MuSICIAN
EEVALOTTA MATIKAINEN
Bassist, Bandleader & Cultural Producer.
MY STORY
I am a bassist, bandleader, and cultural producer. For me, music is first and foremost about stories, encounters, and building bridges—whether holding the double bass on stage or creating events behind the scenes of the cultural field. Welcome to explore my world, my ensembles, and my visions!
NEWS
New band!
Eevalotta Matikainen Gravity
Sometimes new music needs a new home.
Gravity was born out of years of composing and performing – slowly, almost unnoticed. As the double bass became more central to my musical thinking, the compositions began to shift. More space, silence, and breath emerged. The melodies expanded, and the music found its own path.In the sound of the ensemble, which celebrated its premiere concert in September 2026, the double bass, saxophone, guitar, grand piano, drums, and wordless vocals form a landscape where sensitivity and power walk hand in hand. The music thrives on intense interaction, acute listening, and the courage to live in the moment.
For me, Gravity is not just a new band. It is a new phase as a composer and musician – a home for music that has long waited for the right moment to be born.
Welcome to the journey.
ABOUT ME
Teemu Viinikainen & Söderbacka-Matikainen Duo in concert at Café Kahvipuu, Kokkola, in 2017.
Photo from Eevalotta Matikainen’s archives
BASSIST
The double bass and electric bass are the heart of my expression, my creative home, and my way of meeting the world. For me, music is above all about living in the moment—deep mutual communication, shared interaction, and boundless playfulness. I love creating something new together with my fellow musicians; that magical moment when different ideas collide, and individual pieces grow into something much greater than the sum of their parts.
I love to move freely across genre boundaries, driven by authentic creativity and the ability to adapt to different musical worlds, always with deep passion and artistic ambition. I bring a solid rhythmic backbone and a melodic vision to every project, but above all, a big heart and ears that are always open to the impulses of other players. I see the role of the bass not only as a creator of a strong foundation, but also as an active, listening, and sensitive conversationalist in this unique musical dialogue.
BANDLEADER & COMPOSER
As a bandleader and composer, my primary focus is to create musical spaces where creativity can flourish freely and stories come alive. In my composition work, I am fascinated by openness of expression: I want to build strong frameworks and atmospheres that still leave room for the players to breathe, interpret, and bring their own personal voice into the music. This freedom-giving style of composing makes every performance a unique moment, allowing the audience to witness genuine, living interaction.
My musical heart beats for several different styles and ensembles. My longest-standing and closest project is the soulful Soul What? feat. Joonatan Rautio soul-jazz quintet, which I have led since 2008. Alongside it, my latest grand musical vision is the ensemble Eevalotta Matikainen Gravity, where deep Nordic storytelling meets a lingering, spacious atmosphere. In addition, together with my guitarist husband Martin Söderbacka, I lead intimate and dynamic line-ups such as the Martin Söderbacka & Eevalotta Matikainen Duo and the SM4 (Söderbacka-Matikainen Quartet).
In all my bands and organized projects, I always strive for strong interpretation and a powerful presence. That is why I surround myself both on stage and on recordings with some of the most distinctive and compelling musicians in the country.
Eevalotta founded the ensemble “Soul What? feat. Joonatan Rautio” in 2008.
Photo by Teemu Hujanen.
Atmospheres from the “ELive Jazz Happening 2018” festival day in Kokkola.
Photo by Johan Hagström.
CULTURAL PRODUCER
I hold a Master’s degree in Cultural Management (YAMK) and actively cultivate a vibrant live jazz music scene in the Kokkola region through ELive Jazz operations, together with my husband Martin Söderbacka. Our passion is to bring high-quality music close to people, and we have been organizing popular festivals, concert series, and clubs for many years.
I am deeply grateful that our long-term dedication to the cultural field has been widely recognized: we were awarded the Kainuu Regional Council’s Cultural Act of the Year 2025 award for our meritorious work as founders and organizers of the Hyrynsalmi Jazz Days festival. This recognition gives us even more energy to drive both Finnish and international jazz culture forward.
Festivals and concert series founded by us:
- ELive Jazz Happening – An annual jazz festival in Kokkola since 2018
- Kokkola Sea Jazz – A maritime jazz event since 2021
- Hyrynsalmi Jazz Days – A festival ringing out in the heart of Kainuu since 2023
- Kruununvoudin Puutarhajazz / Puutarhajazzit / Summer jazz – A summery garden concert series since 2021
- Pintaa Syvemmälle – A music and story club since 2019
- Jazzia Lapsille – Concert series for schoolchildren since 2019
- Musiikkia Arjen Keskellä – A popular café concert series sinze 2015
- ELive Stream – A high-quality digital streaming concert series launched in 2020
Over the years, our concerts and projects have featured a wide array of international jazz icons and top-tier Finnish musicians, such as Martin Taylor (UK), Viktoria Tolstoy (SE), Linda May Han Oh (USA), Emma Rawicz (UK), Baptiste Herbin (FR), Tom Ollendorff (UK), Joris Roelofs (NL), Felipe Salles (USA), as well as Tuomo Prättälä, Osmo Ikonen, Teemu Viinikainen, Joonatan Rautio, Mikael Svarvar, Jesse Kaikuranta, Charlotta Kerbs, David Lyttle (IRL), and Siim Aimla (EST).
Listen music
Music
Videos
Photo Gallery
Gallery
Photos Through the Years
albums
Discography
Releases produced by Eevalotta Matikainen
Soul What? feat. Joonatan Rautio – What Lies Ahead (2016)
Soul What? – The Silver Lining (2013)
Co-productions
Martin Söderbacka & Eevalotta Matikainen – Northern Sky (2024)
Martin Söderbacka & Eevalotta Matikainen – Ruska (Autumn colors) single (2023)
Söderbacka-Matikainen Duo – Christmas (2022)
JazzAcc 4tet – Rajapinnalla (2023)
Freelance appearances
Isa Lindgren-Backman – Villovega (2022)
Göran Sjöholm – September (2021)
Uskomaton Elämä – Juhlaton kevät single, (2019)
Maksetut Viulut – Joululevy (2016)
Maksetut Viulut – debyyttialbumi (2015)
Musti ja Hyvä Vainu – Halleluu (2014)
Martti Hård – Askeleita (2013)
Musti ja Hyvä Vainu – Jalanjäljet (2012)
Jessica Riippa – Calm My Nerves (2012)
Riikka Hertteli (2011)
Contact Me
