Music of ABBA Featuring Rajaton – Program Notes

It’s hard to imagine an audience that Rajaton couldn’t sing to, or a style of music that it couldn’t make its own. The band includes Essi Wuorela (soprano), Aili Ikonen (soprano), Soila Sariola (alto), Hannu Lepola (tenor), Ahti Paunu (baritone) and Jussi Chydenius (bass). Members’ musical backgrounds range from classical music to folk music, percussion and rock. The wide range of influences creates the basis for the diversity of Infinite Sound. However, large scale is not an absolute value, as musical content is always more important to a band than form.

The band Rajaton is unique because of its own songs. Rajaton has released a total of sixteen albums, of which the band has received one double platinum, two platinum and eight gold records in Finland; worldwide Unlimited total record sales exceed 400,000 copies. All the albums are, according to the band’s style, very different from each other – the unifying factor is that the material is mostly composed and arranged for Boundless and is performed a cappella, without instrumental accompaniment. The only exceptions to this are the ABBA, Queen and Beatles theme albums made with Sinfonia Lahti, and the cooperation project implemented in 2014 with Jaakko and Pekka Kuusisto.

The sound is limitless!

JUSSI CHYDENIUS

I got to know choral singing in the Sibelius High School in Helsinki, where I sang in the chamber choir together with Essi and Virpi. Later, I sang 2nd bass in the chamber choir, where I also got to know Soila and Ahti. In the fall of 1997 I was very fortunate to get five of my talented and ambitious friends to join me in singing – Rajaton was born.

AHTI PAUNA

I’ve sung with Rajaton since its founding. Both the way of singing and the repertoire of this group attract me to the extent that I intend to continue as long as possible. I’ve sung and made music for as long as I can recall. As a kid I sang in school choirs and played the cello and piano in the Espoo Music School.

HANNU LEPOLA

While studying voice in the Pop & Jazz Conservatory, I met Essi, who in the fall of 1998 mentioned an a cappella group called Rajaton who needed a new tenor. I went to an audition and realized immediately this was the kind of music-making I wanted to be a part of. The group seemed extremely purposeful and ambitious, and its members were (and still are, ever more and more) great singers, wonderful characters and good company.

Little by little, Rajaton took over my other musical projects, and I don’t daydream about becoming a rock star anymore. I got something more than stardom: I’m able to make a living by making music. During my time with Rajaton I’ve realized that a cappella is for me.

ESSI WUORELA

Singing as a soloist has always felt natural to me – I felt it was my strength. Now I am thrilled to make music in a small ensemble too, and share the joy of making music together, in cooperation, where the package can be more than the sum of its parts!

For me, Rajaton is a lifestyle choice – the group offers me both challenges and opportunities. I’m grateful we choose to make music in our own way, regardless of the style. It’s amazing our music is recognized by others as “Rajaton music”!

AILI IKONEN

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve been told that I sang before I started to speak. My career has been a bubbly mix of all kinds of performances with my own bands and as a soloist for orchestras and TV productions.

I’m eagerly looking forward to the upcoming adventures with Rajaton, the most amazing vocal group in Finland.

SOILA SARIOLA

I joined Rajaton in 1999, as the alto part after singing with a number of other choirs and vocal ensembles. Being a member of Rajaton is like a dream come true. In this group I can combine versatile music with versatile singing.