FINLAND – Finland’s Contest for New Music UMK, revealed its seven finalists today. One of them will represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, in May 2022: Cyan Kicks, BESS, The Rasmus, Younghearted, Olivera, Tommi Läntinen, and Isaac Sene.
The competing UMK songs will be announced daily starting tomorrow, January 13. The songs and music videos will be available on the Finnish Broadcasting company’s streaming service Yle Areena, as well as on Youtube, Spotify, and other music streaming services at midnight on their own respective days. The winner will be chosen in the UMK final on February 26.
UMK22 song release dates:
Thu 13.1. Cyan Kicks – HurricaneFri 14.1. BESS – Ram pam pamMon 17.1. The Rasmus – JezebelTue 18.1. Younghearted – Sun numeroWed 19.1. Olivera – Thank God I’m an Atheist- Thu 20.1. Tommi Läntinen – Elämä kantaa mua
- Fri 21.1. Isaac Sene – Kuuma jäbä
Olivera – Thank God I’m an Atheist
Olivera is still relatively unknown to the wider public, even though she has had millions of Spotify streams and impressive international releases. Olivera is an indie-pop artist with 4 of her own EPs. With over 10 million listens, No More is Olivera’s biggest song, but she also writes music for other artists. Perhaps the most famous of these is world-renowned DJ-producer Tiësto, whose song Affliction was written by Olivera, who also did the vocals on it.
As a self-described thinker, the artist enjoys telling stories and playing with different kinds of scenarios, both of which are at the core of her Eurovision entry. Olivera has a personal connection with her Contest for New Music UMK entry, whose theme had been subconsciously developing since childhood. It is an exploration of death and the possibility of eternal life – not exactly the lightest of topics.
“Nobody knows what happens after we die. What if all the world’s biggest religions are actually right and life never ends? I can’t think of anything that causes more anxiety than the idea of eternal life,” Olivera says.
After finishing a raw, first version, Olivera presented the song to her producer and spouse Lenno Linjama, and ultimately to musician-producer Alpo Nummelin from the band Ruusut. Nummelin’s contribution gave the song the edge it desired. For Olivera, who has been making her own music since the age of 11, the UMK entry Thank God I’m an Atheist is so close to her heart that she considers it to be one of the most important pieces of music she has written in her career thus far.
Thank God I’m an Atheist by Olivera will be released on Wednesday, January 19 at midnight.
UMK jury comments: “Olivera is one of Finland’s most interesting and talented indie artists performing on the international stage. Thank God I’m an Atheist is a beautiful, touching ballad, which already grabs the listener with its name and its opening bars. Olivera’s expressive voice really comes into its own in the song, which, although constructed of few elements, forms a truly impressive whole. The song is also very timely, while still offering a totally unique sound.”
