Sanna Marinink’s Younghearted is heading for bigger stages - “Our goal is to be the nicest band in Finland”

The New Music Competition was a big leap for the band. “It made us cool,” says Younghearted’s frontwoman Reeta Huotarinen.

The band has become known for its acoustic and tender love songs. With their third album, *Love is all we need*, released in September, Younghearted is looking for a bigger audience with a bigger rock sound.

– We have brought back the Finnish rock of the early 2000s.

– We want to make bigger and rocking music all the time. We’ve evolved in a way that hasn’t become a wet blanket for the old listeners,” says Younghearted.

The musicians of the Sports High School found each other

– I can’t do anything with this guy.

That’s what Reeta thought when she met Emil for the first time. Less than ten years ago, the music teacher had gathered the students of Mäkelänrinne sports high school for a musical performance, and the guitarist Emil, who had already graduated, had also been asked to join. There aren’t many musicians in sports high school.

Reeta, who was asked to be a singer, tried to talk to the guitarist who was at the back of the music class, but after the third time she couldn’t hear what he was saying. He thought to let it be.

However, that’s where Younghearted’s story began, when the trio was completed by Atte. The band started doing cover gigs at first and then working on songs written by Emil.

– UMK was a pretty wild experience, getting in front of a big audience. It’s been a nice year, even though it’s been a bit of a downer,” says Younghearted.

The band was supposed to make music in English at first, but they ended up making songs in Finnish. In Finland, it is easier to succeed in the Finnish language.

However, the name Younghearted remained, because the band had uploaded music to Emil’s YouTube channel of the same name.

– It reflects our philosophy of life well. Even though we’re getting a little old here, we’re still young at heart, summarizes Emil.

A team player for everyone

Younghearted is a special band because everyone has a strong sports background. Atte played soccer as HIFK’s goalkeeper in the youth national team, Reeta played soccer in PK-35 and Emil is a former championship-level golfer.

The band ends up thinking about whether the sports background has been useful for working in the band.

– It has definitely been beneficial in terms of execution and pressure tolerance. I have already suffered the worst Munauks and darkest moments in my football career. In Musa, failures are no longer really felt anywhere, Atte says.

– I take it too hard if I make mistakes. It comes from fudis and that’s a bit of a bad thing, Reeta continues.

The only individual athlete in the group has been listening quietly from the sidelines.

– I go my own way. I’m just covering what’s going on around me. I go play guitar and do my own thing there. I enjoy it.

The Finnish band Younghearted photographed in Helsinki's Vallila. — – Love is a central theme in all our songs. The music is positive and optimistic. They are the songs that keep us moving forward,” says Younghearted.

However, the band members seem to be team players, as everyone has a clear role in the band. Atte is like a CEO who is responsible for practical matters such as gig arrangements. Reeta is a cover image who also does graphic design for cover images.

– Emil is a joker and an artist, the other two say in unison.

UMK made cooler

Participating in the New Music Competition was a big leap for the Younghearted band. The band had already released two albums, but greater success was yet to come.

Participating in the race was not obvious, as Emil was reluctant for a long time.

– The racing background was one of the reasons why I started making music. You don’t really compete in it, you can do your own thing and it goes as it goes. Maybe it was also exciting when everything was so new.

Younghearted finally ended the race with the song *Sun numero*. The song was well played on the radio and more people came to the concerts.

For the band itself, UMK was learning many new things. The trio had never appeared in a big TV production, which includes all the best in the industry, from directors to choreographers. Above all, participating in the competition brought more performance experience.

– Maybe in such a special situation it develops as a performer and as a person. You relax there and it’s not always so cold. I don’t know if there were ever boys, but at least I was. We must have become a bit cooler, Reeta laughs.

In addition to UMK, Younghearted also received a boost from Prime Minister Sanna Marin, when she chose the band’s song for the Elämäni biisi program.

– It’s a big honor and it’s nice to hear that he likes our music, says Reeta.

– He hasn’t been seen at gigs now. Sanna may have been a bit busy now, Emil grins.

Towards bigger stages

Younghearted plays the new *Mustangi* song acoustically with a training drum. Soon, a drum set will also be brought to the place for gig rehearsals.

Reeta regrets that the space is getting tighter. However, that price has to be paid, because the band wants to be bigger and rockier than before. Bigger stages need more musicians and playing power. Just an acoustic trio is no longer enough.

The Finnish band Younghearted photographed in the band's training facilities in Vallila, Helsinki. — – The group is fun to play and make music with. None of us are going solo. It’s a bit sad even to think about,” reflects the trio of Younghearted.

Younghearted will perform in concert halls during the fall. It would be a dream to do a bigger stadium gig again someday.

– The nicest band in Finland. That is our goal. And the biggest band in Finland. But Haloo Helsinki is still gigging. We may still have a long way to go, but one day, Emil says.

– Do you mean that if Haloo Helsinki were to stop, then we would automatically be there? Reeta asks.

– When they retire, then it’s our turn.