Mustik Motel Music & Ultraääni Records proudly announces together: Solar Unity Ensemble debut album Upstream is here!

Album is now available on all major streaming services & on vinyl for you to enjoy!

LISTEN the album UPSTREAM from BANDCAMP, SPOTIFY or TIDAL.

---

VINYL is available on our Webshop & Bandcamp right now. We have started to distribute the album to record stores. Follow our social media for availability updates!

---

DJ Jukola interviews Solar Unity Ensemble (in Finnish). Talking about the album and how it came to be while listening through the album music.

Mustik Motel is thrilled to welcome Viive to our artist roster! These talented artists have been crafting an imaginary soundtrack for a non-existent movie, and we can’t wait to share their debut album with the world soon! Below our announcement, the band introduces themselves.

“Viive” is a collaborative project between keyboardist/vocalist Riikka Suutari and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Antti Niiranen. The idea for this jazz collaboration began in 2021 and has been evolving ever since.

The duo got to know each other 10 years ago while studying at the same high school in Ii, Northern Ostrobothnia. Through the years, their deep friendship has allowed them to freely explore rhythms and sounds without a predetermined goal, ultimately leading to a joint creation.

From playing indie cover songs in a small town to exploring the tickling sensations of jazz, the duo has had time to find a shared vision and sound, which eventually led to “Viive”.

“We would describe ourselves as storytellers, using soundscapes to convey different narratives. Our music blends 21st-century jazz with influences from Neo-soul, contemporary jazz, and Finnish progressive weirdness.”

-Riikka & Antti

While working on the first collaborative album, in 2023 Antti released his solo debut EP, “Kielletty Puutarha” under the artist name “Anastus”, followed by a collaborative single with Riikka (“Usva Emilia”) called “Näkyjä”.

“Looking back, I think the solo EP release was a necessary step towards our Viive debut. After working on our album so closely and for so long, taking some time away from the project helped me return to it with a fresh perspective and full of energy. Now I’m really happy how our debut album turned out.”

-Antti

Listen below!

Listen to the single EMERGENCE for example from BANDCAMP, SPOTIFY or TIDAL. Single is now available on all major streaming services for you to enjoy!

---

Debut album UPSTREAM is out on 26.9.!

Vinyl & Digital pre-order is now available from Bandcamp and on our own web shop!

Upstream streaming will be available on all major streaming platforms on the release date.

Solar Unity Ensemble
Single: Emergence
Release date: Thursday 12.9.2024

The other half of Mustik Motel label, Jarno, describes the single as follows:

The hills, meadows, and forest edges invite us to reflect on one’s place in the solar system. Golden dragonflies buzz by, like carriers of interstellar cargo. New-age shepherds stamp travel cards with the saxophone’s reed and the piano’s hammer. Nearby, a sizable city casts its shadow over nature’s own grassy and rocky studio. Nervousness and wonder need an outlet. It’s better to share than to conceal. Let’s be open, yet the whole remains a great mystery and the solar system’s own secret.

Commenting on this era with old-time, earthy spiritual jazz.

Available across all major audio streaming platforms on the release date. Now available to pre-save!

Together with another Tampere local label, Ultraääni Records, we are delighted to introduce Solar Unity Ensemble!

Multi-instrumentalist Roope & saxophonist Henri are on a mission to explore, understand, and tap into the cosmic flow of free musical expression. They met at art school back in 2014, where they began their initial sessions in the school cellar. After graduation, their journey included a hiatus and a fortunate reunion, ultimately leading to recording music together from 2019 to 2023.

Solar Unity Ensemble album is ready and the vinyls are already in production! Join our Newsletter to hear among first about the release dates!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dj Jukola (@djjukola)

We’re thrilled to announce that the initial 300 copies of Tahmela Six’s debut album, “Mount,” have sold out faster than expected! Fear not! Due to popular demand, we’ve taken the initiative to press an additional 200 copies. The second batch will be available in late August, so mark your calendars!

“Mount” is also widely available on streaming platforms like Spotify and Tidal. If you’d like to purchase a digital copy, visit for example our Bandcamp site: HERE!

Check these stores for any remaining vinyls from the first pressing:

Finland: Sammakka Pop, Laukontorin Antikvariaatti, Swamp Music, Levykauppa Äx, Keltainen Jäänsärkijä, Pertin Valinta, Fresh Garbage, 8raita, Round Sound, Alfa Antikva – Available soon: Eronen & Digelius

Sweden: Record Mania, Djungel & Jazz

Estonia: Psühhoteek, Biit Me, Dogz Recordz – Available soon: RR Gems

Latvia: Plates.lv, Down Street

Also you can inquire directly from the great artists when you see them live! Like 1.8.2024 here in Tampere at the Kaikki on Jazzia event!

The long-awaited Tahmela Six vinyl is finally here! Another round of huge thanks for helping to materialize this fantastic Tahmela Six music into physical form goes to Stiina Lampio for the album artwork and Jon Thureson for the layout. Local poet J.K. Ihalainen for the liner notes & Arsi Keva from Ultraääni Records for the hype sticker. Helsingin Levypuristamo did an excellent job pressing the vinyl, and the one and only, always top-tier master record carver, Timmion Cutting!

Get yours online! – EU, UK, USA+Canada & contact for shipping further:
Mustik Motel Webshop & Mustik Motel Bandcamp

Local record stores in Tampere (FI): Sammakka-pop, Swamp Music & Levykauppa-X
Selected record stores in Turku (FI) & Helsinki (FI) coming soon, follow our social media for updates!

Also, handful of records are on the way to Stockholm (SE), Tallinn (EE), Riga (LV) and Tarto (EE) along our summer travels. Contact us for details!