Antti Paalanen

Finnish accordionist and throat singer Antti Paalanen blends elements of folk music, techno, and rock. He placed second at Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2026 with his song “Takatukka.” In recent months, Antti Paalanen has risen to massive popularity as a social media phenomenon through his original accordion covers of songs by artists such as Avicii, Rammstein, and Scooter. Altogether, the “Antti’s School of Accordion” videos have amassed over 10 million views in just two months. Antti Paalanen’s musical expression has evolved organically. As a child, he was equally fascinated by local folk music traditions and by bands he discovered through MTV, such as Twisted Sister, W.A.S.P., and AC/DC. He later immersed himself in folk music studies at the Sibelius-Akatemia. Along the way, he also adopted throat singing based on Mongolian traditions, a technique he uses in his deep, growling vocals. This unique combination has already resulted in five solo albums, the latest being Haitarimarinadi (2026), as well as numerous releases with various ensembles. On tour, Antti has performed across Europe, North America, Hong Kong, and Japan. In France in particular, he now appears on major festival stages. On stage, Antti’s one-man band creates a massive, pulsating combination of bass, harmony, melody, and rhythm. More often than not, his shows end with audiences left in a trance, singing Paalanen’s hypnotic songs long after the music has stopped.