Jesse Markin

FOLK (2019) was a good album, NOIR (2021) slightly better, and now PUMP is Markin’s best album yet.” – Aki Nuopponen / Soundi

Jesse Markin released his third album PUMP on September 27, 2024. Produced by Totte Rautiainen and receiving a full five-star review from Soundi, the album thematically explores love. However, it is not a traditional love album in the usual sense. In his lyrics, Markin reflects on the purest forms of love and considers the role of love in the world. True to his style, he continues his musical exploration across genres, creating a body of work that navigates between rap, electronic, afrobeat, pop, and rock.

Markin describes the album in his own words:

“The album explores themes of connection, starting from the universal bond formed in the womb, symbolizing the purest form of love. This connection is fundamental and difficult to repair if broken. When we seek love and connection, we may look for it in misleading ways—through sex, drugs, or money. True connection, however, is unmatched and cannot and should not be forced.

The album also highlights the power of love and empathy in a world full of division. But is love merely a unifying mechanism, or something more? Sonically, I wanted to embrace the unknown, bringing together various genres and rhythms alongside electronic soundscapes. Challenging myself has always been the foundation of my music, and on PUMP I feel that I have stretched the boundaries even further.”

Markin, originally from Viljakkala and previously part of the band The Megaphone State, rose rapidly with his 2019 debut FOLK. He collected two Emma Awards, a Teosto Prize, and was named Artist of the Year at the Femma Gala, as well as Album of the Year at the Indie Awards. His 2021 sophomore album NOIR, a stylish blend of various musical genres, continued the path set by his debut. Critically acclaimed, NOIR earned Markin an Emma nomination in the Rock category.

International media has also taken note of the Liberian-born Finnish artist, with coverage from NPR, KEXP, American Songwriter, Fault Magazine, Afropunk, Complex, Clash Magazine, and GQ Japan.

Markin returned to the spotlight in early 2024 by participating in UMK, Finland’s Eurovision selection, where he finished fourth. His competition song Glow has received significant radio play in Finland and across Europe, including Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, and Lithuania.

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