After over a decade of continuous development, Finnish band Josén Pimeä Puoli is ready to release its highly anticipated third album, Mustalla tussilla, on Friday, September 25. On the record, the band demonstrates its ability to grow its audience and retain authenticity in its musical expression. The album features colorful stories and deep dives into the many forms of love – encounters, uncertainty, dreams, and hope are reflected in the songs and link together the album’s thematic unity.
Frontman Jose Mäenpää has written all ten tracks and delves into the emotional landscapes of relationships. His lyrics move from the loneliness of heartbreak to the thrilling vulnerability of new beginnings. Throughout the album, recurring themes include longing, resilience, and the search for fleeting happiness. Mäenpää himself describes the album’s main character as someone who clings to happiness – despite life’s twists and turns, marked by frustration, self-assertion, enjoyment, and trust that requires work. "Life gives and takes. Sometimes it leaves bruises that heal but also traces that never fade," Mäenpää explains.
An album brimming with live energy
Josén Pimeä Puoli has long been praised for its strong presence and intensity on stage. With Mustalla tussilla, the trio – Jose Mäenpää (vocals, backing vocals, piano, organ), Arto Nurmi (bass, backing vocals), and Jussi Miettolan (drums, backing vocals) – aimed to encapsulate this energy in the studio environment. The result is an album marked by tight interplay and genuine togetherness – the sum of years of collaboration and musical development.
The album’s emotional depth is built not only on Mäenpää’s lyrics, but also on the trio’s ability to traverse different moods and soundscapes. Highlights include "Jännä fiilis," which recently won Radio Suomen Levylautakunta and has already been released as a single. Another single, "Marty McFly," has become a viral TikTok success and has nearly two million plays on Spotify, testament to the band’s growing reach and new audience.
Album tracklist:
- Se kulkee
- Sellainen
- Vaaleanpunaisia tulppaaneita
- Kuuletko mua?
- Pieni marttyyri
- Jännä fiilis
- Kaarinaan
- Björkö
- Näkökkyky
- Mustalla tussilla
Since their debut Ihanasti kyyninen in 2018, Josén Pimeä Puoli has journeyed from small clubs to festival stages and larger venues. During the summer of 2026, the band has played at festivals such as Ilosaarirock and Porispere. The autumn of 2025 also marked the group’s first concert hall tour, further strengthening their position in Finnish music.
To celebrate the release of Mustalla tussilla, the band is embarking on a release tour starting at Tavastia Klubi in Helsinki on October 2. The tour continues through the autumn and winter. Confirmed dates are:
- FRI 02.10. Helsinki, Tavastia Klubi
- SAT 03.10. Kouvola, House of Rock
- SAT 10.10. Turku, Fuusio
- FRI 23.10. Pori, Kehräämö Live
- SAT 7.11. Lahti, Torvi
- FRI 27.11. Tampere, Klubi
- FRI 11.12. Jyväskylä, Paviljonki Klubi
The strength of Josén Pimeä Puoli lies both in their musical craftsmanship and the depth of their storytelling. Mustalla tussilla confirms the band’s artistic development and ability to capture human closeness and life’s fragility – both in the studio and on stage.
More information about the album and tour can be found on the band’s official website www.josenpimeapuoli.com as well as on Instagram and Facebook.
