Johanna Kurkela

Johanna Kurkela
Background information
Born (1985-04-25) 25 April 1985 (age 39)
Lumijoki, Finland
GenresContemporary folk music
Years active2004–present
LabelsWarner Music Finland
Kaiku Recordings
Websitejohannakurkela.com

Johanna Kurkela (born 25 April 1985) is a Finnish singer.[1] Her first published work was a duet Tahdon tanssia kanssasi with Tomi Metsäketo in 2004. Kurkela released her first album Hetki hiljaa in 2005. She got a lot of publicity in the Finnish Preselection final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, presenting the song Olet uneni kaunein. Kurkela ended up sixth in the preselection final. A few weeks later she published her second album Marmoritaivas. She also contributed vocals to two tracks on Sonata Arctica's album The Days of Grays. Her 2010 album Hyvästi, Dolores Haze has sold over 20,000 copies.[2]

Personal life

Kurkela was born in Lumijoki. She has been in a relationship with Finnish musician and Nightwish founder and leader Tuomas Holopainen since 2009; they became engaged in 2014 and married on 28 October 2015.[3]

Musical background

Kurkela has a versatile musical background. She studied the violin for seven years from the age of five, and the classical piano from a few years later. She attended secondary school in Oulu at Madetojan musiikkilukio (an upper secondary school, otherwise known as a gymnasium in other parts of Europe) specializing in music.

In addition to singing Kurkela studies in a university of applied sciences.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums
Year Album Peak positions
FIN
[4]
2005 Hetki hiljaa 36
2007 Marmoritaivas 3
2008 Kauriinsilmät 10
2010 Hyvästi, Dolores Haze 1
2012 Sudenmorsian 3
2013 Joulun lauluja 8
2015 Ingrid 6
Compilation albums
Year Album Peak positions
FIN
[4]
2011 Uneni kaunein – Parhaat 2005–2011 7

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
FIN
[4]
2005 "Olen sinussa"  –
2007 "Olet uneni kaunein"  –
"Sun särkyä anna mä en"  –
"Marmoritaivas"  –
2010 "Rakkauslaulu" 15

Collaborative works

  • 2004: Tomi Metsäketo – Tummaa samettia: Tahdon tanssia kanssasi (duet)
  • 2005: Tilkkutäkki 1: Hiljainen kaupunki
  • 2006: Tilkkutäkki 2: Kuule minun ääneni
  • 2007: Tilkkutäkki 3: Elämä on nyt
  • 2009: Sonata Arctica – The Days of Grays (vocals on "Deathaura" and "No Dream Can Heal a Broken Heart")
  • 2009: Vesa-Matti Loiri – Hyvää puuta
  • 2009: Club for Five – You're The Voice: Nothing Else Matters
  • 2014: Music Inspired by the Life and Times of Scrooge (vocals)
  • 2018: Auri – Auri (vocals)
  • 2018: Korsukylä – Every Green in May & Johanna Kurkela (vocals)
  • 2020: Nightwish – Human. :II: Nature. (spoken words on "Shoemaker")
  • 2020: Altamullan Road – Altamullan Road (vocals & composition)
  • 2021: Auri – II – Those We Don't Speak Of (vocals)
  • 2022: Vita Nova (vocals)
  • 2022: Eye of Melian - Legends of Light (vocals)
  • 2023: Insomnium – Anno 1696 (vocals on "Godforsaken")

References

  1. ^ True, Chris. "Johanna Kurkela". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Johanna Kurkela" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  3. ^ "*Finland's Beautiful WolfBride* - Tuomas Holopainen opens up about his marriage with". Johannakurkela.tumblr.com. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Johanna Kurkela discography". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.