Jare Henrik Tiihonen, better known to the Finnish music industry as Cheek, was the darling of Friday night’s Emma music awards in Espoo as he gathered five statuettes for his work in 2013. Apart from the award for Best Male Soloist, he took home the award for most album sales.
Nipping at the rapper’s blinged-out heels was the pop rock ensemble Haloo Helsinki! and veteran vocalist J. Karjalainen, who both received three awards. Haloo Helsinki! was recognised as Band of the Year and Best Live Act, while Karjalainen received the award for Album of the Year.
Female vocalist Sanni was voted Best Female Soloist, while the Breakthrough Artist award went to tween heartthrob Isac Elliot whose English language debut album _Wake Up World _topped Finnish charts and also earned admirers further afield in countries such as Norway.
Cheek’s album Kuka muu muka was the most successful Finnish album in 2013, selling 67,000 copies.
Producer of the Year was the United States-based MGI, also known as Henri Lanz.
Winner of the US Academy Award for Best Supporting Male Actor, Jared Leto was on hand at the ceremony and handed out the prize for Best Band to Haloo Helsinki! Also a musician, Leto’s ensemble Thirty Seconds to Mars will perform in Helsinki Saturday night.
