at University of California, Los Angeles.[2][3] Her 10-minute play "English Lesson" was chosen among seven others as one of the best in the national Theater Masters 10-minute playwriting competition.[4]
- Pohjois-Savon Ammattikorkeakoulu (Savonia Polytechinc) Music Pedagogy / major: classical singing 2000 – 2002
- Sibelius Academy: Department: Music Education / major: music education 2002 – 2011
- The Helsinki Theatre Academy: Dramaturgy degree program / major: dramaturgy and playwriting 2011 – 2014
- UCLA-University of California, Los Angeles in MFA Playwriting program at TFT (School of Theater, Film and Television) 2014 – 2017
PMMP (2002–2013)
edit
PMMP was a Finnish band fronted by singers Paula Vesala and Mira Luoti and backed by musicians Mikko Virta, Juho Vehmanen and Heikki Kytölä. PMMP has been called one of the biggest and most important bands of the 2000s, as the band had a huge impact on the music scene in Finland. PMMP's albums were produced by Jori Sjöroos, who also wrote the music for all songs. The lyrics are written by Paula and Mira, mostly Paula. The name of the band is often said to be an abbreviation of the phrase "Paulan ja Miran Molemmat Puolet" (both sides of Paula and Mira). In an interview on Finnish talk show Krisse Show, they stated that the name of the band is derived from the names of its members: Paula, Mira, Mira, Paula, similarly to ABBA.
PMMP first became well known in Finland for the 2003 summer hit Rusketusraidat (Tan Lines). They then enjoyed great success with their second album Kovemmat kädet (Rougher Hands), which went gold (double platinum in 2010). An extended version of the album was released in August 2005. Oo siellä jossain mun, a single from the aforementioned album, is PMMP's biggest hit so far in Finland.
In November 2006, PMMP released their third album Leskiäidin tyttäret (Daughters of a widowed mother), which went platinum on the day it was released.
They released an album labeled Puuhevonen (Wooden Horse) featuring contemporary takes on traditional children's songs in 2007, around the time their first children were born. In 2009, they released their fourth rock/pop album Veden varaan (Overboard, or Afloat) and their fifth album Rakkaudesta (Out of love, or About love) was released in 2012.
The band was an acclaimed live act. PMMP played their final concert on October 27, 2013, at the Helsinki Ice Hall which, along with an additional show on the night before, sold out within the first minutes after ticket sales opened.[5][6][7]
In 2013, PMMP was awarded by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Helsinki with the Finland Prize. The Prize gives recognition to important figures in the Finnish cultural landscape across widely varying fields. The pop-duo were "commended for offering new role models for young women."[8]
Awards
editPMMP has won a total of nine Finnish Grammys.[9] The categories are:
- 2003 – Pop-rock newcomer
- 2005 – Album of the year Kovemmat kädet (Rougher Hands), Pop album Kovemmat kädet and Best band
- 2006 – Album of the year Leskiäidin tyttäret (Daughters of a widowed mother) and Pop album Leskiäidin tyttäret
- 2009 – Album of the year Veden varaan (Overboard, or Afloat), Rock album Veden varaan and Best band
Solo career (2015–present)
editIn October 2015, Paula Vesala announced that in the future she would make music under the stage name Vesala.[10] Her first single "Tequila", written and composed by her, was released on October 23, 2015, and her first solo album on June 17, 2016.[11] The album sold platinum in just over a month.[12]
As a lyricist and composer
editPaula Vesala has composed and written songs for other artists such as Johanna Kurkela, Jenni Vartiainen, Vesa-Matti Loiri, Martti Saarinen, Katri Ylander, Tiktak, Petra Gargano, Antti Tuisku, Anna Abreu, Uusi Fantasia, Freeman, Katri Helena, Jippu, Samuli Edelmann, Stig, Jesse Kaikuranta and Aṣa. She has composed music for Finnish theater, including for the play Neljäs Tie directed by Esa Leskinen shown at the Finnish National Theatre in 2013.[13] In 2016, she received the Juha Vainio Award, an annual award given to a significant Finnish lyricist. Vesala was the 26th person and the 5th woman to receive the award.[14]
As an actress
editVesala acted in a silent film called Myrsk[15] (Tempest) by director Elina Oikari at TaiK in 2013, playing the role of Prince Ferdinand. She has provided the Finnish voice for several movies including Tinker Bell, Happily N'Ever After, Arthur and the Minimoys, High School Musical 1, 2 and 3. She translated Benny Andersson's, Lars Rudolfsson's and Björn Ulvaeus' musical Kristina från Duvemåla,[16][17] and the ABBA songs in the musical Mamma Mia![18] from Swedish to Finnish for Svenska Teatern.
Other projects
editKerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi
editKerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi (Kollektiivi for short) is a Finnish band formed by Kerkko Koskinen (Ultra Bra) with Vuokko Hovatta (Ultra Bra), Paula Vesala (PMMP) and Manna. In January 2014, Paula Vesala informed that she had left the group. She was replaced by Maija Vilkkumaa.[19]
Kollektiivi has released two albums, Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi (which won the Finnish gold record music prize) in 2012 and 2 in 2014.
Vain elämää
editIn 2014, Paula Vesala took part in the 3rd season of Vain elämää with Samuli Edelmann, Elastinen, Paula Koivuniemi, Vesa-Matti Loiri, Jenni Vartiainen, and Toni Wirtanen. The season aired from September 19, 2014, to November 7, 2014. At the end of the 3rd season, the compilation album Vain Elämää – Kausi 3 (ilta) was released under the label WEA / Warner. The album topped the Finnish Albums Chart. The compilation album Vain Elämää – Kausi 3 (päivä) that reached number two in Finnish Albums Chart was released.[20]
Personal life
editPaula Vesala is from the Finnish town of Kärsämäki. On November 8, 2014, Paula Vesala married her longtime partner Lauri Ylönen, the lead singer of The Rasmus in Las Vegas; the couple filed a marriage statement on December 29, 2014, and the marriage was registered in Helsinki on January 5, 2015.[21][22][23] They have a son Julius, who was born in April 2008.[24][25] The family moved to Los Angeles in Autumn 2014.[26][27][28] On September 26, 2016, the couple announced their divorce after a 12-year relationship through an official statement.[29]
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Album | Peak position[30] |
Certification[31] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Kuulkaas enot!
|
6 | Platinum |
| 2005 | Kovemmat kädet
|
2 | 2× platinum |
| 2006 | Leskiäidin tyttäret
|
1 | Platinum |
| 2007 | Puuhevonen
|
3 | Platinum |
| 2009 | Veden varaan
|
1 | Platinum |
| 2012 | Rakkaudesta
|
1 | Gold[32] |
| 2013 | Hitit
|
16 |
| Year | Album | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| FIN [33] | ||
| 2011 | Kiestinki (with Pekka Kuusisto) |
12 |
| Year | Album | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| FIN [34] | ||
| 2012 | Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi | 10 |
| Year | Album | Peak position[35] |
Certification[31] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Vesala
|
1 | Platinum |
| 2023 | Näkemiin, melankolia
|
1 |
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIN [35] | |||
| "Tequila" | 2015 | 4 | Vesala |
| "Tytöt ei soita kitaraa" | 2016 | — | |
| "Älä droppaa mun tunnelmaa" | 5 | ||
| "Pahanilmanlinnut" | 2021 | 10 [36] |
Näkemiin, melankolia |
| "Uu Mama" | 2022 | 12 [37] | |
| "Nopee Hopee" (with Kaija Koo) |
19 [38] |
Non-album single | |
| "Miks pitää itkeä" (featuring Aali) | 2023 | 17 [39] |
Näkemiin, melankolia |
| Name | Year | Peak positions | Certification [31] |
Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single list [40] |
Download list [41] |
Radio list [42][43] |
50 Hits [42] | ||||
| "Rusketusraidat" | 2003 | 1 | – | 11 | 2 | Gold | Kuulkaas enot! |
| "Niina" | – | – | – | 42 | |||
| "Joutsenet" | 8 | 7 | – | 8 | |||
| "Kesä-95" | – | – | – | – | |||
| "Päiväkoti" | 2005 | 13 | – | – | 38 | Kovemmat kädet | |
| "Kovemmat kädet" | – | — | — | — | |||
| "Oo siellä jossain mun" | 16 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| "Kumivirsi" YleX:n Kesäkumibiisi |
– | – | – | – | Kovemmat kädet – Kumivirsi edition | ||
| "Pikkuveli" | – | – | 1 | 2 | |||
| "Matkalaulu" | – | – | 7 | 3 | Kovemmat kädet | ||
| "Henkilökohtaisesti" | 2006 | – | – | 1 | 2 | Leskiäidin tyttäret | |
| "Tässä elämä on" | 2007 | – | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| "Joku raja" | 1 | 16 | 20 | 4 | |||
| "Kesäkaverit" | – | – | – | 47 | |||
| "Kiitos" | – | — | — | — | |||
| "Täti Monika" | – | – | – | – | Puuhevonen | ||
| "Viimeinen valitusvirsi" | 2009 | 12 | 11 | – | – | Veden varaan | |
| "Lautturi" | 4 | 4 | 1 | – | Gold | ||
| "Pariterapiaa" | 12 | 19 | 19 | – | |||
| "Lapsuus loppui" | – | – | 9 | – | |||
| "Heliumpallo" | 2012 | – | 11 | 11 | – | Rakkaudesta | |
| "Rakkaalleni" | – | 25 | 1 | – | |||
| "Tytöt" | – | – | – | – | |||
| "Pahvinaamari" | – | – | – | – | |||
| "Valloittamaton" | 2013 | – | 8 | – | – | Hitit | |
| Year | Title | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIN [33] | |||
| 2014 | "Sori" | 1 | Vain Elämää, Season 3, Elastinen Day |
| "Miten ja miksi" | 10 | Vain Elämää, Season 3, Samuli Edelmann Day | |
| "Sua vasten aina painautuisin" | 19 | Vain Elämää, Season 3, Paula Koivuniemi Day |
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Princess | nurse Elsa |
| 2012 | Naked Harbour | music teacher |
| 3 Simoa | Eeva, single parent | |
| 2016 | Little Wing | Siru Miettinen |
| 2017 | The Unknown Soldier | Lyyti Rokka |
| 2023 | Comeback |
TV Series
edit| Year | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #lovemilla | TV-Gitta |
| Angry Birds Stella | Gale (voice) |
Animation films
edit| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Asterix and the Vikings | Abba |
| High School Musical | Taylor McKessie | |
| Happily N'Ever After | Ella / Tuhkimo | |
| Brother Bear 2 | Nita | |
| Arthur and the Minimoys | Selenia | |
| 2007 | High School Musical 2 | Taylor McKessie |
| 2008 | Tinker Bell | Tinker Bell |
| High School Musical 3: Senior Year | Taylor McKessie | |
| Disco Worms | Gloria | |
| Bolt | Penny | |
| 2009 | Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs | Sam Sparks |
| 2010 | Konferenz der Tiere | Bonnie |
| 2011 | The Magic Crystal | Jaga |
| 2012 | Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings | Tinker Bell |
| 2013 | Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 | Sam Sparks |
| Lotte and the Moonstone Secret | Lotte | |
| 2014 | Tinker Bell and The Pirate Fairy | Tinker Bell |
| Planes: Fire & Rescue | Dynamite | |
| Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast[44] | Tinker Bell |
Bibliography
edit- Vesala, Paula; Mira Luoti; Hanna Ylönen; Pasi Kostiainen (2008). PMMP. LIKE. ISBN 978-952-01-0066-7.[45]
References
edit- ^ "Biografia: Paula Vesala", PMMP.fi. Archived 2009-09-30 at the Wayback Machine (luettu 22.6.2007)
- ^ http://www.teak.fi/Opiskelu/Koulutusohjelmat/Dramaturgian_koulutusohjelma_BA_MA/Opiskelijat Teatterikorkeakoulu, dramaturgian koulutusohjelman opiskelijat
- ^ "Paula Vesala: Muutto Kaliforniaan?". Me Naiset. 25 July 2014.
- ^ "Dramaturgian opiskelija Paula Vesalan näytelmä menestyy USA:ssa".
- ^ "PMMP jätti tunteikkaat jäähyväiset". Helsingin Sanomat. 28 October 2013.
- ^ "PMMP jätti haikeat hyvästit Jäähallissa – katso viimeinen haastattelu". Helsingin Sanomat. 27 October 2013.
- ^ "PMMP:n jäähyväiskeikka näytti, miksi yhtye ei ole 2000-luvun Ultra Bra". Rumba.fi.
- ^ "Finland Prizes awarded to a wide range of cultural figures". Yle Uutiset.
- ^ fi:Emma-gaala
- ^ "Soolouran aloittava Paula Vesala julkaisee ensisinglensä nimellä "Vesala"". Warner Music. Archived from the original on 2016-01-26. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
- ^ "Paula Vesala julkaisi ensimmäisen soolosinkkunsa – kuuntele tästä". MTV.
- ^ "Vesalan esikoisalbumi myi platinaa reilussa kuukaudessa: "En tajua"". MTV.
- ^ Vuori, Suna (2013-01-18). "Paula Vesala ja Tapani Rinne säveltävät teatterimusiikkia". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- ^ ""Usein viittaan menneisiin lauluihin" – kulkurisieluinen Paula Vesala sanoittaa huomista". YLE.
- ^ "models – TinjaSalmi".
- ^ "Björnin ja Bennyn upea musiikki". www.jamsanseutu.fi.
- ^ LilyLuna. "Use Your Illusion And Enter My Dream: En annan värld".
- ^ "Konstnärligt team Finland – MAMMA MIA! Helsinki". Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
- ^ "Maija Vilkkumaa korvaa Paula Vesalan Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivissa". Helsingin Sanomat. 24 January 2014.
- ^ "Vain elämää". Nelonen.fi.
- ^ "Paula Vesala ja Lauri Ylönen: Avioehto". mtv.fi.
- ^ Mika Seppänen. "Paula Vesala ja Lauri Ylönen solmivat avioehdon – naimisiin marraskuussa". Ilta-Sanomat. Archived from the original on 2015-12-20. Retrieved 2015-01-13.
- ^ "Paula Vesala ja Lauri Ylönen – uraparin avioliitto".
- ^ Katri Utula. "Linnan juhlat". Ilta-Sanomat. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009.
- ^ Pauliina Leinonen. "Lehti: PMMP-Paula ja Rasmus-Lauri saivat pojan". Ilta-Sanomat. Archived from the original on April 20, 2008.
- ^ Outi Pippuri. "Gloria: Tällaista on Paula Vesalan arki Los Angelesissa". Gloria.
- ^ Visa Högmander. "Paula Vesala elämästä Los Angelesissa: Se ei ole mikään paratiisi". MTV.
- ^ Visa Högmander. "Los Angelesiin asettunut Lauri Ylönen: Olen panostanut perheeseen". MTV.
- ^ YLE. "IL: Paula Vesala ja Lauri Ylönen eroavat". YLE.
- ^ "finnishcharts.com - Discography PMMP". finnishcharts.com.
- ^ a b c "Musiikkituottajat – Tilastot – Kulta- ja platinalevyt".
- ^ "PMMP myi kultaa – Katso uusi musiikkivideo! – Radio Nova". Radionova.fi. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
- ^ a b "Paula Vesala discography". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ "Paula Vesala discography". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Discography Vesala". finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "Singlet 40/2021". Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Singlet 8/2022". Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ "Singlet 36/2022". Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ "Singlet 7/2023". Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "finnishcharts.com – Discography PMMP". Hung Medien finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ^ "Latauslista.fi: Artistit – PMMP". Archived from the original on 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ^ a b Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 235. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5. – "Listablogi: Rumban 50 hittiä -listan 50 menestyneintä hitintekijää vuosina 1992–2007 – 47. PMMP". Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ^ * 2003–2010 "Listablogi: Adele kruunasi vuotensa (kommentit: PMMP)". Retrieved 2012-08-14. * "Heliumpallo" "Listablogi: Soiva vappupallo". Retrieved 2012-08-14. * "Rakkaalleni" "Listablogi: Tuhlaria säästellään". Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ^ Miika J. Norvanto. "Helinäkeiju ja mikä-mikä-hirviön arvoitus – Kinovisio". Archived from the original on 2014-12-15. Retrieved 2014-12-15.
- ^ "PMMP".
External links
edit- Official website (in Finnish)
- PMMP's official website (in Finnish)
- Paula's biography (in Finnish)
- Paula Vesala at IMDb