Mafia Honey

Finnish pop/rock band
Mafia Honey
Mafia Honey in 2019, from left to right: Tomas Niemistö, Salla-Marja Hätinen, Ilkka Tuovinen, Johannes Erkkilä
Mafia Honey in 2019, from left to right: Tomas Niemistö, Salla-Marja Hätinen, Ilkka Tuovinen, Johannes Erkkilä
Background information
OriginHelsinki, Finland
GenresPop-rock
Years active2016 – present
LabelsSony Music Finland[1]
MembersSalla-Marja Hätinen
Tomas Niemistö
Ilkka Tuovinen
Johannes Erkkilä
Websitehttps://www.hogmusic.fi/artistit/mafia-honey/ (in Finnish)

Mafia Honey is a Finnish pop-rock band formed in 2016 in Helsinki by the former vocalist of the ceased to exist band Sallan ja Miron matka maailman ympäri, signed by the local branch of Sony Music.[2] The band released its self-titled debut solo album in 2019 and several singles from it, all the songs were written by Salla-Marja Hätinen.

History

The band’s beginning dates back to 2015, when Salla-Marja Hätinen made several demos, which became interested to Sony Music.[2] Then, through social circles, she began to look for “nice guys” who would form a band led by her.[2] So the lineup included guitarist Tomas Niemistö, who had previously played in the ensemble of the Finnish pop star Robin Packalen, bassist Ilkka Tuovinen, and drummer Johannes Erkkilä.[2]

The debut single “Rakastutaan” (Finnish: Let’s Fall in Love) was released on January 19, 2018.[3] The second one “Koira” (Finnish: Dog) came out on June 1, 2018.[4] The last single from the first album “Yhdeksän elämää” (Finnish: Nine Lives) was released on January 4, 2019, and, according to the singer of the group Salla-Marja Hätinen, this track for the album was intentionally recorded last, and the reason for this was the desire to achieve “the best understanding within the band” before recording it.[5]

The band’s name

The band got its name from one of Marilyn Monroe’s dogs.[6] “Maf” was the Maltese lap dog that Frank Sinatra gifted to Marilyn Monroe; in connection with the allegedly mafia ties of Sinatra, the dog was fully baptized “Mafia Honey.”[7] When Monroe died, the dog was given to the secretary of Sinatra.[7]

Discography

Albums

Name Release Charts Certifications
FIN
Mafia Honey
  • Released: April 26, 2019
  • Format: CD / digital distribution
  • Label: Sony Music
 - -

Singles

Name Year Charts Album
FIN
Koira 2018 - Mafia Honey
Rakastutaan 71 (radio chart)[8]
Yhdeksän elämää 2019 -

Band members

  • Salla-Marja Hätinen — vocals, kantele (2016—)
  • Tomas Niemistö — guitars (2016—)
  • Ilkka Tuovinen — bass (2016—)
  • Johannes Erkkilä — drums (2016—)

References

  1. ^ "Mafia Honey – Suomen virallinen lista – Musiikkituottajat" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Archived from the original on 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  2. ^ a b c d Haavisto, Markku (2018-02-10). "Tulokasyhtye Mafia Honey tekee isoa soundia ja tuo kanteleen rockmusiikkiin" (in Finnish). Yle. Archived from the original on 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  3. ^ Pitkänen, Enni (2018-01-30). "Tässä he ovat - Mafia Honey on uusi suomalainen rock-yhtye!". Bauer Media Group (in Finnish). SuomiRock. Archived from the original on 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  4. ^ "Selvä Kesä 2019 – Esiintyjät" (in Finnish). Sininauhasäätiö. Archived from the original on 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  5. ^ Siikaluoma, Mirko (2019-01-08). ""Kuinka nykyään helposti ne läheisimmätkin ystävät ja läheiset katoaa jonnekin" – Parasta juuri nyt -soittolistan vieraana Mafia Honey" (in Finnish). Soundi. Archived from the original on 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  6. ^ Siikaluoma, Mirko (2018-01-19). ""Yöt on sävellysten aikaa" – Perjantaibiisinä nimekkäistä tekijöistä koostuvan Mafia Honeyn Rakastutaan" (in Finnish). Soundi. Archived from the original on 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  7. ^ a b Crisley, Kathleen (2012-03-20). "Marilyn Monroe and her dogs". doggymom.com. Archived from the original on 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  8. ^ "Suomen Virallinen Lista" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Archived from the original on 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2019-07-31.