Born in Södertälje, Sweden, and brought up in the small village of Munsala in Ostrobothnia on the west coast of Finland (an area where the majority speak Swedish as their first language) I am a Swedish-speaking Finn in more ways than one. I feel almost equally at home in both countries but, like many Nordic people I know, I often talk about moving to southern Europe to get away from the long, cold and dark winters.

I recently moved back to Jakobstad, Ostrobothnia, on the beautiful west coast of Finland. There - during summers often at my cabin by the sea - I find peace and quiet. For me the best contrast to the somewhat more hectic lifestyle of concerts and travelling.