Matti Mikkola (b. 1976) is a Finnish musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a founding member of Tehosekoitin and as the leader of Saimaa, the band he formed in 2004. As a composer-for-hire he has written and produced for a wide range of Finnish artists - from Kaija Koo and Lauri Tähkä to Paula Koivuniemi - and won the Emma Award for Best Producer in 2015 for the acclaimed Pepe & Saimaa album. Saimaa's 2024 double release Vol. 6 and Vol. 7 earned the band the Vuoden iskelmä Emma Award in 2025 and drew near-universal five-star reviews.
Saimaa closes its 18-month Vol. 6 & Vol. 7 album tour with a finale concert at Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki on 12 December 2025, after which the band enters the studio to finish new music.
Saimaa released the collaborative album Solovey - Lauluja Ukrainasta together with singer Yona and the Vantaan Viihdeorkesteri, featuring Finnish-language versions of Ukrainian songs.
Saimaa won the Vuoden iskelmä Emma Award at the March 2025 Emma Gaala for the double album Vol. 6 / Vol. 7.
Musiikkikustantajat awarded Saimaa's Vol. 7 album the Vuoden avoimen kategorian teos prize in September 2025.
Matti Mikkola received the 2024 Soundi-palkinto, awarded annually to a person who has contributed significantly to Finnish music.
concert20:00Saimaa performs at Sawohouse in Kuopio on October 9 with their new album "Matka mielen ytimeen Vol. 2", blending classic rock, progressive rock, folk and iskelmä.
concert19:00Finnish iskelmä band Saimaa presents its new album at Lutakko in Jyväskylä. Led by Matti Mikkola, the group has won the Emma Award and released several critically acclaimed albums.
