Käärijä

Early Life

Jere Mikael Pöyhönen, known professionally as Käärijä, was born in Finland and grew up in the Ruskeasanta neighborhood of Vantaa, Greater Helsinki. He is the son of Mikko and Arja Pöyhönen. Käärijä discovered his passion for music at a young age while learning to play the drums, which laid the foundation for his future career in music. His stage name, Käärijä, is inspired by his gambling hobby and translates to "make a fast buck" in Finnish.

Musical Career

Käärijä began producing music in 2014 and initially released his work independently. In 2017, he signed with Monsp Records, marking a significant milestone in his career. His debut album, "Fantastista," was released in 2020, followed by several successful singles and EPs, including "Cha Cha Cha Mixtape" and "Peliä." In 2023, he gained international recognition by representing Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest with his hit song "Cha Cha Cha," which topped the charts in Finland and several other countries, and made history by being the first Finnish song to reach the top ten of the UK Singles Chart.

Personal Life

Käärijä has been open about his struggles with ulcerative colitis, a condition he has dealt with since his teenage years. This health challenge culminated in emergency surgery in 2014, which left him with a visible scar. He aims to raise awareness about the condition and encourages others to seek medical advice. Before fully committing to his music career, he played ice hockey from 2009 to 2013, showcasing his diverse interests and talents beyond music.