Paula Vesala
| Paula Julia Vesala | |
|---|---|
 Paula Vesala performing at Ilosaarirock in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Paula Julia Vesala |
| Born |
10 December 1981 Kärsämäki, Finland |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer/songwriter/actress/playwright |
| Instruments |
Vocals violin guitar piano |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels |
Sony Music Warner Music Finland(Finland) |
| Associated acts |
PMMP Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi |
Paula Julia Vesala (born 10 December 1981) is a Finnish singer, actress and a playwright. She was one of the singers and the main lyricist in the pop rock duo PMMP, along with Mira Luoti. She began her solo career in 2015 under the stage name "Vesala". She has also composed and written songs for other well known Finnish artist such as Vesa-Matti Loiri, Jenni Vartiainen, Antti Tuisku etc.
Biography
Vesala attended the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where she studied music education and classical singing as well as piano and violin.[1] Since 2011 she has also studied dramaturgy at the Theatre Academy Helsinki and later at University of California, Los Angeles.[2][3] Her 10-minute play "English Lesson" was chosen as one of the best in USA, among 7 others, in the national Theater Masters 10-minute playwriting competition.[4]
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, Antti Tuisku, Anna Abreu, Uusi Fantasia, Freeman, Katri Helena, Jippu, Samuli Edelmann, Stig, Jesse Kaikuranta and Aṣa. She has also composed music to Finnish theaters, such as the Finnish National Theatre, to the play "Neljäs Tie"[5] directed by Esa Leskinen. In 2016 she received the Juha Vainio Award which is an annual award given to a significant Finnish lyricist. Vesala was the 26th person to receive the award and the 5th woman.[6]
She acted in a silent film called "Myrsky"[7] (Tempest) by director Elina Oikari at TaiK in 2013 and had the role of Prince Ferdinand. She has also provided the Finnish voice for several movies such as Tinker Bell, Happily N'Ever After, Arthur and the Minimoys and High School Musical 1, 2 and 3. She has acted both in movies and in Theater. She also translated Benny Andersson's, Lars Rudolfsson's and Björn Ulvaeus' musical Kristina från Duvemåla,[8][9] and the ABBA songs in the musical Mamma Mia[10] from Swedish to Finnish for Svenska Teatern.
Education
- Pohjois-Savon Ammattikorkeakoulu (Savonia Polytechinc)Music Pedagogy / major: classical singing 2000 – 2002
- Sibelius Academy: Department: Music Education / major: music education 2002 – 2011
- The Theater Academy Helsinki: 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 – 2015
PMMP
PMMP was a Finnish band fronted by singers Paula Vesala and Mira Luoti and backed by musicians Mikko Virta, Juho Vehmanen and Heikki Kytölä. The name of the band is often said to be an abbreviation of the sentence "Paulan ja Miran Molemmat Puolet", which can be translated in English as "Both Sides of Paula and Mira". However, in an interview on the Finnish talk show Krisse Show, they stated that the name of the band comes, like ABBA, from the names of 4 of its members: so PMMP is Paula, Mira, Mira, Paula. PMMP's albums are produced by Jori Sjöroos who also wrote the music for all the songs. The lyrics are written by Paula and Mira, mostly Paula. The band is an acclaimed live act. PMMP has been called one of the biggest and most important bands of the decade with a huge impact on the music scene in Finland.
PMMP first became well known in Finland with 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 year 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 widow mother), which went platinum on the day it was released.
They released an album labeled Puuhevonen (Wooden Horse) with 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.
PMMP played their final concert on October 27, 2013 at the Helsinki Ice Hall. They sold out two nights in The Helsinki Ice Hall, 26.10.2013 and 27.10.2013.[11][12][13]
In 2013 PMMP was awarded by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Helsinki with the Finland Prize. The Prizes recognised important figures in the Finnish cultural landscape, coming from widely varying fields. The pop-duo PMMP were commended for offering new role models for young women.[14]
PMMP has won a total of 9 Finnish Grammys.[15] 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 widow mother) and Pop album Leskiäidin tyttäret
- 2009 – Album of the year Veden varaan (Overboard, or Afloat), Rock album Veden varaan and Best band
Vesala
In October 2015 Paula Vesala announced that in the future she will make music under the stage name 'Vesala'.[16] Her first single ”Tequila”, both written and composed by her, was released on 23 October 2015 and her first solo album on 17 June 2016.[17] The album sold platinum in a bit over a month.[18]
Other productions
Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi
Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi 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.[19]
Kollektiivi has released two albums, “Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi” (which also 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 together with other Finnish artists like Samuli Edelmann, Elastinen, Paula Koivuniemi, Vesa-Matti Loiri, Jenni Vartiainen, and Toni Wirtanen.The season aired from 19 September to 7 November 2014.At the end of the series 3, compilation album Vain Elämää – Kausi ilta was released WEA / Warner The album topped the Finnish Albums Chart.Also released was the compilation Vain Elämää – Kausi 3 päivä that reached number 2 in Finnish Albums Chart.[20]
Personal life
Paula Vesala married her longtime partner Lauri Ylönen, the lead singer of The Rasmus, 8 November 2014 in Las Vegas; the couple filed a statement 29 December 2014 and the marriage was registered in Helsinki 5 January 2015.[21][22][23] They have a son Julius who was born in April 2008.[24][25][26] The family moved to Los Angeles in autumn 2014.[27][28][29] On 29 September 2016 through an official statement the couple annouced the divorce after 12 years of relationship.[30]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Peak position[31] |
Certification[32] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Kuulkaas enot!
|
6 | Platinum |
| 2005 | Kovemmat kädet
|
2 | 2x platinum |
| 2006 | Leskiäidin tyttäret
|
1 | Platinum |
| 2007 | Puuhevonen
|
3 | Platinum |
| 2009 | Veden varaan
|
1 | Platinum |
| 2012 | Rakkaudesta
|
1 | Gold[33] |
| 2013 | Hitit
|
16 |
| Year | Album | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| FIN [34] | ||
| 2011 | Kiestinki (with Pekka Kuusisto) |
12 |
| Year | Album | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| FIN [34] | ||
| 2012 | Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi | 10 |
| Year | Album | Peak position[31] |
Certification[32] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Vesala
|
1 | Platinum |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIN [34] | |||
| "Tequila" | 2015 | 4 | Vesala |
| "Tytöt ei soita kitaraa" | 2016 | — | |
| "Älä droppaa mun tunnelmaa" | 5 | ||
| Name | Year | Peak positions | Certification [32] |
Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single list [31] |
Download list [35] |
Radio list [36][37] |
50 Hits [36] | ||||
| "Rusketusraidat" | 2003 | 1 | – | 11 | 2 | Gold | Kuulkaas enot! |
| "Niina" | – | – | – | 42 | |||
| "Joutsenet" | 8 | 7 | – | 8 | |||
| "Kesä-95" | – | – | – | – | |||
| "Päiväkoti" | 2005 | 13 | – | – | 38 | Kovemmat kädet | |
| "Kovemmat kädet" | – | – | – | — | |||
| "Oo siellä jossain mun" | 16 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| "Kumivirsi" YleX:n Kesäkumibiisi |
– | – | – | – | Kovemmat kädet – Kumivirsi edition | ||
| "Pikkuveli" | – | – | 1 | 2 | |||
| "Matkalaulu" | – | – | 7 | 3 | Kovemmat kädet | ||
| "Henkilökohtaisesti" | 2006 | – | – | 1 | 2 | Leskiäidin tyttäret | |
| "Tässä elämä on" | 2007 | – | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
| "Joku raja" | 1 | 16 | 20 | 4 | |||
| "Kesäkaverit" | – | – | – | 47 | |||
| "Kiitos" | – | – | – | — | |||
| "Täti Monika" | – | – | – | – | Puuhevonen | ||
| "Viimeinen valitusvirsi" | 2009 | 12 | 11 | – | – | Veden varaan | |
| "Lautturi" | 4 | 4 | 1 | – | Gold | ||
| "Pariterapiaa" | 12 | 19 | 19 | – | |||
| "Lapsuus loppui" | – | – | 9 | – | |||
| "Heliumpallo" | 2012 | – | 11 | 11 | – | Rakkaudesta | |
| "Rakkaalleni" | – | 25 | 1 | – | |||
| "Tytöt" | – | – | – | – | |||
| "Pahvinaamari" | – | – | – | – | |||
| "Valloittamaton" | 2013 | – | 8 | – | – | Hitit | |
| Year | Title | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIN [34] | |||
| 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
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Princess | nurse Elsa |
| 2012 | Naked Harbour | music teacher |
| 3 Simoa | Eeva, single parent | |
| 2016 | Little Wing |
TV Series
| Year | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #lovemilla | TV-Gitta |
| Angry Birds Stella | Gale(voice) |
Animation films
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Asterix and the Vikings | Abba |
| High School Musical | Taylor McKessie | |
| Happily N'Ever After | Ella / Tuhkimo | |
| Brother Bear 2 | Nita | |
| Arthur and the Minimoys | Selenia | |
| 2007 | High School Musical 2 | Taylor McKessie |
| 2008 | Tinker Bell | Tinkerbell |
| High School Musical 3: Senior Year | Taylor McKessie | |
| Disco Worms | Gloria | |
| Bolt | Penny | |
| 2009 | Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs | Sam Sparks |
| 2010 | Konferenz der Tiere | Bonnie |
| 2011 | Magic Crystal | Jaga |
| 2012 | TinkerBell:Secret of the Wings | TinkerBell |
| 2013 | Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 | Sam Sparks |
| Lotta and the Moonstone Secret | Lotta | |
| 2014 | Tinker Bell and The Pirate Fairy'' | TinkerBell |
| Planes: Fire & Rescue'' | Dynamite | |
| TinkerBell and the legend of the neverbeast[38] | TinkerBell |
Bibliography
- Vesala, Paula; Mira Luoti; Hanna Ylönen; Pasi Kostiainen (2008). PMMP. LIKE. ISBN 978-952-01-0066-7.[39]
References
- ↑ "Biografia: Paula Vesala", PMMP.fi. (luettu 22.6.2007)
- ↑ http://www.teak.fi/Opiskelu/Koulutusohjelmat/Dramaturgian_koulutusohjelma_BA_MA/Opiskelijat Teatterikorkeakoulu, dramaturgian koulutusohjelman opiskelijat
- ↑ http://www.menaiset.fi/artikkeli/ajankohtaista/ihmiset/paula_vesala_muutto_kaliforniaan
- ↑ "Dramaturgian opiskelija Paula Vesalan näytelmä menestyy USA:ssa".
- ↑ http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/a1358401299763
- ↑ ""Usein viittaan menneisiin lauluihin" – kulkurisieluinen Paula Vesala sanoittaa huomista". YLE.
- ↑ "models – TinjaSalmi".
- ↑ "Björnin ja Bennyn upea musiikki". www.jamsanseutu.fi.
- ↑ LilyLuna. "Use Your Illusion And Enter My Dream: En annan värld".
- ↑ "Konstnärligt team Finland – MAMMA MIA! Helsinki".
- ↑ http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/a1382848832721
- ↑ http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/a1305738445814
- ↑ "PMMP:n jäähyväiskeikka näytti, miksi yhtye ei ole 2000-luvun Ultra Bra". Rumba.fi.
- ↑ "Finland Prizes awarded to a wide range of cultural figures". Yle Uutiset.
- ↑ fi:Emma-gaala
- ↑ "Soolouran aloittava Paula Vesala julkaisee ensisinglensä nimellä "Vesala"". Warner Music.
- ↑ "Paula Vesala julkaisi ensimmäisen soolosinkkunsa – kuuntele tästä". MTV.
- ↑ "Vesalan esikoisalbumi myi platinaa reilussa kuukaudessa: "En tajua"". MTV.
- ↑ http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/a1390592481651
- ↑ "Vain elämää". Nelonen.fi.
- ↑ "Paula Vesala ja Lauri Ylönen: Avioehto". mtv.fi.
- ↑ Mika Seppänen. "Paula Vesala ja Lauri Ylönen solmivat avioehdon – naimisiin marraskuussa". Ilta-Sanomat.
- ↑ "Paula Vesala ja Lauri Ylönen – uraparin avioliitto".
- ↑ http://www.hs.fi/viihde/artikkeli/The+Rasmuksen+keulahahmo/1135239208273
- ↑ Katri Utula. "Linnan juhlat". Ilta-Sanomat.
- ↑ Pauliina Leinonen. "Lehti: PMMP-Paula ja Rasmus-Lauri saivat pojan". Ilta-Sanomat.
- ↑ Outi Pippuri. "Gloria: Tällaista on Paula Vesalan arki Los Angelesissa". Gloria.
- ↑ Visa Högmander. "Paula Vesala elämästä Los Angelesissa: Se ei ole mikään paratiisi". MTV.
- ↑ Visa Högmander. "Los Angelesiin asettunut Lauri Ylönen: Olen panostanut perheeseen". MTV.
- ↑ YLE. "IL: Paula Vesala ja Lauri Ylönen eroavat". YLE.
- 1 2 3 FinnishCharts.com PMMP page
- 1 2 3 "Musiikkituottajat – Tilastot – Kulta- ja platinalevyt".
- ↑ "PMMP myi kultaa – Katso uusi musiikkivideo! – Radio Nova". Radionova.fi. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
- 1 2 3 4 "Paula Vesala discography". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ↑ "Latauslista.fi: Artistit – PMMP". Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- 1 2 Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 235. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5. – "Listablogi: Rumban 50 hittiä -listan 50 menestyneintä hitintekijää vuosina 1992–2007 – 47. PMMP". Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ↑
- 2003–2010 "Listablogi: Adele kruunasi vuotensa (kommentit: PMMP)". Retrieved 2012-08-14. * "Heliumpallo" "Listablogi: Soiva vappupallo". Retrieved 2012-08-14. * "Rakkaalleni" "Listablogi: Tuhlaria säästellään". Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ↑ Miika J. Norvanto. "Helinäkeiju ja mikä-mikä-hirviön arvoitus – Kinovisio".
- ↑ "PMMP".
External links
- Vesala official site (Finnish)
- PMMP's official website (Finnish)
- Paula's biography (Finnish)