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Photographer Richard Korteland, NL
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Jazzrytmit 1/2008

Suur-Keuruu 16.1.2008

English translation:

"Pauliina May (Pohjanheimo), Finnish vocalist working in The Netherlands has been invited to perform in the Geuzenpenning Award occasion, where Geuzen Medal is going to be given out to The President Martti Ahtisaari. Pauliina May is going to perform together with Dutch composer-pianist Izak Boom.
They both are part of the Finnish-Dutch group AINA, whose repertoire consists of poems of Eino Leino, Kalevala and Kantelerar composed by Boom. At the occasion the duo is going to perform the repertoire of AINA.
The Geuzenpenning occasion is going to take place at the Big Church of Vlaardingen."

PZC
Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant Oktober 2007

"Op zijn jaarlijkse herdenkingsdag hijsen ze de vlaggen", vertelt Boom. ,,Zijn gedichten hebben ook een thematiek die de Finnen op het lijf is geschreven. Veel drama, symboliek en verwijzingen naar de grootse Finse natuur. In Finland groei je op met zijn poëzie. Vreemd genoeg kom je buiten Finland echter nauwelijks vertalingen van zijn omvangrijke oeuvre tegen.

May kwam met het idee de gedichten van Leino te gebruiken. "Na een studie aan het conservatorium van Helsinki heb ik een vervolg studie in Rotterdam gedaan. Had ik last van heimwee dan pakte ik die oude gedichten en ontdekte toen pas hoe mooi de klanken overeenkwamen met de tekst", zegt de zangers. Ze zag er net als Boom een uitdaging in om deze poëzie op muziek te zetten."

Read the whole article in Dutch

Adapted translation from the complete article of PZC:
"In a more or less coincidental collaboration between Finnish singer Pauliina May and the Dutch composer Izak Boom, a new form of music has taken shape.
Boom: As a Dutch citizen I tend to use the harmonious sounds from psalms and hymns. These fit very well with the melancholy of the Finnish tradition. But I also use other sorts of sounds from folk, bluegrass, jazz and klemzer.
This year Finland is celebrating the anniversary of the poet Leino. Aina will be contributing to the celebrations by playing their at various stages. May also sees this as an opportunity to bring their music to her native country.
“ A lot of Finnish music is created outside of Finland. Apparently, someone like Izak is needed, because he doesn’ t bear the burden of the tradition.” In 2005, Aina brought out an album, on which they mixed new compositions with the old Leino poems. By now, Boom has also translated texts of the ‘ Kalevalas’ and the ‘ Kanteletar’ into music. Aina is not only shedding new light on Finnish music, they are also ambassadors of the rich Finnish tradition."

Moorsmagazine 11/2007:

"De muziek roept beelden op van kraakheldere bevroren Finse meren, met May centraal als gepassioneerde ijskoningin. May zingt helder, met een rollende r die de muziek alleen maar kracht bijzet, het pianospel van Boom is scherp en intens, en de arrangementen versterken nog eens het gevoel dat er een weids landschap voor je uitgerold wordt....."

Read the whole article in Dutch

Moorsmagazine 11/2007:
The music of ‘ Aina’ conveys images of frozen Finnish lakes, with Pauliina May in the centre as a passionate icequeen. May sings crystal clear, with a rolling ‘ r’ that magnifies the force of the music, while Boom plays the piano sharp and intense with arrangements that fortify the feeling of a vast landscape spreading out before you.
These arrangements are exceptional as they swing back and forth between salon jazz and classical chamber music, with added instruments like a string quartet, a flugelhorn, and more, all brought into action at exactly the right moment.
Serious music? It is, but it can also be frivolous and cheerful, with a hint of melancholy in every song. This is one gem of an album.
Taken from:
Holly Moors november 2007

Aksentti, September 2006: (Publication for libraries in Finland)
"Aina-kvartetin trumpetti on leinolaisittain mielenkiintoinen ratkaisu, studiokokoonpanoon valitun bandoneonin vahva ääni sen sijaan istuu suomalaiseen äänimaisemaan hyvin. Kiinnostavaa Schengen yhteistyötä."
Lue lisää.

Aksentti, September 2006:

"What comes to Leino - choosing a trumpet in Aina-quartet is a very interesting solution, instead the strong sound of a bandoneon fits perfectly into the Finnish soundworld. Interesting Schengen co-operation"

Kainuun Sanomat 4.7.2006:

"Mielestäni Leinon lyriikat ansaitsevat suuremman yleisön kuin viisi miljoonaa suomalaista." (Izak Boom)
Lue lisää.

"To my opinion the poems of Eino Leino deserve a wider audience than just five million Finns."
(Izak Boom)

Rondo 5/06:

"Mayn äänessä on voimakas sointi, miellyttävä puolihimmeä mattapinta sekä kiitettävästi erilaisia sävyjä ja ilmeitä, jotka välittyvät kuulijalle hienosti levyn poikkeuksellisen huolitellun ja mehevän äänikuvan ansiosta." Lue lisää.

"Pauliina May has a strong presence on her voice, a pleasant half-shimmered mat-surface and excellent variety of sounds and gestures, which are brought to the listener with amazingly perfected and fruity sound-picture."
Lue lisää.

Jazzrytmit 30.3.2006:

"Pienisievä kokonaisuus, josta henkii suomalaisuus, vaikkakin se on monikansallista tuotantoa. Hyvä paketti myös lahjaksi ulkomaille, miksei kotimaahankin."

"A beautiful complex, where lies a Finnish touch, even though it is a multinational production.
Great package for as a present abroad, why not as well for a Finn."

Suur-Keuruu 29.3.2006:

"Intohimoinen Catena, 'Kuin rautakahle meidät yhteen liittää,/ Ei syy, vaan yksinäisyys sydämen,' ei voi mennä kuuntelijan ohitse."
Lue lisää.

"The song full of passion; Catena, cannot be passed by a listener"

Suur-Keuruu 13.7.05:

"AINA-yhtye antoi selkäpiissä tuntuvia elämyksiä Keuruun vanhassa kirkossa...Izak Boomin pääasiassa Leinon ja Kalevalan teksteihin säveltämä musiikki hurmasi runouteen perehtymättömänkin täysin."
Lue lisää.

Metro magazine in Helsinki 22.2.2006:

Photo by Reijo Keloneva, Finland

Kainuun Sanomat, February -06 and Koti-Kajaani 4.3.06:

Orimattilan Sanomat 1.12.2005:

photo by Taina Lukkaroinen, Finland

Theaterkrant Gorinchem, program 2005-2006: