Roska: Desert Poetry (live improvisation 2017)

We had a wonderful chance to record a single with Brazilian singer Karine Telles with our Åbossa crew. She was visiting Finland and we took her to studio for one day. The song is written by Gerard Gassou, and his French lyrics were translated for Karine by a Brazilian poet Paulo Cesar Nunes. The line-up was collected from some of our favourite musicians in Turku. The song was put together in studio without practising beforehands. Spontaniously, lively, beautifully.

The concept Åbossa was invented in the same session. The word is a combination of words Åbo (our local town Turku in Swedish) and bossa.

The music video of our studio session was directed by Christopher Collins and can be seen here: https://youtu.be/SCoRuQdLsuQ

I was thrilled to get compliments and social media shares for this song by one of my favourite singers, Nina Miranda from Smoke City.

I play here a Finnish Landola C-65 with nylon strings.

Imagine (written by Gerard Gassou) 

Karine Telles: vocals
Gerard Gassou: vocals and guitar
Jaska Poikonen: guitar
Otso Helasvuo: bass
Roope Kantonen: percussion
Tapani Kärnä: saxophone
Nawras Odda: Rhodes

Portuguese lyrics adaptation by Paulo Cesar Nunes

Produced by Nawras Odda
Co-engineered by Markus Junnikkala
Mastered by Jaakko Viitalähde at Virtalähde Mastering

Åbossa logo, photography and sleeve design by Jaska Poikonen

Released in 25.2.2015

Åbossa Presents Dzakali & Karine Telles: Imagine

This is the debut single of our hip hop group Hylje & The Divers.

Line-up:
Tuomas Kaukoranta (MC Hylje): vocals
Jaska Poikonen: vocals and guitar
Aleksi Kauppinen: keyboards
Hannu Aaltonen: bass
Ville Nieminen: drums and percussion
Tapani Kärnä: saxophone

Hylje & The Divers: Raha & Rakkaus

Written by: Tuomas Kaukoranta, Jaska Poikonen, Hylje & the Divers
Arranged: Hylje & the Divers
Production: Nawras Odda, Hylje & the Divers
Mix: Nawras Odda
Mastering: KW Masterointi

Cover art by Tuija Jyrkkiö / Kintaro Tattoo

Released 17.3.2016

I play here Aria Pro II TA-80 and a 70's Ibanez through Epiphone Valve Junior combo.

Hylje & The Divers: Raha & rakkaus

This is the second single of our hip hop group Hylje & The Divers.

Music video available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2aSoaWfvZg

Line-up:
Tuomas Kaukoranta (MC Hylje): vocals
Jaska Poikonen: vocals and guitar
Aleksi Kauppinen: keyboards
Hannu Aaltonen: bass
Ville Nieminen: drums and percussion
Tapani Kärnä: saxophone

Hylje & The Divers: Raha & Rakkaus

Words by: Tuomas Kaukoranta, Jaska Poikonen
Music by: Jaska Poikonen, Hylje & the Divers
Arranged: Hylje & the Divers
Production: Nawras Odda, Hylje & the Divers
Mix: Nawras Odda
Mastering: KW Masterointi

Cover photography & graphic design: Jaska Poikonen

Released 6.4.2016

I play here Aria Pro II TA-80 through Epiphone Valve Junior combo.

Hylje & The Divers: Vanhaan malliin

The third, and the most epic and serious single from our hip hop group Hylje & The Divers.

Lyrics: Tuomas Kaukoranta
Music: Jaska Poikonen, Hylje & the Divers
Arrangement: Aleksi Kauppinen, Hylje & the Divers
Production: Hylje & the Divers, Nawras Odda
Recording & mixing: Nawras Odda
Mastering: Minerva Pappi, Waudio Masterointi

Tuomas Kaukoranta: vocals
Jaska Poikonen: guitar, background vocals
Aleksi Kauppinen: keyboards
Tapani Kärnä: clarinet
Hannu Aaltonen: bass
Ville Nieminen: drums & programming
Paula Poikonen: background vocals

Cover design: Jaska Poikonen 
Cover photo: Paul Bruins

I play here Aria Pro II TA-80 and Fender American Stardard Stratocaster through Epiphone Valve Junior combo.

Hylje & The Divers: Taivaan merkit

The fourth single of our hip hop group Hylje & The Divers.

Lyrics: Tuomas Kaukoranta
Composition: Jaska Poikonen, Hylje & the Divers
Arrangement: Hylje & the Divers
Recording, mixing & mastering: Miri Miettinen

Tuomas Kaukoranta: vocals
Jaska Poikonen: guitar, vocals
Aleksi Kauppinen: keyboard, background vocals
Tapani Kärnä: saxophone
Hannu Aaltonen: bass
Ville Nieminen: drums

Cover art by Jaska Poikonen.

Released 4.1.2018.

I play here Aria Pro II TA-80 through Epiphone Valve Junior combo.

Hylje & The Divers: Valot

Roska is a dark blues, soul and roots rock influenced duo consisting of Rosa (vocals and percussion) and Jaska (guitar, backing vocals).

We recorded a three song studio live set in Barker Studios, Turku. It was 100 % live, couple of takes, fearless dive in music and our live sound in studio circumstances.

The set was recorded and mixed by Nawras Odda.

We also made a music video of the performance, shot and edited by Heikki Räisänen. The video for When I Was a Young Girl can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjCILNJpw7U

Roska: When I Was a Young Girl (Nina Simone / Feist Cover) – Studio Live

Roska is a dark blues, soul and roots rock influenced duo consisting of Rosa (vocals and percussion) and Jaska (guitar, backing vocals).

We recorded a three song studio live set in Barker Studios, Turku. It was 100 % live, couple of takes, fearless dive in music and our live sound in studio circumstances.

The set was recorded and mixed by Nawras Odda.

We also made a music video of the performance, shot and edited by Heikki Räisänen. The video for Rivers can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4h6FMSOByE

Rivers is written by Rosa Rantanen.

Roska: Rivers – Studio Live

Roska: Rocky Muhammad Ali – Studio Live

Our first collaboration single with my main man MC Hylje. Roope is a modern crime story. 

Lyrics: MC Hylje
Music: J. Poikonen
Production: Heikki Kareranta 

I play Aria Pro II TA-80 through Traynor tube amp, with Tubescreamer and some other stuff.

Photography & graphic design by me.

MC Hylje & J. Poikonen - Roope

I am a guitarist, songwriter and singer from Turku, Finland. My main genres are blues, rock, hip hop, R&B, soul and bossanova. Some acts I have been involved and performed with are Roska, Hylje & The Divers, Åbossa and PRK Experience. 

I am currently working with home recordings of my solo material. I will keep posting some old and new tracks to this account now that I got started.

I am strongly oriented on improvising and always open for new musical collaborations.

Jaska Poikonen

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