The album Kyly by groundbreaking Finnish band Värttinä reached the number one spot of the Transglobal World Music Chart for the month of July 2025. The album combines Karelian vocal traditions with a contemporary folk sound.
Värttinä was founded in 1983 in Rääkkylä, Eastern Finland, following early encouragement from Pirkko Kaasinen, a folklorist who involved her daughters in traditional Karelian singing. Initially a youth ensemble, the group grew to include up to twenty members and quickly gained popularity. By 1987, they had performed around 100 concerts and released their debut LP. Their breakthrough came with Oi Dai (1991), followed by Seleniko (1992), which garnered international acclaim and led to tours across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia.
In the decades since, Värttinä has remained active on both national and international stages. They contributed music to the Lord of the Rings stage musical, which premiered in Toronto in 2006, and became the first Nordic recipients of the WOMEX Artist Award in 2012. They have also received several Finnish music honors.
The group continues to collaborate across genres. Highlights include performances with the BBC Concert Orchestra (2015), Iceland’s Sinfonia Nord (2016), the Finnish National Opera and Ballet’s Kalevala (2017), UMO Jazz Orchestra (2018), and various Finnish pop artists.
Musicians on Kyly: Susan Aho on vocals, accordion; Mari Kaasinen on vocals, kantele; Karoliina Kantelinen on vocals, flute, kantele; Mikko Hassinen on percussion; Matti Laitinen on string instruments, vocals; Lassi Logrén on fiddle, jouhikko, vocals.
Transglobal World Music Chart – July 2025
- Värttinä – Kyly – Rockadillo
- Adrian Raso & Fanfare Ciocărlia – The Devil Rides Again – Asphalt Tango
- Ammar 808 – Club Tounsi – Glitterbeat
- Savina Yannatou, Primavera en Salonico and Lamia Bedioui – Watersong – ECM
- Hawa & Kassé Mady Diabaté – Toumaro – One World
- Madalitso Band – Ma Gitala – Bongo Joe
- Anouar Brahem – After the Last Sky – ECM
- Famo Mountain – For Those Left Behind – Glitterbeat
- Mari Kalkun – Stoonia Lood Live / Stories of Stonia Live – Real World
- Francis Bebey – Trésor Magnétique – Africa Seven
- Kankou Kouyate – N’Darila – One World
- Kaabi Kouyaté – Tribute to Kandia – Buda Musique
- Sami Galbi – Ylh Bye Bye – Bongo Joe
- Votia – Vié Kaz – Ajabu!
- Constantinople & Benedicte Maurseth – Nordic Lights in Persian Sky – Glossa
- Stefano Saletti – Mediterranima – Materiali Sonori
- Matthieu Saglio & Camille Saglio – Al Alba – ACT Music
- Elana Sasson – In Between – PKMusik
- Songhoy Blues – Héritage – Transgressive / Remote
- Mehmet Polat Quartet – Roots in Motion – AudioMaze
- Alune Wade – New African Orleans – Enja / Yellowbird
- Mustafa Said & Asil Ensemble – Maqam Pilgrims – Mapamundi Musica
- Trio Da Kali – Bagola – One World
- Nidia Góngora – Pacífico Maravilla – Positivo
- Aleksand Saya x Sarera – Fikira – Kayamba
- Aïta Mon Amour – Abda – Shouka
- Los Pirañas – Una Oportunidad Más de Triunfar en la Vida – Glitterbeat
- Mara Aranda – Sefarad en el Corazón de Bulgaria – Mara Aranda
- Brìghde Chaimbeul – Sunwise – Tak:til / Glitterbeat
- Neba Solo – Tuma Duma – Blanc Manioc
- Charles Maimarosia – Hote’ Hote’ – Wantok Musik
- Majid Bekkas, Nguyên Lê. Hamid Drake – Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic XVII: Gnawa World Blues – ACT Music
- Park Jiha – All Living Things – Tak:til / Glitterbeat
- Boubacar Traoré & Vincent Boucher & Jeremie Diarra – Live! – Boubacar Traoré
- Lina & Jules Maxwell – Terra Mãe – Atlantic Curve / Schubert Music Europe
- Luizga & iZem – Yemamaya – Elis
- Zingarua – Serotonina – Maninalto!
- Vesevo – Tien’ a ment’ – Liburia
- Kin’Gongolo Kiniata – Kiniata – Hélico
- Evoéh Q-Art – Músicas semilla – Segell Microscopi
More about the Transglobal World Music Chart: www.transglobalwmc.com
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central