Discovery of the Week: Joosua
Melancholic indie rock that makes you fall in love from the very first melody
The band Joosua, whose name translates to “Joshua”, was formed in 2013. According to the members, the core of their work is lyrics inspired by early 20th-century poets.
Their debut and only album, titled Vielä hetken, Sinun, was released in 2015, produced by Artturi Taira and Sampsa Väätäinen from the renowned Finnish indie-pop band Rubik, which had disbanded in 2013.
Joosua's music was in many ways a continuation of Rubik's sound—the same melancholic, light indie-rock with folk influences, which Finnish listeners had warmly embraced.
It came as no surprise that many Rubik fans turned their attention to the new project.
Their debut and only album, titled Vielä hetken, Sinun, was released in 2015, produced by Artturi Taira and Sampsa Väätäinen from the renowned Finnish indie-pop band Rubik, which had disbanded in 2013.
Joosua's music was in many ways a continuation of Rubik's sound—the same melancholic, light indie-rock with folk influences, which Finnish listeners had warmly embraced.
It came as no surprise that many Rubik fans turned their attention to the new project.
“The gap left by Rubik after their breakup is hard to fill, but we're trying to make their fans feel comfortable listening to our music,” vocalist Olli Somero said about Joosua's music.
The singles and music videos from the album drew mixed reactions from critics, with some saying that Joosua was something of a copycat of Pariisin Kevät, who by then had already firmly established themselves on the Finnish indie-rock scene. The band didn't deny it, especially since Taira had also worked with Pariisin Kevät.
Joosua managed to win over indie-rock fans and went on tour, after which they took a short break. In 2016, they released a new single called “Hattara” (“Cotton Candy”), which was meant to kick off work on their second full-length album.
“Cotton candy comes to mind as a childhood memory—something that feels pleasant if consumed very rarely. In this song, cotton candy is an allegory for fleeting love, which leaves a sweet aftertaste and a smile on your face. If there is too much of that love, something might go wrong. A breakup. That's why you should only have cotton candy once in a while. No stomach ache, just a smile,” Olli Somero said about the song.
The single was well received by critics, many of whom rated it higher than the debut album. Joosua began performing again, returning to live activity. Over the course of their career, they shared the stage with Pariisin Kevät, Jaakko Aukusti, Olavi Uusivirta, Mira Luoti, and others.
Despite returning with a new single after a long break, nearly six months later, in April 2017, the band announced an indefinite hiatus on their page.
Two of the band's members—vocalist Olli Somero and guitarist Tapio Heinilä—eventually joined a new project of their own making: the band Intiaanikesä, where they continue to work to this day.
The singles and music videos from the album drew mixed reactions from critics, with some saying that Joosua was something of a copycat of Pariisin Kevät, who by then had already firmly established themselves on the Finnish indie-rock scene. The band didn't deny it, especially since Taira had also worked with Pariisin Kevät.
Joosua managed to win over indie-rock fans and went on tour, after which they took a short break. In 2016, they released a new single called “Hattara” (“Cotton Candy”), which was meant to kick off work on their second full-length album.
“Cotton candy comes to mind as a childhood memory—something that feels pleasant if consumed very rarely. In this song, cotton candy is an allegory for fleeting love, which leaves a sweet aftertaste and a smile on your face. If there is too much of that love, something might go wrong. A breakup. That's why you should only have cotton candy once in a while. No stomach ache, just a smile,” Olli Somero said about the song.
The single was well received by critics, many of whom rated it higher than the debut album. Joosua began performing again, returning to live activity. Over the course of their career, they shared the stage with Pariisin Kevät, Jaakko Aukusti, Olavi Uusivirta, Mira Luoti, and others.
Despite returning with a new single after a long break, nearly six months later, in April 2017, the band announced an indefinite hiatus on their page.
Two of the band's members—vocalist Olli Somero and guitarist Tapio Heinilä—eventually joined a new project of their own making: the band Intiaanikesä, where they continue to work to this day.
- Tuuli TalvinenFounder & Editor-in-ChiefInterviewer