Peltokurki (duo)

Peltokurki is a Finnish duo consisting of singer-songwriters Anna Peltomaa and Emma Kurkinen. Their captivating music blends pop, folk, and film genres, fusing symphonic elements into a contemporary and heartfelt style. Their songs explore diverse themes such as nature, mindfulness, personal growth, and emotions. Peltokurki draws inspiration from profound conversations between Kurkinen and Peltomaa, infusing their music with deep meaning.
With their debut album, "Peltokurki I," and signing with Northern Flame Music, Peltokurki is making waves in the industry, representing their Nordic identity. Peltokurki has established itself as an exciting and promising force in Finnish music.
==Early life and education==
===Emma Kurkinen===
Emma Kurkinen was born on July 22, 1992, in Rovaniemi, Finland. She grew up in Kittilä, Western Lapland, where her passion for music was sparked by listening to her older sister plays the piano and accordion. Kurkinen began classical piano lessons at the age of 7 and developed an interest in singing when she joined a youth choir at 13. Through the choir, she had the opportunity to perform in various venues. In 2009, Kurkinen received the Leo Siirtola Memorial Fund scholarship, which supports young aspiring musicians from Kittilä in their careers.
In 2012, Kurkinen moved to Rovaniemi to pursue her studies at the Rovala Institute, specializing in the pop and rock program with a focus on vocals and piano. During this time, she also participated in a tour of the Kola Peninsula with circus artists from Rovaniemi. In the fall of 2013, Kurkinen enrolled in musical education studies at the University of Oulu and graduated with a Master's in Education in 2019. Before the formation of Peltokurki, Kurkinen was involved in the band's Duo Ginger and MELA, actively performing between 2013 and 2018.
===Anna Peltomaa===
Anna Peltomaa was born on December 7, 1992, in Raahe, Finland, and resided there until she moved to Oulu in 2012 to pursue her music studies. Peltomaa's musical journey began during her primary school years when she attended music classes. She started playing the flute in 2002 and later pursued studies in classical flute at Oulu University of Applied Sciences. Throughout her teenage years, Peltomaa participated as a flutist in the Raahe Wind Orchestra, a youth choir, and a pianist in a musical theater group. In her final year at the music institute, she organized her composition concert, featuring instrumental pieces she had composed between 2007 and 2011.
Peltomaa’s passion for composition led her to create music for various projects, including a play, a short film, and the video artwork titled "Oulu meren jäällä" (Oulu on the Sea Ice). She received a music scholarship in 2011, which aimed to support young talents in creative fields. In the fall of 2013, Peltomaa began her studies as a music subject teacher at the University of Oulu, coincidentally entering the same year group as Kurkinen. Peltomaa graduated with a master's degree in education in 2019. She also played drums in the band MELA.
==Career==
The story of Peltokurki began in the summer of 2016, when Kurkinen and Peltomaa embarked on a tree-planting summer job in Posio, Finland. The duo, accompanied by their musical instruments, organized a celebration for their colleagues working on the reforestation project. As word got out about Kurkinen and Peltomaa's musical backgrounds, their colleagues encouraged them to create a special song for the occasion, the Tree Planting Song. This experience became a turning point for the duo as they discovered their effortless ability to create music together, leading to a fruitful autumn filled with diverse musical ideas and inspirations.
These early experiences laid the groundwork for Peltokurki's debut album, shaping their unique sound and artistic vision. Kurkinen and Peltomaa's collaborative approach to songwriting, composing, and arranging, fueled by their shared passion for music, has remained central to their creative process. Their harmonized vocals, with Kurkinen, typically handling the upper parts and Peltomaa the lower parts, form the core of Peltokurki's sound. Their performances can range from a duo to a full ensemble, featuring up to 12 musicians on stage. The visual aesthetics of Peltokurki, reflecting Finnish nature, womanhood, boldness, and sensibility, are meticulously curated by visual designer and stylist Essi Kumpuvaara (Issedesign).
The duo officially formed in 2018, releasing their debut single 'Musta Koira" in August. The accompanying music video, directed by Tommi Rahko, received accolades, including the Postpumpeli Award at the Oulu Music Video Festival. The same year, they organized a sold-out Peltokurki Orchestra double concert at Valvesali in Oulu, where they performed nine songs. Following the concerts, they began recording their first album. Produced and recorded by Matti Manninen, the album featured over 15 musicians who contributed to the recording process between 2018 and 2020. Peltokurki independently released their debut album, 'Peltokurki I,' in March 2021.
In 2020, Kurkinen and Peltomaa started working on material for their second album with producer and songwriter Aapo-Matti Puhakka. Many of the songs were the result of co-writing sessions with Puhakka. Peltokurki signed a record deal with Northern Flame Music, run by Ville Pusa and Jari Ilomäki, in the spring of 2023. They released their first single, 'Tanssitaan,' with the record label on May 26, 2023.
In addition to their albums and singles, Peltokurki has composed music for two plays, 'Häräntappoase' (2021) and 'Iitin Tiltu' (2022), performed in open-air theaters in Liminka. They also collaborated with Pyry Sojakka to create background music for the audiobook 'Untenmaille' (2023), written by Sanna Tuovinen and published by WSOY.
==Band members==
* Joonas Kinnunen (drums)
* Eerik Samula (quitar)
* Jami Alaverronen (keyboards)
* Aleksis Kesti (bass)
* Elina Korhonen (violin)
* former musician Taneli Knuutinen (keyboards)
==Discography==
===Singles===
* "Tanssitaan" (2023) - Released by Northern Flame Music, distributed by Warner Music Finland.
===Album===
* "Peltokurki I" (2021) - Independently released by Peltokurki.
===Single Releases from the Album "Peltokurki I"===
* "Saippuakuplia" (2020)
* "Fiilaan" (2020)
* "Aikaa" (2020)
* "En unohda teitä" (2019)
* "Musta koira" (2018)
===Music Videos===
* "Musta koira" (2018) - Creator: Tommi Rahko; Self-released.
* "En unohda teitä" (2019) - Creator: Tommi Rahko; Self-released.
===Other Releases===
* "Ote ei irtoa" (2019) - Mini-documentary directed, filmed, and produced by Juho Karjalainen / Kuume Productions.
==Awards and recognitions==
Peltokurki won the Postpumpeli Award at the Oulu Music Video Festival for the music video of their debut single 'Musta Koira" in 2018.
==Gallery==
==In the media==
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==References==
==External links==
* Official website
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Category:1992 births
Category:Finnish musical duos
Category:Musical duos from Finland
Category:Finnish musicians
Category:Finnish singers
Category:University of Oulu alumni