Scandinavian Music Group

In 2002 Scandinavian Music Group arose from the dissolution of the widely celebrated Finnish act Ultra Bra. Its four founding participants—Terhi Kokkonen on vocals, Joel Melasniemi on guitar, Tommi Saarikivi on bass and Antti Lehtinen on drums—had each appeared within Ultra Bra’s extended roster, yet SMG favored a tighter, more straightforward sound stripped of the earlier group’s ironic agitprop pop. Although the members cited Sonic Youth and Rage Against the Machine among their influences, even the harder-edged numbers in their catalog display a pop clarity closer to Coldplay, Garbage or Manic Street Preachers. The band’s rapid success is unsurprising given both the members’ established pedigree and their skillful blend of polished craft with personal expression.

Sony BMG released the debut album Onnelliset kohtaa (“Those with Happiness Meet”) in 2002, sending it straight to the top of the Finnish charts. The 2004 follow-up Nimikirjaimet (“Initials”) turned toward more private themes but drew only tepid notices and failed to enter the top ten. Bassist Saarikivi exited between these releases and was replaced by Anssi Växby. In the ensuing years the group adopted acoustic instruments and reworked its sound while continuing to draw large crowds at concerts across Finland. Although the first singles from the 2006 album Hölmö rakkaus ylpeä sydän (“Foolish Love Proud Heart”) received scant radio play, the record reached number six and drew enthusiastic reviews. Its subdued and gentle tone served as a foundation for the understated refinement of 2007’s Missä olet Laila? (“Where Are You, Laila?”). That release also peaked at number six yet earned the strongest notices of the band’s career, finally uniting the album’s acoustic intimacy with Kokkonen’s distinctive vocals and the confessional quality of the lyrics.