According to Porra, Iceland’s music exports are focused on originality and not following what others are doing.
Porra recently returned from Iceland, where his Moomin-themed piece was presented.
– The name of the orchestra piece is Seasons in Moominvalley and five symphony concerts were performed there (Iceland) – four were for children and one for adults, Porra told the Half a Day program.
In addition to the work, the Moomins also employ the man in other ways.
– I act as a musical supervisor for Moomins and I have composed a so-called audio brand for them. It means that they have a lot of pictures and a story, so we create a sound in connection with that, Porra summed up.
But let’s go back to Iceland.
In Finland, it is sometimes painful how Sweden seems to dominate music exports. A hit is born for worldwide distribution. What can we learn from it?
Porra would look to Iceland and take a tip from there.
– Iceland really is a music export success story. From my point of view, there is a focus – not so much on following what other countries, even Sweden, are doing, but on what kind of music those Icelanders are making.
According to Porra, Iceland has been understood to exploit the country’s own strengths.
– It has led to Oscar wins and, as far as I can tell, a pretty profitable music business.
He also addressed the topic in the Half past seven today section before the broadcast.
– Above all, we should be proud of Finnish music and the kind of talents we have. And if you look at world success in classical, heavy and world music, Finland is a top country.
But what is that Finnish distinctiveness?
– There is often such a nutty madness involved and how strongly we live with the four seasons in relation to nature, I think that is a really big factor.
Finland’s new Eurovision representative also knew how to use originality, according to Porra:
– I think it’s about a creator and a song that has made its own look rather than spying on what others are doing. And it is most obviously made with heart.