Yrjänä released his second album aurinkolapsi (child of the sun) on August 15. The 13-track record is a timely, airy, and bodily whole where shades of pop, R&B, hip hop, and hyperpop merge together. Thematically, the album explores youth, summer, and inner growth. Yrjänä handled most of the production himself—the soundscape is both visual and personal. The album also features guest appearances from Leyla, Sonia, Baby Blu, and JAL. Serving as A&R for the project was musician-producer Miikka Koivisto, known from the band Ruusut.

“I wanted to make a record you can put on in the morning and guarantee a good mood for the whole day. The album is about love for music itself, without caring about today’s pressure to constantly create new content. Every single detail on the record has a purpose, because I don’t want to add more disposable stuff to this world.” – Yrjänä

Yrjänä’s energetic live show filled Bar Siltanen’s terrace on a July summer evening, breaking the venue’s audience record for the season. The album was preceded by the surprise mini-album hki yksiö elämää (“Helsinki Studio Apartment Life”), released in July, which Helsingin Sanomat praised in its “Best Right Now” section: “Producer-artist Yrjänä’s hyperpop-inspired mini-album is addictive listening. He has the rare ability to make his music addictive, which isn’t a given in Finnish pop.”

From aurinkolapsi, the singles cray, pidä huolta (“take care”), kovis (“tough guy”), open air, and valvomo (“night shift”) have already been released. These tracks showcase the album’s versatile aesthetic and open up its narrative, drawing from reggaeton influences, EDM nostalgia, romantic introspection, and summer night grooves.

In recent years, Yrjänä has worked behind the scenes with numerous artists—his production has been trusted by the likes of Sexmane, Yeboyah, Hassan Maikal, and Isaac Sene. He began his solo career independently, and aurinkolapsi is his second full-length release.