Paula Julia Vesala (born December 10, 1981) is a Finnish singer-songwriter. She was one of two singers and main lyricist in the pop rock duo PMMP along with Mira Luoti. Her solo career began in 2015 under the stage name Vesala. She has composed songs for other well-known Finnish artists such as Vesa-Matti Loiri, Jenni Vartiainen, and Antti Tuisku.
Career
Education
Vesala attended the
Sibelius Academy in
Helsinki, where she studied music education and classical singing as well as the piano and violin.
[ "Biografia: Paula Vesala", PMMP.fi. (luettu 22.6.2007)] Since 2011, she has studied
dramaturgy at the Helsinki Theatre Academy and later at University of California, Los Angeles.
[http://www.teak.fi/Opiskelu/Koulutusohjelmat/Dramaturgian_koulutusohjelma_BA_MA/Opiskelijat Teatterikorkeakoulu, dramaturgian koulutusohjelman opiskelijat] Her 10-minute play "English Lesson" was chosen among seven others as one of the best in the national Theater Masters 10-minute playwriting competition.
-
Pohjois-Savon Ammattikorkeakoulu (Savonia Polytechinc) Music Pedagogy / major: classical singing 2000 – 2002
-
Sibelius Academy: Department: Music Education / major: music education 2002 – 2011
-
The Helsinki Theatre Academy: Dramaturgy degree program / major: dramaturgy and playwriting 2011 – 2014
-
UCLA-University of California, Los Angeles in MFA Playwriting program at TFT (School of Theater, Film and Television) 2014 – 2017
PMMP (2002–2013)
PMMP was a Finnish band fronted by singers Paula Vesala and
Mira Luoti and backed by musicians
Mikko Virta,
Juho Vehmanen and Heikki Kytölä. PMMP has been called one of the biggest and most important bands of the 2000s, as the band had a huge impact on the music scene in Finland. PMMP's albums were produced by Jori Sjöroos, who also wrote the music for all songs. The lyrics are written by Paula and Mira, mostly Paula. The name of the band is often said to be an abbreviation of the phrase "Paulan ja Miran Molemmat Puolet" (both sides of Paula and Mira). In an interview on Finnish talk show
Krisse Salminen, they stated that the name of the band is derived from the names of its members: Paula, Mira, Mira, Paula, similarly to
ABBA.
PMMP first became well known in Finland for the 2003 summer hit Rusketusraidat ( Tan Lines). They then enjoyed great success with their second album Kovemmat kädet ( Rougher Hands), which went gold (double platinum in 2010). An extended version of the album was released in August 2005. Oo siellä jossain mun, a single from the aforementioned album, is PMMP's biggest hit so far in Finland.
In November 2006, PMMP released their third album Leskiäidin tyttäret ( Daughters of a widowed mother), which went platinum on the day it was released.
They released an album labeled Puuhevonen ( Wooden Horse) featuring contemporary takes on traditional children's songs in 2007, around the time their first children were born. In 2009, they released their fourth rock/pop album Veden varaan ( Overboard, or Afloat) and their fifth album Rakkaudesta ( Out of love, or About love) was released in 2012.
The band was an acclaimed live act. PMMP played their final concert on October 27, 2013, at the Helsinki Ice Hall which, along with an additional show on the night before, sold out within the first minutes after ticket sales opened.
In 2013, PMMP was awarded by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Helsinki with the Finland Prize. The Prize gives recognition to important figures in the Finnish cultural landscape across widely varying fields. The pop-duo were "commended for offering new role models for young women."
Awards
PMMP has won a total of nine Finnish Grammys.
[Emma-gaala] The categories are:
-
2003 – Pop-rock newcomer
-
2005 – Album of the year Kovemmat kädet ( Rougher Hands), Pop album Kovemmat kädet and Best band
-
2006 – Album of the year Leskiäidin tyttäret ( Daughters of a widowed mother) and Pop album Leskiäidin tyttäret
-
2009 – Album of the year Veden varaan ( Overboard, or Afloat), Rock album Veden varaan and Best band
Solo career (2015–present)
In October 2015, Paula Vesala announced that in the future she would make music under the stage name
Vesala.
Her first single "Tequila", written and composed by her, was released on October 23, 2015, and her first solo album on June 17, 2016.
The album sold platinum in just over a month.
As a lyricist and composer
Paula Vesala has composed and written songs for other artists such as
Johanna Kurkela,
Jenni Vartiainen,
Vesa-Matti Loiri,
Martti Saarinen,
Katri Ylander,
Tiktak,
Petra Gargano,
Antti Tuisku,
Anna Abreu,
Uusi Fantasia, Freeman,
Katri Helena,
Jippu,
Samuli Edelmann, Stig,
Jesse Kaikuranta and Aṣa. She has composed music for Finnish theater, including for the play
Neljäs Tie directed by shown at the Finnish National Theatre in 2013.
In 2016, she received the Juha Vainio Award, an annual award given to a significant Finnish lyricist. Vesala was the 26th person and the 5th woman to receive the award.
As an actress
Vesala acted in a silent film called
Myrsk (Tempest) by director Elina Oikari at TaiK in 2013, playing the role of Prince Ferdinand. She has provided the Finnish voice for several movies including
Tinker Bell,
Happily N'Ever After,
Arthur and the Minimoys,
High School Musical 1, 2 and . She translated
Benny Andersson's, 's and Björn Ulvaeus' musical
Kristina från Duvemåla,
and the
ABBA songs in the musical
Mamma Mia! from Swedish to Finnish for
Svenska Teatern.
Other projects
Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi
Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi (
Kollektiivi for short) is a Finnish band formed by
Kerkko Koskinen (
Ultra Bra) with
Vuokko Hovatta (
Ultra Bra), Paula Vesala (
PMMP) and
Manna. In January 2014, Paula Vesala informed that she had left the group. She was replaced by
Maija Vilkkumaa.
Kollektiivi has released two albums, Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi (which won the Finnish gold record music prize) in 2012 and 2 in 2014.
Vain elämää
In 2014, Paula Vesala took part in the 3rd season of Vain elämää with
Samuli Edelmann,
Elastinen,
Paula Koivuniemi,
Vesa-Matti Loiri,
Jenni Vartiainen, and
Toni Wirtanen. The season aired from September 19, 2014, to November 7, 2014. At the end of the 3rd season, the compilation album
Vain Elämää – Kausi 3 (ilta) was released under the label WEA / Warner. The album topped the Finnish Albums Chart. The compilation album
Vain Elämää – Kausi 3 (päivä) that reached number two in Finnish Albums Chart was released.
Personal life
Paula Vesala is from the Finnish town of Kärsämäki. On November 8, 2014, Paula Vesala married her longtime partner Lauri Ylönen, the lead singer of
The Rasmus in Las Vegas; the couple filed a marriage statement on December 29, 2014, and the marriage was registered in Helsinki on January 5, 2015.
They have a son Julius, who was born in April 2008.
The family moved to Los Angeles in Autumn 2014.
On September 26, 2016, the couple announced their divorce after a 12-year relationship through an official statement.
Discography
Albums
| + With PMMP
!Year
! style="width:200px;" | Album
!Peak
position |
| 2003 | Kuulkaas enot!
-
Released: 5 September 2003
-
Record label: BMG
| 6 | Platinum |
| 2005 | Kovemmat kädet
-
Released: 9 March 2005
-
Record label: Sony BMG
-
Also special release
Kovemmat kädet (Kumipainos)
| 2 | 2× platinum |
| 2006 | Leskiäidin tyttäret
-
Released: 15 November 2006
-
Record label: Sony BMG
| 1 | Platinum |
| 2007 | Puuhevonen
-
Released: 14 November 2007
-
Record label: Sony BMG
| 3 | Platinum |
| 2009 | Veden varaan
-
Released: 25 November 2009
-
Record label: Sony Music
| 1 | Platinum |
| 2012 | Rakkaudesta
| 1 | Gold |
| 2013 | Hitit
| 16 | |
| + Paula Vesala & Pekka Kuusisto
!rowspan="2" width="10" | Year
!rowspan="2" width="150" | Album
!colspan="1" width="20" | Peak positions |
|
| 2011 | Kiestinki
(with Pekka Kuusisto) | 12 |
| + Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi
!rowspan="2" width="10" | Year
!rowspan="2" width="150" | Album
!colspan="1" width="20" | Peak positions |
|
| 2012 | Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi | 10 |
| + Vesala
!Year
! style="width:200px;" | Album
!Peak
position |
| 2016 | Vesala
-
Released: 17 June 2016
-
Record label: Etenee, Warner
| 1 | Platinum |
| 2023 | Näkemiin, melankolia
-
Released: 10 February 2023
-
Record label: Etenee, Warner
| 1 | |
Singles
| + Various appearances
!rowspan="2" width="10" | Year
!rowspan="2" width="150" | Title
!colspan="1" width="20" | Peak positions
!rowspan="2" width="150" | Album |
|
| 2014 | "Sori" | 1 | Vain Elämää, Season 3,
Elastinen Day |
| "Miten ja miksi" | 10 | Vain Elämää, Season 3,
Samuli Edelmann Day |
| "Sua vasten aina painautuisin" | 19 | Vain Elämää, Season 3,
Paula Koivuniemi Day |
|
Filmography
Films
|
|
| nurse Elsa |
| music teacher |
| Eeva, single parent |
| Siru Miettinen |
| Lyyti Rokka |
| |
TV Series
Animation films
|
|
| Abba |
| Taylor McKessie |
| Ella / Tuhkimo |
| Nita |
| Selenia |
| Taylor McKessie |
| Tinker Bell |
| Taylor McKessie |
| Gloria |
| Penny |
| Sam Sparks |
| Bonnie |
| Jaga |
| Tinker Bell |
| Sam Sparks |
| Lotte |
| Tinker Bell |
| Dynamite |
| Tinker Bell |
Bibliography
External links
