Lauri Tähkä / Lauri Tahka

Lauri Tähkä & Elonkerjuu are a Finnish rock band whose popularity began to peak in the mid-2000s, around the time of chart-topping singles such as "Maailma on Renki" (2006) and "Hetkeksi en Sulle Rupia" (2007). Comprised of Lauri Tähkä (vocals, guitar), Johanna Koivu (violin, piano), Simo Ralli (guitar), Antero Naali (bass), and Lenni Paarma (drums), the band was founded in the mid-'90s. From the beginning, Tähkä & Elonkerjuu were characterized as hailing from western Finland, as their music as well as their singing are characteristic of the region. They were also often considered to be a folk-rock group. Tähkä & Elonkerjuu made their full-length album debut in 2001 with Pistoja Syrämmes on Little Big Records. The album was picked up for reissue the following year by the label Suomen Mediamusiikki, which also released the band's second full-length album, Komia on Aina Komia (2002). The third Tähkä & Elonkerjuu album, Syntymähäjyt (2004), was a breakthrough success for the band, peaking at number four on the Finnish albums chart. For their next album, Maailma on Renki (2006), their first on a major label (Universal Music), Tähkä & Elonkerjuu again charted within the Finnish Top Five. In addition, they scored their first major hit single, "Maailma on Renki," which topped the singles chart. There was more chart-topping success the following year when the follow-up album, Tuhannen Riemua (2007), hit number one. The hit singles "Hetkeksi en Sulle Rupia" and "Pauhaava Sydän" also charted well, at numbers one and two respectively. Around this time, a best-of collection, Kirkkahimmat 2000-2008 (2008), was compiled for release, along with a video collection, Kerjuuvuodet 2000-2007 (2007).