The third song of this year’s Uuden musiikin kilpailu (UMK) has been released. You can listen to the song ”Sekaisin” by costee here:
Jussi Tiainen, better known as his artist name costee, is a singer-songwriter who grew up in the Turku region. He started his music hobby at the age of eight, when he got drums from his father. Soon he changed his instrument to guitar, when his desire for writing his own songs grew.
Before his solo career costee was a member of the indie groups The Reed Fags and Auntie Mary, dance music group Wanhat Pojat and pop group Sima. Sima was a duo founded by costee and Matthias Hermansson in 2014, and it released its debut album ”Tanssilattialla” the following year. Sima was active for four years, and the group played its farewell gigs in May 2018 in Turku and Helsinki.
In 2017 costee made a recording deal for his solo career with Etenee Records. His debut single ”Pakoon pahaa oloo” was released in March 2018. The debut album of costee, ”Ehkä joskus tää viel naurattaa”, was released in May 2019, and his second album ”Kaikki loppuu aina” came out in August 2020.
In 2022 costee released his third album ”Kaikki vampyyrit ei juo verta” and also founded his own record company, Tuhma Music. This allows him to share his expertise with new artists.
During his solo career costee has gotten over 100 million streams, his three albums have been successful and he has done a large number of sold-out gigs. He has become known as a pioneer in alternative pop. He has also written songs for other artists.
According to YLE, costee strives to be as honest as possible in his art. As a performer, costee is energetic and enchants the audience with his mystery. His performances often involve an element of darkness:
”I want to be a mysterious performer in my own way. I want some of that darkness on the stage, but I also like strong lights that create contrast”, says costee.
Costee and his fans have a particulary close relationship and community. Many of the fans have tattoos of the titles, lyrics and illustrations of his songs.
Costee’s goal is to first win UMK and after that Eurovision. As soon as the UMK song ”Sekaisin” was ready, the artist realised that he definitely had an UMK and Eurovision song in his hands.
This is what the professional jury of UMK25 said about costee and his song ”Sekaisin”:
Costee is a modern star in the traditional Finnish pop/rock vocal music scene. The UMK song Sekaisinis full of darkness and melancholy, but also love and hope, a combination that Finns have always loved. The song is more pop than costee’s earlier songs, but the artist’s distinctive sound and style as well as great lyrics are strongly present. Costee has a passionate fan base, and this song and UMK are sure to bring a lot of new fans to the artist who has the charisma of a pop star.
What do YOU think of ”Sekaisin” by costee? Do you think it has what it has what it takes to win UMK and do well in Eurovision? Let us know in comments or our social media channels!
