Martti Syrjä

Finnish musician and actor, born on May 17, 1959 in Ylöjärvi, Finland. Best known as the vocalist and main lyricist of Eppu Normaali, which he co-founded in 1976. He has also contributed to the cover art of the band's records. Eppu Normaali known as Eput were and are one of the main bands to emerge from the Finnish punk stage and translate their success into consistent chart action through countless albums and singles. Lead vocalist Martti was partner of an equivalent to JaggerRichards songwriting collaboration with his multitalented guitarist brother Pantse, one of the musical architects of the subversion of all media by New wave musicianship. Martti's heartfelt sometimes humourous and sometimes tragic lyrics can be very cryptic and abstract as befits the son of poet parents. Martti, only originally an occasional songwriter, came into his own when the previous main lyricist, the bassplayer and family friend, Mikko Saarela, left the band in 1979. Whereas Saarela still wrote for the band after his departure, eg on the classic punk/new wave crossover lp, Akun Tehdas (Aku's factory) whilst Syrjä took a more prominent role, by the time of arguably their ultimate creative peak the triumphant Kahdeksas Ihme (eighth wonder) album, Syrjä was in full flow and inspired by Morrison, Fogerty, Bowie, Jagger, Finland's Juice Leskinen and Hector and modern poetry from several countries and in several idioms. All executed with enough skill to make the transition from punk to a compendium of new wave and stadium issues seem a lightweight cakewalk. He is the son of Kirsi Kunnas, the brother of Pantse Syrjä and the cousin of Aku Syrjä.