Paula Vesala

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. Since 2011, she has studied dramaturgy at the Helsinki Theatre Academy and later at University of California, Los Angeles. 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 Show, 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. 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 3. 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 PMMPYearAlbumPeakposition Certification 2003 Kuulkaas enot! Released: 5 September 2003 Record label: BMG6 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 BMG1 Platinum 2007 Puuhevonen Released: 14 November 2007 Record label: Sony BMG3 Platinum 2009 Veden varaan Released: 25 November 2009 Record label: Sony Music1 Platinum 2012 Rakkaudesta Released: 11 June 2012 Record label: Sony Music1 Gold 2013 Hitit Released: December 2013 Record label: Sony Music16

+ Paula Vesala & Pekka KuusistoYearAlbumPeak positions FIN 2011Kiestinki(with Pekka Kuusisto)12

+ VesalaYearAlbumPeakposition "Tequila" 2015 4 Vesala "Tytöt ei soita kitaraa" 2016 — "Älä droppaa mun tunnelmaa" 5 "Pahanilmanlinnut" 2021 10 Näkemiin, melankolia "Uu Mama" 2022 12 "Nopee Hopee" 19 "Miks pitää itkeä" 2023 17 Näkemiin, melankolia "Kipee" 2026 28

+ With PMMP Name Year Peak positions Certification Downloadlist Radiolist 50 Hits "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

+ Various appearancesYearTitlePeak positionsAlbum FIN '' Tinker Bell