Liisa Matveinen and Tellu Turkka are a Finnish folk music duo who have performed together since 1994, specialising in Kalevala-meter runosinging - the ancient trochaic verse tradition named after the Finnish national epic. Matveinen plays kantele and sings, while Turkka sings and plays moraharp and udu drum; both are also known from the Finnish-Swedish folk band Hedningarna. Their three albums - 'Mateli' (1999), 'Vienan naisia' (2011) and 'Iro' (2023) - draw on the poetry of historical female runosingers such as Mateli Kuivalatar and Iro Sissotar, and the duo has performed across Finland and in Central Europe.
The duo launched a 30-year anniversary concert tour in July 2025, opening with a matinee at Katri Vala Cultural Centre in Ilomantsi on 6 July.
Tellu Turkka's new choral work 'Selkie' received its world premiere at the Sibelius Academy Chamber Music Hall in Helsinki on 24 August 2024.
The duo released their third album 'Iro' on 26 May 2023 via Laika Records, featuring guest musicians from Hedningarna.
