The accordion artist of the year was announced at the accordion cruise last weekend. Kuusijärvi’s open-mindedness is especially praised in the justifications.
In the justifications, it is stated that Kuusijärvi, with his open-minded projects, has expanded the understanding of what the accordion can do as an instrument. Kuusijärvi is one of the most distinctive creators of new accordion music. He has premiered numerous pieces of contemporary music composed for the accordion, performed in the field of popular music with countless artists and collected praise from rock, jazz and world music critics on his albums with various bands.
For Kuusijärvi himself, the choice came as a complete surprise.
– Yes, this came out of the box, but it feels good, because as an accordion musician I work as if on the outside, and I’m not so much inside accordion circles.
Kuusijärvi states that as an accordion artist, he makes very exceptional music on average, when compared to the images that people usually have of accordion players.
In recent years, Kuusijärvi has focused especially on electroacoustic music and developing the electroacoustic possibilities of the concert harmonica.
Lankojärvi’s childhood can be heard in music
Kuusijärvi approaches the accordion not so much through accordion music, but more as an interesting instrument for producing sound.
– The accordion is the kind of instrument used to make perhaps the most traditional Finnish music on the one hand, and the most modern on the other. The accordion is the most delicious tool for finding something new, and it lends itself to many things.
Kuusijärvi elevates the childhood spent in Lankojärvi to a certain kind of individuality developer.
– There you could tinker alone and find your own expression at times in peace. All kinds of music could be played on the accordion before the internet.
A gigging and award-winning musician
Earlier in his career, Kuusijärvi has been noted for example with a Teosto award nomination in 2020 and a Classical of the Year nomination at the Emma gala in 2022. In 2011, Kuusijärvi received 2nd prize in the Arrasate Hiria accordion competition, which is one of the most significant international competitions in the field.
Kuusijärvi is currently influencing music in many areas. In the coming summer, he will be heard at the Hiljaisuus festival in Kittilä in the premiere of the new work *Solsirépifpa* and in the Rauma Festivo in the new *Trapped Butterfly* chamber opera, and at the Ilmiö festival in Turku with the new *Phoenix* solo performance.
Other Kuusijärvi projects include the bands *Lehtojärven Hirvenpää*, *Sole Azul* and *Koutus*.
The accordion artist of the year was chosen for the sixth time. The accordion artist of the year was announced at the accordion cruise last weekend.
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