Nelli Matula didn’t know if she would ever return from the gig break

Vocalist Nelli Matulaa it’s exciting that the information about participating in the UMK final is now public.

– It used to have a certain security, when it was only a little secret of our participants. But now that everyone knows, it’s exciting, Matula elaborates.

This is the first time that Matula applied for the New Music competition.

– In previous years, I have received many messages about whether I could apply for this. And, of course, I have felt UMK for a very long time. Somehow, the whole show is done there on a completely different level than anywhere else in Finland, Matula says.

According to Matula, the idea of ​​entering the competition arose from one clear thing: a song that is special to her.

– This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That’s why I haven’t wanted to enter the competition with any song before, says Matula.

– So I only applied now. Finally a song came out that made me feel like this could be just what I’ve been looking for.

“I didn’t know if I would come back to the stage at all”

Matula has been on a gig break for the last couple of years. During the break, however, he has visited the studio and written songs.

– Actually, during the break, I wasn’t even sure if I would come back from the break at all, Matula says now.

Matula has said before that his break from gigs is related to his health. Matula suffers from an incurable, genetic immunodeficiency condition, i.e. CVI disease. After the diagnosis, Matula has received treatment for her illness.

– In fact, I wasn’t even sure at the time whether I would come back from the break at all, Matula says now.

– I had pretty deep coils. But writing and going to the studio are things I’ve always done.

According to Matula, writing songs is a therapeutic process for her.

One time when Matula was in the studio as a songwriter Kaisa Korhonen and producer by Dj Rzy with, a song was born that opened the way to the New Music competition.

– We started the day by exchanging news. Kaisa and I somehow found the same wavelength. For two hours we talked, cried and laughed, Matula opens the process.

Matula started writing the lyrics of the song with Korhonen.

– Somehow the right lines just fell into it. You somehow know it when there is a magical moment in the studio. This was just such a moment. We didn’t have to make a song by doing, but it came naturally, says Matula.

– A bit like the Sculptors sometimes say that the statue has always been there in the marble and they just dig it out. I also had the feeling that this song has always been there and I had to dig it out.

A new page in life

According to Matula, the song heard at UMK is very meaningful to him.

– I feel that this will turn a new page in me as an artist, as has happened in my private life in the last couple of years, Matula thinks.

According to Matula, UMK’s final decision to join came from the fact that the artist believes that many people can identify with his song.

– The feelings I’m talking about and my thoughts in the song are certainly similar, which quite a lot of people can find their own grip on, Matula estimates.

If Matula had to describe the song in three words, they would be “running song”, “slowness” and “slowness”.

The artist has gone through a lot of mental changes during the gig break.

What are you up to besides the UMK buzz?

– Very good, thank you for asking, Matula answers happily.

– This is a really exciting time and I’m trying to make the most of this experience. I’m just trying to enjoy this journey now.

The artists of the new music competition will be announced tomorrow, Wednesday at 19:45 on TV1’s live broadcast. There are seven finalists.

Nelli Matula’s UMK song Hitaammi hautaaan was released at midnight on 10.1. Finland’s five-year representative will make it through the UMK final on February 8. Tampere’s Nokia Arena.