Vili Mustalampi, dubbed Finland’s ambassador for Latin, has long been making more traditional Cuban music in Spanish with several bands such as Kuukumina. In 2018, he switched to Finnish and formed a new self-titled band, which has since released 11 singles and one full-length album. The singer-songwriter writes songs in the voice of a Finnish male, but the stories dance to Latin rhythms. The songs that come out of his pen are all about hope and community. And of course, Vili also sings about love, even with big words when necessary.
The members of the band are familiar from several other bands and teaching positions. Guitarist Janne Halonen is the leader of the Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble; Ricardo Padilla is involved with Orkestra Suora Lähetys and teaches at the Sibelius Academy; Tero Rantanen with Plutonium 74 and the Don Johnson Big Band; and Puro Paju teaches at the Sibelius Academy as a lecturer.