Bio

Finnish singer-songwriter Kerttu (Kerttu Sormunen) moved to London in 2017 from her native Helsinki to take her place among the melting pot of World and Roots musicians who call the UK capital their home.

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She has spent the last few years performing in front of London audiences, honing her own original songs. Her effortless ethereal voice finding passionate listeners, despite the songs being penned in her mother-tongue of Finnish. She is now in the process of recording her debut album; ‘Saari’ a collection of intensely personal songs, born from island life of summers spent in the western Finnish archipelago.

For Kerttu, music and especially singing has formed a significant part of her life since the very beginning. A journey from childhood to teens filled with music - inspired by her neighbour, an indie musician in Helsinki - going onto singing backing vocals for other musicians in her 20’s, to eventually singing in her own group ‘Puutarha’ who released an EP in 2010.

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When not performing her own songs solo, Kerttu has collaborated and played among a vibrant world music community. She has done this both abroad, through attending ‘Ethno’ music camps, and also whilst in London as a core member of the dynamic and high octane ‘Flotsam Sessions’ group. Other current music projects include electro folk outfit ‘Noum’ and a capella group ‘Idrisi Ensemble’.

Idrisi Ensemble is a music collective that delves into the performance and study of rare, previously unrecorded medieval repertoire by way of music archaeology, medieval literature and postcolonial historiography. The repertoire spans from ancient Greek polyphony, Old Roman Chant, Corsican tradition, to Troubadour song from the 4th to 14th centuries.

Kerttu is embarking on the exciting step of recording her debut album which is anticipated in 2025 and features musical friends from all over the world playing on her songs. She is currently taking bookings to play gigs across the UK and festivals further afield this summer.