Peela

Helsinki

The rising, fusion-influenced jam band “Peela” is releasing their EP “Stepping Stones” on Sept 10th, 2020. Peela consists of some of the finest upcoming jazz musicians in Helsinki, centering around the compositions of guitarist Johannes Granroth. They draw influences from jazz, funk rock and neo soul to a blend where improvisation, powerful melodies, lush harmony and groovy rhythms play a central role. Their music is mostly instrumental, though at times enhanced by Maja Mannila’s virtuosic singing. ”Peela has great chemistry – as it only consists of strong personalities, that still don't overshadow each other. Together these talents are even more”, Pentti Ronkanen praises the group on the site Suomijazz.com The band was founded in 2016 and along with actively gigging for nearly four years, Peela has released their debut album "Layers" in 2018. They have managed to catch the attention of acclaimed musicians such as pianist Iiro Rantala, giving them a push in the right direction. Their eagerly awaited second release is now coming out as well. "Stepping Stones" is a fresh collection of carefully picked tunes that take you on a journey between many different landscapes, ranging from energetic, funky and aggressive to relaxing and acoustic vibes, maintaining a balance between instrumental and vocal parts. The workflow of a high-end studio allowed the band to capture more of the interplay and live feel together, compared to their debut album. The group consists of Johannes Granroth (guitar, vocals, compositions), Severi Sorjonen (drums), Maja Mannila (keyboards, vocals), Sami Leponiemi (saxophone), Antti Ahoniemi (bass) and Mikko Antila (percussion). They want to bring people together to share the joy of playing and experiencing great music.