Joonas Holmén + The Lossy Codecs

First emerging in the late 2000s as the front man of the Turku-based indie-outlet Das Claudius, Finnish singer-songwriter Joonas Holmén has been firing on all cylinders, having in a matter of a few years built up a considerable body of work. He has primarily focused on his solo project Joonas Holmén + The Lossy Codecs, releasing an EP and an album of indie rock in the vein of classic 80s and 90s American alternative rock bands, such as Dinosaur Jr. and The Smashing Pumpkins.

The album, Sunshine and Someone to Hold (2014), built around Holmén's complex and often unorthodox guitar riffage, ponders the challenges of social life, mental illness, death and faith, setting off in a carefree tone and gradually getting more serious and darker. A multi-instrumentalist, Holmén performs most of what is heard on his rock records, while utilizing a band of supporting musicians called The Codex when performing live. He is known for his distinctive vocal delivery, characterized by a contrast between a powerful, even piercing nasal sound and a softer, more tender voice.

In addition to his solo work, Holmén is the creative force and front man of Trunko, an alternative punk act that has thus far released an EP. He has also produced a vast discography of electronic music, the genre in which he initially started to make music as a child.

- Oiva Ristimäki, Bachelor of Arts, Faculty of Culture and Art Research, University of Turku