The folk pop of Jenny Räisänen has appeared on this blog before. In 2023, Jane introduced her music to our pages through her “gorgeous” single, Arctic Fox.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Juhani Konttinen
Jane was so taken with her that she even posed her some questions in an interview about her music, her plans, and her influences. “My studies have included all styles of Afro-American music such as soul, jazz, blues, Latin, rock, pop and folk. I listen to music widely and like to combine different styles. I admire unique singer-songwriters like Tori Amos, Björk, Maria Mena, Sinéad O’Connor, Eva Cassidy, Sara Bareilles, Hozier and Lisa Hannigan,” she shared in that interview.
Jenny does very much pick up where those famous names left off, and her new album The Sun Between The Shadows is a beautifully varied collection. It opens moody and contemplative through its opening track Underneath, and takes us on a journey from there.
Originally from Finland, Jenny now lives in Ireland. She’s completed a bachelors degree in Music Pedagogy and a MA in Songwriting, an education that then led her to be a teacher in Voice. And it’s her vocals that really shine in her new album, expressing the story of each track poignantly, whether it’s the darkness of What I’ve Done or the theatricality of I Don’t Have A Clue.
She accompanies herself on keyboard, and produced the album. Juhani Konttinen collaborates with her by playing guitar and mixing, and we get a couple of cameos from Eilidh Pope on violin.
Thematically, the album is about standing up for the weaker and fighting injustice in the world. There’s certainly a lot of that going on right now. Jenny wanted the album to be bold and experimental and I certainly think she’s nailed it in that regard. I’ve heard little like it, and each track comes with a unique sound and point of view.
As the album presses off, darkness turns to light and hope. Sorrowful moments like In A Vacuum and Sorry give way first to the meditative and minimal Breathe then to empowering anthem The Past Don’t Exist Anymore and the bright The Spark. The latter is a soulful highlight thanks to its relatable lyrics.
I love what Jenny Räisänen is doing with her music and her new album pushes what is possible in the genre of pop. It’s a must listen.
The Sun Between The Shadows is out now, available to buy as a digital album on Bandcamp. You can give it a listen below.
