Selma Savolainen is one of Finland’s most exciting emerging vocalists who effortlessly combines Finnish folk sounds with jazz and alt singer songwriter styles, while writing highly emotive compositions for her band alongside striking arrangements.
Horror Vacui is her debut record and features some of the most sought-after musicians on the Finnish jazz scene – Max Zenger on clarinets, Tomi Nikku on trumpet, Toomas Keski-Säntti on piano, Eero Tikkanen on double bass and Okko Saastamoinen on drums.
Savolainen is an alumnus of the Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program and the Banff International Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music. She has studied at the Sibelius Academy and the Conservatory of Paris. In 2022 Savolainen was awarded with the Rising Talent Prize by the Pori Jazz Festival. Horror Vacui is a set of songs composed and arranged specifically for this sextet, exploring the fear of emptiness, renunciation and sudden discoveries. Savolainen says, “by creating space for every musician’s voice we hope to create a place where solitude does not exist.”
Horror Vacui is a strong debut entry from an exciting musician whose compositional approach is captivating and underpinned by impressive technique. An accomplished vocalist and cerebral composer, Savolainen’s star is most definitely on the rise.
Album releases May 5, 2023 on Whirlwind Recordings.
