I work as a fixed-term university teacher in the department of Musicology from 2017 till 2019 (July). I defended my thesis in 2017. I have worked as a post doc researcher, funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, in 2017.

My earlier work history includes a position as
substitute music teacher at Kuhmo comprehensive school, working in
various musical projects, as a piano teacher and singing coach, and as a
choir leader. I worked as symposium secretary for the Finnish
Musicological Society’s anniversary symposium in 2011, and as secretary
of the Finnish Musicological Society during 2011 – 2012. I additionally
worked as a board member of the Finnish Ethnomusicological Society. I do
volunteer work at Turku Girls’ House and write a blog about popular
culture phenomena. Popular singing and dancing are among my most
heartfelt hobbies. I’m currently working on a solo music project under
the pseudonym ALANA, I do solo gigs and perform with the band Slow Floe.
I also play a number of musical instruments, among the most cherished
and also the newest to me being the Finnish kantele.

All of my research belongs to the field of
cultural musicology, especially gender and queer studies. My interests
include global and Finnish popular music, classical music, opera and
musicals, film music and audiovisual popular music performances.

 

My current research project is concerned with
the theme of Finnishness in the popular culture of 2010s Finland. I am
interested in the idea of spatial listening, where the spatiality
aspects of musical track conjure up images, and how these images
represent traditional or ideal notions of Finnishness. Additional
interests include the study of how fatness is represented in Finnish
popular music. I'm working on a project that will highlight the activities of Finnish female musicians.

I'm working on articles discussing Tom of Finland The Musical, scifi film music, Regina Spektor's music video, Alma's music video Dye My Hair and depictions of femininity in it, Nicki Minaj's music video Anaconda, and audiovisual texts concerning Finnish Neo-Nazis.

 

My doctoral dissertation Sound Kinks: Sadomasochistic Erotica in Audiovisual Music Performances combines
cultural musicology and audiovisual analysis, and applies queer theory
to sadomasochism while exploring the relationship between both of these
concepts and music. The case studies included in the research address
uses of popular music in music videos, opera, popular music and film
music. I study sadomasochistic imagery, eroticism and performances in
the mainstream media. I additionally comment on the position of gender
roles in visual culture with reference to theory on camp performativity.
I argue that sadomasochistic erotica is dependent on the juxtaposition
of extremes, neosurrealist fantasy, and ambivalence between the visible
and invisible. I have presented papers on this subject in Oslo, Vienna,
London and New York, as well as Finnish seminars and symposia.