Martti Syrjä

Martti Syrjä is a Finnish musician, singer, lyricist and illustrator, best known as the lead vocalist and principal lyricist of the rock band Eppu Normaali, and as an actor in numerous films and television series.

Early life and family

Syrjä was born in Ylöjärvi in the Pirkanmaa region in 1959 into a literary family. His parents are writer and editor Jaakko Syrjä and poet and children's author Kirsi Kunnas, and his maternal grandparents, Wäinö Kunnas and Sylvi Kunnas, were painters.

Career

Eppu Normaali

In the mid-1970s Syrjä formed the band Eppu Normaali in Ylöjärvi together with his older brother Mikko "Pantse" Syrjä, their cousin Aku Syrjä and school friends, rehearsing in a small outbuilding on the family property that became known as the band's first practice space. The band began as a punk and new wave band in 1976 and made its first public appearance at the Rockin SM competition in 1977, where it received an honourable mention.
During the early 1980s Eppu Normaali's musical style evolved from fast, raw punk towards more melodic rock and pop while retaining an ironic and narrative approach to lyrics, and the band grew into one of the most popular and influential Finnish rock groups. Eppu Normaali has remained active for several decades, and its 40th anniversary in 2016 was marked by a sold-out concert at Tampere's Ratina Stadion with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, a feature-length documentary film Eput and retrospective publications.
For his work as a lyricist, Syrjä has received the Juha Vainio Award award in 1997 and the Reino Helismaa Award in 2004.

Songwriting and musical style

Syrjä's texts are characterised by narrative depictions of Finnish everyday life, often combining humour, irony, and introspection. He has cited Finnish songwriters Juice Leskinen, Hector and Dave Lindholm as important influences on his approach to Finnish-language rock lyrics. Among the best-known songs for which he has written the lyrics are Murheellisten laulujen maa, Tahroja paperilla, Baarikärpänen, Joka päivä ja joka ikinen yö and Nyt reppuni jupiset riimisi rupiset.

Acting, illustration and other work

Syrjä film and television work includes roles in the short film Jackpot 2, the feature films Klaani – tarina Sammakoitten suvusta, Calamari Union, Rosso, Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan, Paha maa, Ganes, Haarautuvan rakkauden talo, Risto Räppääjä ja polkupyörävaras, Vuonna 85 and Hevi reissu, as well as television series such as Yötyö, Arvokkaasti!, Dirlandaa, Mankeli, Juulian totuudet, Jurismia! and Maan mitta.

Personal life

Syrjä has spoken publicly about his struggle with alcohol, describing how heavy drinking became part of the rock lifestyle in the 1980s and how his own alcohol use escalated to a serious problem around the turn of the 2000s.