A unique event for young musicians and artists in Espoo

Next Stage is a showcase for 18-26-year-old musicians and artists aimed at supporting young music performers in their careers and highlighting new talents that have not yet made their breakthrough. 

The semi-finals organised at Espoo Cultural Centre and Kannusali in April are now behind us, and Next Stage is now heading towards its May final at Sello Hall. The event is free of charge. Read more about the final. 

The performers at this year’s final will be Onerva Kaijala (selected on 1 April), emailo (selected on 2 April) and tunnetta (selected on 14 April):

Onerva Kaijala is a 22-year-old musician whose music combines prog-influenced indie rock and great storytelling. The artist’s music is supported by a three-person band.

Onerva Kaijala says that he originally got into music because he loves music.

-In addition to music, I have also literally (no pun intended) loved words and letters since I was a baby, so the songwriting in which these two passions meet in symbiosis was the perfect art form for me from the very beginning.

Espoo’s Next Stage has been a fantastic experience for the young musician.

-In addition to it being great to be able to perform my own music in front of a panel of professionals, it has also been really fun to get to know other musicians along the way. I’m looking forward to the final. Expect fireworks, beautiful moments of calm and a wide range of emotions from our performances in the final. In other words, hang on to your hats! Or add a rubber band and tie it under your chin. Or tape it on your head. Or you can try to glue... anyway, you get the point, the show is going to be on fire!

Another talent that has reached the final is new, indie pop artist, 26-year-old emailo. He is known for his strong stage presence, captivating melodies, and theatrical live performances. The themes of emailo’s songs include queer relationships, mental health, and the power of letting go. Emailo on Spotify(external link, opens in a new window). 

-Taking part in this competition has been great. I applied with a very relaxed approach and it has been fantastic to see how my style has resonated in the audience. It is right that the city wants to support new artists, because this is a very difficult period for the music industry. I’m waiting for the final to be fun and, simply, for the opportunity to perform more of my own stuff! emailo says. 

The third finalist tunnetta is a 21-year-old highly sensitive artist, who writes diary entry-like songs. Catchy and playful melodies and genuinely brutal lyrics form the core of artist’s songs. tunnetta, who is known for being straight forward, aims for their songs to evoke thoughts and emotions, whether a person is listening to a recording from their headphones or watching a genuine live performance. tunnetta also wants their music to encourage everyone not to hide their true selves and remind them that sensitivity is by no means a weakness but a strength. Tunnetta on Spotifty(external link, opens in a new window).

Finalists in the semi-finals have been selected by a number of music sector veterans, such as Heikki Puhakainen (Head of A&R, Kaiku Entertainment), Mari Hatakka, CEO of the Tavastia Club and Sini Tiainen (Music Content Manager for Qobuz in the Nordic countries).

Tiainen was very interested in participating in an event where future stars will be selected. Tiainen felt that working as a judge on the panel at Espoo Cultural Centre’s semi-final on 14 April was an inspiring experience that felt like a great pleasure and honour in all respects. 

“I was exceptionally impressed by the amazing songs and bright performances by these young musicians. Even the young people who had little previous performance experience performed on stage with incredible courage and confidence. For this reason, it was not an easy task to select just one finalist from several wonderful performers. It is particularly great that showcase events such as Next Stage, which are intended for young people, provide young talents an opportunity to perform for an audience, receive encouraging feedback and practical tips for their own artist career from a panel of judges who are music industry professionals, and get to meet and network with other new artists who are their age,” Tiainen sums up. 

The judges on the panel at the Sello Hall final will be Lotta Savolainen (journalist, Radio Helsinki & Managing Director, Music & Media / Lost in Music), Jojo von Hertzen ( the Finnish Music Creators’ Association, Mimmi Label), Hassan Maikal (artist) and Ella Mäntynen (artist / Goldielocks). The event will be hosted by a journalist / DJ Renaz Ebrahimi.

At the Sello Hall final on Saturday 23 May, all three performers will play five songs, after which they will receive oral feedback from the panel of professionals. All three artists who make it to the final will be paid a performance fee (EUR 1,000) and each finalist will receive a Mimmi Label promotion or artist career package (value EUR 750).

One of the final three performers will be selected to perform at the Kivenlahti Midsummer event at Hybridiarena Hype, on Fri 19 June. A remunerations will also be paid for this performance. In addition, the Finnish Music Creators’ Association will award one performer from among the finalists with a Music Creators’ special award. The audience will also have the opportunity vote for their favourite in the final, who will then be awarded with an F-Music gift card worth EUR 500. 

Read more about Espoo’s Next Stage at: espoo.fi/fi/nextstage