Portion Boys ’long, independent path in the music world has borne fruit.
The Finnish band Portion Boys has been making music for more than ten years, but it is only in the last year that their popularity has gained tremendous praise. Today, the band is called Finland’s most popular party band.
This is also evident at Friday’s Emma Gala: the band has two nominees for the award – a song of the year and an audience favorite – and they perform in the legendary percussion duo, Matin and Tepon, with. Matin and Tepon The pace is accelerating The cover of the song has been a huge success: the song has been listened to more than 12 million times on Spotify and its music video has been watched 5.2 million times on Youtube.
The performing members of the Portion Boys are General Strong, El MeisselAP Mountain, JaloTiina and Artist Nieminen. Iltalehti will meet them two days before the Emma Gala, one of the most exciting moments of the band’s long career.
Portion Boys started their operations in 2010. Pictured from left are AP Vuori, General Vahva, JaloTiina, El Meissel and Artist Nieminen. ATTE KAJOVA
– The first thing was the feeling of unreality. Can this be true that we were taken into account? All possible feelings of joy came to the surface, JaloTiina recalls the moment when she found out about the Emma nominations at the end of last year.
“I honestly never thought this could happen,” says General Vahva.
– We have dreamed that we would get to the Emma gala someday, but not in more detail. And now we still perform with Mati and Tepo. Absolutely absurd, El Meissel says.
Great song
JaloTiina came up with the idea The pace is accelerating cover in the summer of 2020.
– As a kid, I listened to a lot of blows with my dad. The pace is accelerating was an important song for me, it has always given me strength and helped me forget all my worries. I suggested what if we did a cover, he says.
El Meissel immediately left the studio to work on a demo that was ready in a couple of hours.
– Then I called Matti Ruohonen. He hadn’t heard of us, so at first he was a little wary of the idea. But when I sent him the demo, he immediately replied that “this sounds like a hit,” El Meissel says.
Portion Boys are known for their explosive stage energy. There have been gigs all over Finland. ATTE KAJOVA
The song was completed in the fall of 2020, but the release was scheduled for next summer. The long and painful wait began, as the band was sure they had a mega hit in their hands.
– We listened to the raw version in the car on tour. We all got stuck in our benches and we knew it was a big song now, JaloTiina recalls.
Although The pace is accelerating has been playing all over Finland for almost a year now, the Portion Boys first met Mati and Tepo face to face only a month ago. Their first joint performance will take place at the Emma Gala. The band met the brothers at their office in Turku. The encounter was warm-hearted.
– I didn’t understand that they were really in it, says AP Vuori.
– It felt humble, because they are living legends and there were gold and platinum plates on the walls, JaloTiina says.
University of the Arts
Like many Finnish musicians, the Portion Boys have not fully supported themselves with music. In addition to music, daytime work and studies have been done for most of the band’s life. Only recently has everyone reduced their work due to a busy gig schedule. There are five gigs a week in the summer.
The band has been operating independently since the beginning and has released music at their own expense. Recording contracts would be available, but the ambition for independent achievement is high.
The Portion Boys promise to give a spectacular show at the Emma Gala. ATTE KAJOVA
– Sometimes I hacked my head into the wall and thought that now we were going to sign a record deal. Then I slept overnight and managed to push forward again. It’s as if we’ve been to college for an artist’s career many times, but at the same time, it’s been great to do everything ourselves, El Meissel says.
– When hard work is rewarded, it tastes better when you know that nothing came for free, JaloTiina continues.
A junior disco?
Jun disco, rubber boot disco, humor music, entertainment music. Portion Boys ’style of music has been described in many different words. They call it good-natured party music. Influences include Eurodance, rap and country.
The sound or the themes of the songs are not the most prestigious end of the music world, and contempt has been met. The band has stuck to its own style despite critics.
– We have been doing this for so long, even when it has not been mainstream. Once it’s done enough and people have started to like it, it has become popular music and with it more acceptable and credible, El Meissel says.
– Winning over people doesn’t happen overnight. Yes, watching along the nose and gravel sounds will definitely continue in the future, AP Vuori ponders.
– We’ve always believed in our own business. We do this with all our heart and through joy, and it bears fruit. We don’t do this with jokes, we’re professionals and we take every gig seriously, JaloTiina says.