Antti Jaakko Paalanen, born 1977 in Alavus, Western Finland Province, is a Finnish accordionist and composer whose career centers on traditional and folk music. He began accordion studies in 1986 under Airi Hautamäki and later studied at the Sibelius Academy, earning a Doctor of Music in 2015 with a dissertation on diatonic accordion rhythmics. Antti Paalanen’s first solo release, Äärelä (2007), introduced his triple‑row accordion style to a wider audience. He followed with Breathbox (2010), Meluta (2015), and Rujo (2019); the latter earned him the 2019 Composer of the Year award from the Finnish Music Publishers Association for contemporary folk compositions. Throughout his career, Antti Paalanen has collaborated with ensembles such as Kiharakolmio, Hyperborea, and the Laitakaupungin orchestra, contributing to albums like Halituli (2006) and Jupilee (2016). His work has appeared on international folk compilations and he has performed across Europe, Asia, and North America, including tours with the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. In 2026, he entered the Finnish pre‑selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the single "Takatukka", further expanding his reach. His contributions to Finnish folk music have been recognized with multiple national awards and ongoing influence in contemporary folk circles.
