Funky Awards 2024 – Celebrating the soulful Suomi!
The Funky Awards 2024 winners are here! The votes have been counted and the best of the best in the eight categories have been found. BIG thank you to all participants!
The race was delightfully even. The public voted in large amounts and the judges finally mixed up the categories even further with their votes. Punomo and Grande Mahogany both won two categories. Congratulations! In addition Bronze Silver & Brass, Emilia Sisco, Hassan Maikal and Josén Pimä Puoli were awarded.
Grande Mahogany
(Instagram / Facebook / Bandcamp)
Artist of the year is Grande Mahogany. The artist released his first full-length album As Grande As last year and became a phenomenon of the year in the wider Finnish music scene also. He has accumulated several awards and award nominations during the year and his energetic shows have captivated the audience both at Funky Amigos’ Elephantasy Funky Family Picnic in Alppipuisto in Helsinki and the Flow festival last summer. Grande Mahogany’s debut EP of the same name was released already in 2019 and now after years of hard work the limelight finally turns towards this star. Funky Amigos congratulates!
Emilia Sisco who released her first solo album last year won the public vote and placed second in the overall vote. Another artist who has been tirelessly working and growing her reputation for years now and to whom we now happily give all the credit.
The third place in the Artist of the Year category went to the wonderful Michael Bleu, who also gathered love in the Music Video of the Year category.
Artist of the year Nominees
Bobby Oroza (nettisivu)
Emilia Sisco (nettisivu)
Grande Mahogany (Instagram)
Jimi Tenor (nettisivu)
Michael Bleu (Instagram)
Timo Lassy (nettisivu)
Valtteri Pöyhönen (nettisivu)
Punomo
The Band of the Year category was finally won by Punomo from Turku! Their delightful retro soul and the lovely Finnish lyrics has been celebrated at the Funky Amigos headquarters for a long time already. The award comes on a very special moment for the band as they release their second full-length album the day after tomorrow. The first album Punomo came out in 2022 and we are eagerly looking forward to hearing the second album on Friday. Congratulations!
The public vote in the Band of the Year category was won by the Don Johnson Big Band. The group finished second in the overall vote. The popularity of the veteran band, which made a comeback last year, has not waned at all during the hiatus, which is also evidenced by the high ranking in the album of the year category.
Third place in the Band of the Year category went to Helsinki’s Rosettes who are currently preparing their first album to be released in the spring.
band of the year Nominees
Dalindeo (nettisivu)
Don Johnson Big Band (Instagram)
Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble (nettisivu)
Inariveljet (Facebook)
Mama Longhorn (nettisivu)
Punomo (Instagram)
Rosettes (Instagram)
Bronze Silver & Brass
The Newcomer of the Year category was probably the most colorful of this year’s categories. New music artists last year really showed that funk can live and soul can be present in so many different ways.
Bronze Silver & Brass serving juicy horn funk finally emerged as the winner of a category that was very tight until the end. Hailing from the famous Timmion camp, the band has only released two singles, but has obviously blown the audience’s hearts to the brim with love with their strong live performances and dance-foot tapping songs. Congratulations!
Rap newcomer Nea Neuroosi who have been dropping street anthems from the Helsinki suburbs over and over again came second in the overall Newcomer of the Year voting. The third place was taken by Ruttusound who is boldly renewing kantele music and whose debut album from last year has clearly been very well received in your sound systems.
The public vote for the Newcomer of the Year went to Julye Blom who released her soulful debut album last year. It was a pleasure to watch how the category developed and to see how we find new artists and new music completely independently from the mainstream media as well.
newcomer of the year nominees
Bronze Silver & Brass (Instagram)
Fyrk (Instagram)
Julye Blom (nettisivu)
Nea Neuroosi (Instagram)
Ruttusound (Instagram)
Sonja Selene (Instagram)
Viive (Instagram)
Yavu (Instagram)
Zangoma (nettisivu)
Emilia Sisco – Introducing
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Queen Emilia! The albums of the year were divided into three categories and the Rhythm section included the more traditional soul/funk/jazz albums and the ones that samples them. The category was won by Emilia Sisco with her first solo album Introducing by both the public vote and the judges choices. The popularity of the album which was released only at the end of the year shows the power of grassroots love that she has cultivated over the years. Definitely one of the driving forces of Finnish soul! We thank you and congratulate you Emilia!
Jimi Tenor with his album Is There Love In Outer Space? took second place. The recording created in Timmion’s mythical cradle together with the band Cold Diamond & Mink resonated strongly with both the public and the judges. Will be played for years and years.
The third place in the Rytmi category was taken by Grande Mahogany with his first full-length album As Grande As. One of the multiple winners of this year’s Funky Awards.
album of the year – Rytmi nominees
DJ Slow – Helsinki Mixtape (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Emilia Sisco – Introducing (Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Grande Mahogany – As Grande As (Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Jimi Tenor with Cold Diamond & Mink – Is There Love In Outer Space? (Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Kuja Orchestra – Seasons In Rhythm (Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
The Blassics – Breaks and Juicy Takes (Bandcamp / Youtube)
Timo Lassy & Jukka Eskola – Nordic Stew (Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Hassan Maikal – Ilmaista Terapiaa
(Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Finnish rap? Indeed! In the extremely tight Rap category, Hassan Maikal finally took the album of the year award with his album Ilmaista Terapiaa. The artist is known as a particularly intelligent interpreter of emotions and now his second album released last year was crowned as the champion. The album which combined modern sounds with half sung rap vocals got a lot of votes from both the public and the judges. The artist showed that rap music can be made with countless flavours and made history with his new classic. Congratulations!
The rap category was the most tight of all. The rankings were finally decided by singular votes. The second place went to Julma Henri and his album Paratiisi SRJTNT Vol. 3. “Finally love rap from Suomi” said the jury. Third in the category was Stepa with his album Gettotekniikka.
The public vote was won by Redrama who returned to the studio last year! His latest album Therapy Sessions won with a narrow majority and welcomed the artist back to the game. Check out all the nominees and links to music on the Funky Awards 2024 website.
album of the year – Rap nominees
Are & Rekami – Kabinettimusiikkia (Spotify / Youtube)
Bentality – Regular Life (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
F – Self-Helpless (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Hassan Maikal – Ilmaista terapiaa (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Julma Henri – Paratiisi SRJTNT Vol. 3 (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Mactopias – Hyvä jätkä paska kaupunni (Spotify / Youtube)
Redrama – Therapy Sessions (Spotify / Youtube)
Ronskibiitti – Kriittinen. (Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Stepa – Gettotekniikka (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Josén Pimeä Puoli – Ohikulkija
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Music that escape genres and is difficult to describe in any clear terms were collected to the Rajojen Ylittäjä category. Music that surprises, conquers and delights. The winner of the category was Josén Pimeä Puoli with his wonderful album Ohikulkija. Like exciting stories from a movie we never saw and emotional songs about life as an astronaut in the universe of love. The second album release of Jose Mäenpää, a multi-tasker in the music industry and also known as the trumpet player of the group Dalindeo, convinced both the public and the jury. Many congratulations!
Rajojen Ylittäjä category eventually grew into a clash of two records. The winner of the public vote and the second place in the overall vote was taken by the Don Johnson Big Band with their comeback album Midnight Movement. A strong comeback! We have clearly missed DJBB’s sound as they were also celebrated in the Band of the Year category.
Mama Longhorn took third place in the Rajojen Ylittäjä album category with their great album Extinct But Still Alive. The album which has received a lot of attention around the world, received love also from the Funky Awards voters. Their performance at last summer’s Elephantasy Funky Family Picnic in Helsinki’s Alppipuisto in Helsinki was unforgettable!
album of the year – Rajojen Ylittäjä nominees
Astro Can Caravan – Astral Projections (Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Don Johnson Big Band – Midnight Movement (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble – Vive L’Amour (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Inariveljet – Eeppiset pajot (Spotify / Youtube)
Josén Pimeä Puoli – Ohikulkija (Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Mama Longhorn – Extinct But Still Alive (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Pepe Deluxe –Comix Sonix (Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Ruma – Ääniviestei (Spotify / Youtube)
Ruttusound – Tropikantele (Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Punomo – Lempee
(Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Lempee! That’s what this is about. Punomo won the song of the year category with their single Lempee. Thus Punomo also became one of this year’s double winners by winning both the Band of the Year and Song of the Year categories. Lempee which tells a lovely story and begs your hips to dance promises great things from the Punomo’s second album which will be released the day after tomorrow. We bow deeply and congratulate Punomo!
Each of the Song of the Year nominees will be celebrated for a long time to come. There was such a great list of candidates for 2024. Asa took second place in the category with his song Mulle Riittä Yks. The artist who has collected the greatest amount of Funky Awards of all time also won the public vote for the Song of the Year.
The third place in the category was won by a new artist that we are particularly excited about. Sonja Selene won the bronze in the Song of the Year category with her song Pimeä Pää. We can’t wait for the debut album!
song of the year nominees
Asa – Mulle riittää yks (Spotify)
Bronze, Silver & Brass – Ward To Ward (Bandcamp / Spotify / Soundcloud)
JätkäJätkät – Sumplin (Spotify / Youtube)
Lindelltronics – Maan tapa 2024 (Bandcamp / Spotify)
Mama Longhorn – Rowing High Rowing Low (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Markus Holkko – Funky Ranking (Spotify / Youtube)
Nea Neuroosi – Pitkä matka himaan (Spotify / Youtube)
NaharY – The Man (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Punomo – Lempee (Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Rosettes – Green Ray (Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube / Soundcloud)
Sonja Selene – Pimeä pää (Spotify / Soundcloud)
Grande Mahogany – Spaceboy Pinkhead
(Youtube)
The Music Video of the Year category was won by the artist of the year Grande Mahogany with his video Spaceboy Pinkhead. Grande Mahogany also became the second Funky Awards double winner of the year. He came to the attention of a larger audience last year with his first full-length album and electric live concerts. The simple, great and also politically relevant music video earned the second award for the artist in this years voting.
Second place in the Music Video of the Year category went to Michael Bleu with his music video Lainattu Huominen. The artist has clearly conquered the hearts of the Funky Amigos family placing third in the Artist of the Year category as well.
JätkäJätkät who are making a strong comeback won the public vote and placed third in the Music Video of the Year category with their video Norsun Selässä.
musicvideo of the year nominees
Find all nominees for the music video of the year on a Youtube playlist here.
Grande Mahogany – Spaceboy Pinkhead (Youtube)
Inariveljet – Meestä aevoon (Youtube)
JätkäJätkät – Norsun selässä (Youtube)
Michael Bleu – Lainattu huominen (Youtube)
Muscular – Super Macarena (Youtube)
Musta Vuohi – DIY (Youtube)
Nea Neuroosi x Oiva Vedätys x Mängi x Hugs x KFC x DGU – Buffaa buffaa (Youtube)
Ruma – Aina joku suuttuu feat. Larski7 (Youtube)
Zangoma – Chimbilimbili (Youtube)
Funky Awards returned to celebrate the best of the soulful Suomi! The award ceremony brought together the highlights of the Finnish black roots music released during the year 2024 and searched for the hottest artists, bands, songs and music videos with the help of the jury and the public vote. This year there were eight categories. The prestigious jury chose the nominees and the public voted for the winners during the month of January.
This years prestigious jury consisted of the following persons:
- Deeqa Aho (Funky Amigos ry:n hallituksen jäsen)
- DJ Bunuel
- Joonas Kervinen (DJ SoulllJay, Funky Amigos ry:n hallituksen jäsen)
- Outi Urpilainen (tanssija, Funky Amigos ry:n hallituksen jäsen)
- Saga Saari (muusikko)
- Santeri “Sandelicious” Panula (muusikko, tapahtumatuottaja, Funky Amigos ry:n hallituksen varapuheenjohtaja)
Many thanks to everybody who participated!
Funky Amigos association celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024 and brought back the Funky Awards tradition to celebrate the Finnish black roots music released during the year. The highlights of the year were chosen annually from 1999 to 2015, after which the concept was put on hiatus. Now is the time to bring it back! You can read more about the history of the Funky Awards and previous winners here.
Selections from the albums of the year and the song of the year nominees can be found on the Funky Awards 2024 Spotify playlist and the music video nominees have been collected to the Funky Awards 2024 Youtube playlist.