Here are the finalists of the Tango market – There’s a reality star and a metal singer among them

The semi-final of the Seinäjoki Tango market was organized on Saturday, May 27, in Vantaa’s cultural center Martinus.

Twenty soloists were heard at the event, open to the public, from which the Tango Song Competition jury selected ten for the finals. In total, more than 250 singers participated in the competition, which was held for the 37th time.

The jury is chaired this year by the 2010 Tango King Marko Maunuksela. In addition, the jury is involved Marco Bjurström, Katri Ylander, Antti Ketonen and the 1992 Tango Queen No, Kantola.

The new Tango royals will be crowned in Seinäjoki on Saturday, July 8.

Here are the finalists for the 2023 Tango Market.

Kullervo Kauppi, 32, Säkylä

Graduated as a musician Kullervo Shop has participated in the Tango market twice before, in 2010 and 2017. Kaup, who works as a salesman, has enough performance background, as he has sung in churches, concert halls, family parties and summer theater, among other things.

According to his own words, Kauppi is a text-oriented singer who knows how to convey the message of the song to the listener and live with the music and stories. In addition to his voice, Kauppi can play the trumpet.

– I have a distinctive and personal voice. I am a versatile and flexible musician who quickly jumps from one situation to another.

Pasi Flodström, 27, Harjavalta

By civilian profession Pasi Flodström is a cantor, but has dreamed of participating in the Tango market since he was a little boy. Flodström, who graduated with a master’s degree in music, feels his versatility and positive attitude are his strengths. He has made music in a variety of ways, from “muskari uncle” to concerts and opera.

– My musical background encourages me to be inclined towards a wide range of musical activities. I feel that as tango royalty it is important to cherish traditional tango music and stage dance culture, but also bring something new alongside.

Niilo Rantala, 27, Tampere

– I am an expressive performer whose voice lends itself to many interpretations.

Niilo Rantala has especially loved older Finnish iskelmä music since he was a little boy. He has lived in London for the important years of his childhood.

Rantala has not participated in the Tango market before, but he does not lack performance experience. During the last ten years, Rantala has focused on playing his own compositions in his concerts. He has especially composed domestic poetry.

In addition, Rantala has studied classical piano and singing at the Turku Conservatory for a long time, and has completed basic degrees in both.

Ville-Markus Vesterinen, 22, Uusikaupunki

Just a year ago Ville-Markus Vesterinen never thought he would apply to the Tango market. His mind changed when he saw on Katri Ylander’s Instagram that the artist is part of the jury of the singing competition.

– At the end of the year, I was still very unsure about where my music career could go. I’ve been thinking that an interpreter like me doesn’t necessarily find that kind of singing competition.

Vesterinen gained a lot of self-confidence in his singing by winning the Finnish Karaoke Championship organized by Hakkivox Oy in the autumn of last year. Vesteris has other artistic background through his more than seven years of theater hobby.

As a performer, Vesterinen describes himself as a charismatic performer and interpreter who loves contact with the audience. He feels that he would not only be a good tango royal, but the best possible alternative. He is not afraid of cameras, because in 2022 he participated in the reality series The Bridge Suomi, filmed in Norway in the spring.

Jesse Laatikainen, 25, Tampere

Jesse Laatikainen singing and music have always been a part of life in some way, but under pressure from her father, she decided to try singing tango – and liked it. Passion made Laatikainen participate in the Tango market last year and made it to the public vote.

In addition to singing, the unemployed lumberjack can play guitar and bass, and Laatikainen has been making heavier metal music since he was a child. He cites his strong focus on singing as his performance strength.

– I think I would stand out from the crowd with my appearance and my musical background. I also sing very versatile, from tango to black metal.

Charlotta Saari, 22, Lapua

– I am young and full of energy. I would be a breath of fresh air on the stage, full of new enthusiasm – while maintaining traditionalism. I value the audience and listen to them.

Entrepreneur Charlotta Saarile the singing competition is already familiar, as he has participated in the Tango market in 2019 and 2022. In addition, he is the 2016 Tango Youth and Outstanding Singer 2023. In addition, he has been seen in The Voice Kids program format, among others.

Saari wants to work hard so that performing becomes his life’s work. He wants to be involved in maintaining the status of dance music and loves to pay attention to the audience. In the competition, his secret weapons are brightness, relaxation, versatility and a good interpretation of the song.

Katja Karisukki, 48, Ypäjä

– I would be a good tango king thanks to my versatility and long experience. I also have a strong desire to develop and develop tango and dance music culture without forgetting traditions.

In 2018 Katja Karisukki reached the semi-finals of the Tango market. The following year, the music and performing arts entrepreneur participated in the Tango market’s composition and lyrics competition, where he reached the group of finalists Draw me with his song.

Karisuki has a long musical background: currently the singer performs as a soloist in the dance orchestra Fernanda. In the summer, he can be seen in many traveling musical plays, two of which he has also worked as a screenwriter. Over the years, he has published a lot of music and done numerous concert tours and TV productions.

Karisukki names its strengths as joy, authenticity and presence, but definitely also versatility and long experience.

Miia Laitinen, 29, Rotterdam / Rajamäki

– I combine the new and the old, nostalgia and joy as well as Supi-Finnish and universal. After the Games, I want to develop into a tango artist and create tango music.

Working as a waiter Miia Laitinen participated in the Tango market because he believes that a wonderful career can start with the competition – and of course also because he gets to introduce himself to tango lovers. He knew he wanted to be a tango singer when he heard Unto Mononen Fairyland -song while dancing at the Dutch tango festival.

He participated in the Tango market in 2020 and 2021, but in those years the competitions were canceled due to the pandemic. Now he finally gets the chance to show tango people his strengths, which he names as his natural communication with the audience and conveying the song’s story in many different ways.

Rosa Narmala, 35, Raisio

– I have a passion and genuine heart fire to bite into tango with all my soul. I have worked long and hard for my dream. I believe that I have all the skills to humbly handle the demanding duties of a tango queen.

Working as a dental nurse Rosa Narmala wants to be able to do his dream job, i.e. dancing for people all over Finland. He has already tried to achieve his dream at the Tango market in 2009 and also at the 2010 tango marathon. In 2013, Narmala’s path went to online voting and in 2019 she was one of the finalists.

Narmala has studied a lot of music by herself, but has also taken singing lessons from several different teachers. In addition to her day job, Narmala has been gigging for over 10 years and feels that her strengths are interpretation skills and life and performance experience.

Katja Felin, 32, Järvenpää

Last year Katja Felin made it to the top 100 in the Tango market, but the road didn’t lead from there. The actively gigging seller and masseuse has participated in various singing competitions, such as Voice of Finland, over the years. He has about 10 of his own songs.

As a performer, Felin is playful and himself. According to her own words, she has strong vocal technical skills, but as a singer she also emphasizes interpretation and conveying emotion to the audience.

– I want to develop myself, and that’s why I definitely don’t go where the fence is the lowest! I think you would make a good role model. I enjoy performing and my special skill is to make other people also throw themselves more by my own example.

The Seinäjoki Tango Market Singing Competition Final can be watched live on EventTV Eveo from channel location 17 and online at eveo.fi. See all TV programs and broadcast times in Telku’s TV guide.