Jemina – Freedom Was Found by Daring to Do Things on Her Own Terms
Music has been part of the life of Kouvola-born singer-songwriter and artist Jemina (Jemina Haatainen) since childhood. She took instrumental lessons, studied in music-focused classes, and wrote her first original songs at the age of eleven. Although the dream of becoming an artist lingered in the back of her mind, making it a reality felt almost impossible.
As a result, Jemina went on to study in the healthcare sector and trained as a practical nurse.
“While I was at vocational school, I even felt a kind of shame about my musicality. There was no one around me who was interested in music in the same way,” she recalls.
However, her passion for music never faded. When Jemina later decided to train as a midwife and moved to the Helsinki metropolitan area for further studies, she began writing her own songs again and recording them online. She was inspired to start an Instagram account, where she began posting singing videos.
“After the account had been up for about six months, Iiro Paakkari from the producer duo Los Rollos got in touch with me and invited me to the studio,” Jemina recalls.
Although Jemina had no prior experience of co-writing—writing songs together with others—the approach quickly proved to be highly productive. In sessions with Iiro, the pair completed three songs. One of them was a composition Jemina brought to the session herself, which later went on to be recorded and released by Nelli Matula as Ojaan.
The songs ended up on the desk of Patric Sarin. He became interested in the young songwriter and wanted to sign her to his publishing roster. The publishing deal opened doors for Jemina to songwriting camps, co-writing sessions and studios, where she also got to know other creators. One of them was Tomi Tamminen, and the collaboration worked so well that the duo eventually began writing songs for Jemina herself as well.
Those songs also caught the attention of a record label, and Jemina soon signed a deal—just six months after the publishing agreement. Her first solo single, Pilkkahintaan, was released in 2021.
“Looking back, everything happened very quickly. I was only 21 at the time and still quite lost when it came to my identity as an artist,” Jemina reflects.
On Her Own Terms
Even back then, Jemina had a clear outline of her own musical direction: big melodies, strong dynamics and influences from artists like Sia.
The record label’s vision, however, was different, and the resulting tension began to hold the young artist back. The uncertainty showed in her presence and could be heard in the music.
In the end, the decision was clear. When Jemina became an independent artist in the spring of 2024, the change felt liberating. Creative blocks began to fall away, and the shift was immediately reflected in her work.
Just one week after her record deal ended, a song titled Ihmishirviö was born. In the autumn, Jemina independently released the single Ylpee. It became her first hit and the song that brought her to the attention of a wider audience.
“I realised that the best work happens when you find your own vision and have the freedom to carry it out,” Jemina says.
Although the challenges of the indie field are widely discussed at the moment, Jemina also sees many positives in working independently.
“Freedom allows me not to be accountable to anyone else. If a song doesn’t deliver the result I hoped for, the consequences fall on me alone.”
She also wants to encourage others to pursue independent paths and to be brave:
“Why keep your skills under wraps and wait for some external opportunity, when you can release music yourself and take action?”
Copyright provides security for artistic work
As an independent creator, the importance of copyright has become tangible for Jemina in a whole new way.
“When I started filing work and recording notifications myself, I began to understand the system in a completely different way. I’m now also entitled to the producer’s share of my own self-released recordings, which is a really nice addition.”
Jemina says she receives Gramex remuneration from her own releases, in addition to having worked as a backing vocalist on recordings by other artists, including Suvi Teräsniska and Samuli Edelmann.
“Copyright remuneration is an important part of an artist’s income. Earnings are built from small streams, but every part matters,” Jemina says.
For her, copyright also represents security—the assurance that her work cannot be taken or used without permission.
A long road, a solid foundation
Last summer, Jemina stepped onto the stage with her own music for the first time while opening for Suvi Teräsniska, and performing live immediately felt like the right place to be. Next summer, she will also take the stage at Ruisrock.
“What’s especially great about playing live is that I get to perform music that is one hundred per cent me,” she says.
At the moment, Jemina is working on her debut album, which is scheduled for release in autumn 2026. The album will bring an important chapter of her career to a close.
“After that, you can start again with a clean slate and begin creating something new,” Jemina reflects.
An artist’s career can include several new beginnings and different phases along the way. Jemina believes that this is precisely why long-term work to build a sustainable foundation is so important.
“I want to grow my fan base and develop my career at my own pace. The industry often expects quick wins, but very few people are a finished package right away—and they don’t have to be.”
When discouraging moments arise or her confidence is put to the test, Jemina returns to the same question:
“If I ever think about quitting, I ask myself: what would I do instead? The truth is, I would always end up back at the piano. Music is my way of being and of conveying emotion. It means everything to me.”
