The Mimmit band is an exciting mix of danceable world music and animation!
A NEW AND REFRESHING take on Finno-Karelian world music for children and the young-at-heart with mythological undertones!
Mimmit has a big mission: They want to make children fall in love with world and ethnic music before they get too suspicious about "alternative" music styles!
Mimmit ("Chicks") is an exciting duo of two sisters coming from a small village called Rääkkylä near the Russian border in eastern Finland. Mimmit are full of song and dance and inevitably put any audience in a good spirits! Their first CD "Hats Hats Harakkainen" was released in October 2008 and consists of 10 infectious original compositions by Mimmit. A new Mimmit CD "Maailman ympäri" (Around the world) is going to be released 12.10.2011 (Universal).
Around the world with Mimmit
The new record by Mimmit take children on a musical journey, flying by magical moccasins called Tsupikkaat. The songs - played on acoustic instruments - are inspired by old tales and by exotic animals around the world. This journey takes us to - among other countries - India, China, Japan and Brazil. In addition to the familiar acoustic instruments, we are treated to more exotic instruments such as the koto, mbira, kora, kaval, tablas, dholak and the Indian harmonium. With the Mimmit, you can sing a bit of Chinese, Hindi, Japanese and Saami. Learn how bread - chapati - is made in India and how the Panda lives in the hills of China! Or how trolls harass Japan and what animals live in the Amazon...
"Hats Hats Harakkainen" was received very well. It was nominated for Finland`s Best Children`s CD (Emma award, Finnish Grammy) in 2008. Finnish television (TV2) was also sufficiently impressed with Mimmit and their performance to broadcast it, and so Mimmit sing and dance in the most popular Finnish children´s TV-program (Pikku Kakkonen). "Hats Hats Harakkainen" has also received glowing reviews in the media across Europe. Mimmit on stage is an exiting experience with music, dance, exotic instruments and visual elements. The Finnish language is not a problem for non-Finns, the spirit of the music exhilarates everyone! Also the background graphics and animation lead audience to a mystical fairy tale world.
The "Hats Hats Harakkainen" CD is full of characters straight out of Finno-Karelian mythology: creatures of the Forest, princesses, mermaids, water-elves, trolls and characters from Kalevala like the Magical Giant Eagle and the Witch of Lappland. The fresh sound of the CD is due to the use of different ethnic acoustic instruments like kantele, guitars, mandolins, accordion, minipiano, kaval, low whistle, percussions, dobro.
The Mimmit Animations
The Mimmit animations (all songs by Mimmit, 20 episodes in all), done in a charming modernised folk-loristic style, are musical tales in which the Mimmit have adventures in their home forest and also travel to distant lands. There they meet enchanting characters - familiar from tales and fables - such as witches, princesses, exotic animals, trolls and even monsters. Even a talking tree... The general approach of the animations is a concern for the environment.
The Mimmit Story
Sisters Pauliina Lerche and Hannamari Luukkanen have played, sung and danced together their entire lives. Coming from a small village called Rääkkylä near the Russian border, they are deeply rooted in traditional Finnish –specifically Karelian -music. The sisters are also skilled in traditional handicrafts and cooking.
Pauliina embarked on her musical path at the age of four by playing the fiddle. She was a member of the original line-up of Värttinä. She has released several acclaimed CDs and has toured extensively both domestically and internationally. Overseas she has a particularly strong following in Japan, where her concerts and albums have been consistently well received. Karelian music is a passion for Pauliina but she also has a life "outside" music with her two lovely little daughters; playing, drawing, reading stories, baking Karelian pasties...
Hannamari fell in love with Karelian ethnic music already at the age of five when she started playing the fiddle. Her voice and original style of singing is a perfect match with Pauliina´s vocals. On stage Han- namari also plays fiddle, the minipiano and dances, sometimes even at the same time! In her spare time Hannamari goes folk dancing or stitches embroidery for Mimmit or Pauliinas little girls costumes.
The Mimmit -project
Pauliina's soloalbum "Malanja", released in 2006, became an unexpected hit with the extended family's little girls: they listened the CD incessantly, learn- ing the lyrics by heart, and driving their parents to exasperation. Thus the idea of this record was born: to produce an album of full-bodied ethnic music for children. Savour the experience!
The Band
Pauliina Lerche - vocal, accordion, kantele, dance
Hannamari Luukkanen - vocal, minipiano, violin, keyboards, dance
Jukka Kyllänen - guitar, background vocal
Tuomas Logrén - guitar, percussion
Timo Pekonen - bass
Discography
Mimmit: Hats, Hats Harakkainen 2008 (PLACD060) PLASTINKA - Buy Hats, Hats Harakkainen
Mimmit: Maailman ympäri 2011 (Universal) - Buy Maailman ympäri
