Antti Paalanen - “Ela”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 5

Pairs Well With… Hehkumo, Iva Nova, Joe Cocker 

Antti Paalanen is a mash up of Scandinavian folk music, ominous sounding Siberian throat-singing, and electronic dance music. Weird, yes, but stay with me because it’s surprisingly hypnotic and compelling.  Antti Paalanen creates his wild sound primarily on a three-button accordion along with stomps, growls, and judicious use of modern sound technology. His most popular song is “Ela,” but the recently released “Suvi” and “Hagy Ola” are in a similar vein. Although Antti Paalanen has been described as “madman in a man bun,” there is more to him than his buggy green grape-colored eyes and Finnish Death Metal voice. Much of the music on his Meluta album was created as part of his doctorate at Sibelius Academy which focused on the development of new techniques for playing a traditional instrument. If you are looking for something unique with the potential for a fun live show, check out this band. If he scares you, just stand a few rows back. (David Zlotnick)