# Alma (Finnish singer)

Alma-Sofia Miettinen (born 17 January 1996), known professionally as Alma (stylised in all caps), is a Finnish singer and songwriter. Beginning her career in 2013, she placed fifth in the seventh season of the Finnish version of Idol. Her breakthrough came in 2015 when she was featured on the single "Muuta ku mä" by Sini Sabotage, and was subsequently signed to Universal Music Group.
The following year she released the singles "Karma" and "Dye My Hair", both of which became top ten hits in Finland. Her 2017 single "Chasing Highs" repeated this success, and also reached the top twenty in Germany and the United Kingdom. Her extended play Heavy Rules Mixtape was released in 2018 and reached the top ten in Finland. She has collaborated frequently with English singer Charli XCX, Swedish singer Tove Lo, Danish singer MØ, English DJ Digital Farm Animals who produced most of the songs of her debut album and most recently, American singer Miley Cyrus.

## Career
### 2013: Idols

In 2013, at age 17, Alma auditioned for the seventh season of Finnish Idols. She progressed to the live shows, where she finished fifth.
Idols performances and results :
| Episode | Theme | Song | Result |
| Audition | — | — | Through to live shows |
| 1. Final | — | "Welcome to My Life" – Sunrise Avenue | Safe |
| 3. Final | — | "Price Tag" – Jessie J | Safe |
| 5. Final | — | "Sekaisin" – J. Karjalainen | Safe |
| 7. Final | — | "In the Shadows" – The Rasmus | Eliminated |

### 2015–2016: Dye My Hair and breakthrough

In 2015, she was featured on Sini Sabotage's single "Muuta ku mä". In March 2016, Alma was signed to Universal Music, and in June she released her first single "Karma". The song peaked at number 5 on the Finnish Singles Chart. She is also the featured vocalist on the Felix Jaehn song "Bonfire". The song was released as a single in July 2016. In September 2016, Alma was confirmed to play at the 31st edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag in Groningen, NL. On 28 October 2016, she released her debut EP Dye My Hair.

### 2017: Chasing Highs, Phases and collaborations

She released the single "Chasing Highs" in March 2017. The song peaked at number 10 on the Finnish Singles Chart. In June it was released in the UK, and became Alma's first UK top 20 hit. She was featured on the Sub Focus' song "Don't You Feel It", released as a single in May 2017. She was also the featured vocalist on Martin Solveig's song "All Stars" which was released as a single in June 2017. In September 2017, Alma released stand-alone single "Phases" with Moroccan-American rapper French Montana. In December 2017, she collaborated with Charli XCX and Tove Lo on track "Out of My Head" from XCX's fourth mixtape Pop 2.

### 2018: Heavy Rules Mixtape, Bitches and Cowboy

On 26 February 2018, Alma announced that her second extended play which is called Heavy Rules Mixtape will be released on 2 March 2018. The record peaked at number nine in Finland and number 41 in Sweden. "Good Vibes" with Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Styrke peaked at number 91 on Swedish Charts, despite not being released as a track from the project. On 4 June 2018, Tove Lo announced the remix of her song "Bitches" from her third studio album Blue Lips. Aside from Alma, the song, also features Charli XCX, Icona Pop and Elliphant. The track was released on 7 June. In October 2018, Alma released a stand-alone track "Cowboy".

### 2019: Stand-alone singles, EP and Bad News Baby

On 1 February, she released "When I Die" which was supposed to be a lead single from her debut studio album. Two weeks later, on 15 February, Alma released "Summer" a supposed second track from her debut album. "Lonely Night" was announced on 11 June and was later released on 15 June. Her third EP Have U Seen Her? (Part I) consisting of two tracks was released on 1 November. Both tracks were later included on Have U Seen Her?. An actual lead single from her debut album "Bad News Baby" was released on 22 November.

### 2020: Have U Seen Her?

Have U Seen Her ? (Part II), singer's fourth EP was released on 13 March, the project has three tracks which were later included on an actual album. Her debut studio album Have U Seen Her? was released on 15 May.

### 2022–2023: Time Machine

After a two-year hiatus, Alma started to tease a new single starting from 3 June 2022. She came back on 1 July 2022, with "Everything Beautiful" which serves as the lead track from her second studio album. "I Forgive Me" was released on 12 August 2022, as the second track from her second album. Alma dropped "Summer Really Hurt Us" on 23 September 2022, as the third track from her second album. "Hey Mom Hey Dad" was released on 20 January 2023, as the fourth track. Alma finally announced that her second studio album Time Machine will be released on 21 April 2023. "Tell Mama" was released as the fifth and final track from Time Machine. Later that year, Alma toured Europe to promote her second studio album.

### 2024–present: Collaboration, documentary release

On 12 January 2024, Slowboy has released his collaboration with Alma and Digital Farm Animals called "Fake Friends". In March 2024, a documentary film called "Life Must Be Beautiful" was released in Finnish theaters. It was directed by Finnish actress and director Pamela Tola. A day before the documentary was released, Alma dropped a single with the same name.

## Personal life

In a March 2019 article in Gay Times, Alma confirmed she is a lesbian and in a relationship. Her partner is the Finnish poet and civil rights activist Natalia Kallio.

## Discography

Selected releases
* Dye My Hair (EP) (2016)
* Heavy Rules Mixtape (EP) (2018)
* Have U Seen Her? (2020)
* Time Machine (2023)

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2013 | Idols | Herself; contestant | Season 7 |
| 2018 | Yökylässä Maria Veitola | Herself | Season 3, Episode 9 |
| 2024 | Life Must Be Beautiful | Herself | Documentary |

## Tours
### Headlining

* Minitour Europe (2016)
* E.U.R.O Tour (2018)
* Have U Seen Her Tour (2019)
* Europe Tour (2022)
* Time Machine Tour (2023)

### Support

* MØ – Forever Neverland World Tour (2018)
* Christina Aguilera – The X Tour (2019)
* Tove Lo – Sunshine Kitty Tour (2020)
* Tove Lo - Dirt Femme Tour (2023)

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Nominee(s) | Category | Result |
| Danish GAFFA Awards | 2021 | Herself | Best International Solo Act | Nominated |
| Danish GAFFA Awards | 2021 | Have U Seen Her? | Best International Album | Nominated |
| EBBA Awards | 2018 | Herself | European Border Breakers Award | Won |
| Emma-gaala | 2016 | Herself | Export Emma of the Year | Won |
| Emma-gaala | 2016 | Herself | Newcomer of the Year | Won |
| Emma-gaala | 2016 | Herself | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Emma-gaala | 2016 | Dye My Hair | Pop of the Year | Nominated |
| Emma-gaala | 2016 | "Karma" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Emma-gaala | 2016 | "Karma" | Music Video of the Year | Nominated |
| Emma-gaala | 2017 | Herself | Export Emma of the Year | Won |
| Emma-gaala | 2017 | "Chasing Highs" | Song of the Year | Won |
| Emma-gaala | 2018 | Herself | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Emma-gaala | 2019 | Have U Seen Her? | Pop of the Year | Nominated |
| Emma-gaala | 2023 | Time Machine | Critics' Choice | Won |
| Emma-gaala | 2023 | Time Machine | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Emma-gaala | 2023 | Herself | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Emma-gaala | 2023 | Time Machine | Pop of the Year | Nominated |
| MTV Europe Music Awards | 2017 | Herself | Best Finnish Act | Won |
| MTV Europe Music Awards | 2019 | Herself | Best Finnish Act | Nominated |
| Rober Awards Music Poll | 2018 | "Out of My Head" (with Charli XCX & Tove Lo) | Floorfiller of the Year | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2019 | "Don't Call Me Angel" | Best Original Song | Nominated |
| Sound of... | 2018 | Herself | Sound of 2018 | Nominated |
| Sweden GAFFA Awards | 2019 | Herself | Best International Artist | Nominated |
| WDM Radio Awards | 2018 | "All Stars" | Best Dancefloor Track | Nominated |