Finnish and Nordic artists collaborate at songwriting camp targeting India’s booming music market

A unique songwriting camp in Turku, Finland, brought together musicians from Finland, Norway, and India to create music for India’s rapidly growing entertainment industry, reports Finnish broadcaster Yle.

The Europe-Asia Roundtable Sessions (EARS) event aimed to bridge Western and Asian music markets, with participants crafting songs for Indian films, TV series, and the emerging standalone pop scene. India’s status as the world’s largest online market—with the highest number of YouTube and Instagram users—makes it a key target for international artists.

“India’s internationalisation is accelerating fast,” said programme director Jani Joenniemi, who helped organise the camp. “Finnish and Nordic artists already write a lot of music for markets like Korea and Japan, so there’s strong expertise here.”

The three-day session produced 13 new tracks, blending genres and cultural influences. Among the Finnish participants were singer-songwriters Teemu Brunila, Robin Packalen, and Kyösti Salokorpi, while Norwegian artist Frida Amundsen and Indian pop star Bhumi—who has hundreds of millions of streams—also contributed.

“It’s amazing how different cultures can merge into something fresh,” said Finnish producer Oskari Ruohonen, who worked through the night on new material. “That’s why we make music—to discover sounds we wouldn’t create alone.”

Amundsen praised the Finns’ work ethic, joking that “Finnish producers work harder than Norwegians”—a nod to Ruohonen’s sleepless studio sessions. Bhumi, meanwhile, marveled at the spontaneity of the collaboration: “You’re put in a room with strangers and expected to make music together. The fact that we created something beautiful is incredible.”

The camp was facilitated by Teija Raninen of the West Finland Film Commission, leveraging local networks to connect Nordic and Asian talent. With India’s film industry (Bollywood) remaining a global powerhouse, the event also explored opportunities in its burgeoning independent pop scene.

For artists like Packalen, who recently spent time in South Korea, the camp offered a chance to tap into Asia’s “fresh perspectives” beyond just market size. The results—including a miniature Posankka (Turku’s iconic duck-goose statue) heading to Norway with Amundsen—may soon echo in Mumbai’s studios or Bergen’s radio waves.