Nina Åström is a lover of God, of people and of good music. Her pop-folk style has been influenced by artists like James Taylor, The Carpenters, Stevie Wonder and Jennifer Warnes.
In 1991 she recorded her first album 'Person 2 Person' with Martin
Kantola, in an acoustic-style with mostly her own compositions.
In 1992 she began to work collaboratively with Dutch promoter and
lyricist, Gerrit aan't Goor who became her manager. They produced 6
albums and several projects together.
'A Matter of Time' and ‘Moods’ both released in mid 90’s were recorded
in Nashville, USA., in the studio of Buddy Miller. Buddy is well known
as a guitar player and producer for artists like Emmylou Harris, Steve
Earle and Linda Ronstadt and his wife Julie Miller. Among those who
participated in this recording were Phil Keaggy and Buddy & Julie
Miller.
Nina's fourth CD, 'A Friend' was recorded in Holland in 1999 with
Italian producer and musician Luca Genta and Dutch musicians such as
Ralph van Manen. Nina and Gerrit aan't Goor wrote the majority of the
music and lyrics.
Nina won the Finnish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest in
Stockholm in May 2000 with the song 'A Little Bit'. The CD ”A Little
Bit of Love”, which includes the Song Contest entry, was released the
same year along with ”Vierelle jäät”, the Finnish version of “A Friend”.
“Merry Christmas Jesus” was made in the fall of 2001 and launched with
a tour of the same name with Dutch artists in Holland Dec. 2001, 2002
and 2004.
In 2003 ”Real Life” was released. Real Life was, for most part,
recorded by Martin Kantola in Finland though songwriting with Gerrit
aan’t Goor continued. Among contributors for “Real Life” are Dani
Strömbäck, Kaarle Mannila and Phil Keaggy. 2007 "Lansdcape of my soul" was released, produced by Nina. And now (2010) there is a new album "The way we are", recorded in London and produced by Dan Weeks and Matt Weeks (www.weeksweeksweeks.com)
Nina has worked in about 20 countries, the most recent addition being Lithuania. From the beginning of the 2000's she has also performed extensively
in prisons (mainly in Russia and Ukraine). Partnering on these trips is mostly Kansan Raamattuseura from Finland (Ilkka Puhakka) and ACCR/Prison Ministry in Russia (Yan Volkov). Multi-instrumentalist Kaarle Mannila, Nina’s long time “duo “ partner
usually accompanies her on these trips. Later on guitarist Kimmo
Suomela has joined the company.
Nina has acted as a Unicef Goodwill ambassador in her native city of
Karleby and the province of Central Ostrobothnia. Nina, together with
the other two ambassadors, released an album Kun aika on - Nu är det
dags.
Nina has had numerous appearances on radio programs and TV in different
countries. One major project was the ”Christmas Calendar”(24 episodes)
of FST (Finland)1996, where Nina starred and did several musical
appearances.
During the last few years, Nina has also contributed to prayer and
devotional books released in Finland and has begun to develop more of
her own lyrics writing, represented strongly on her two most recent cd's "Landscape of my soul"( 2007) and "The way we are"(2010). Nina continues to perform in live concerts etc in different countries, as well as her native Finland.
Over the years the voice, music and warm personality of Nina Åström
have been appreciated by both fans and fellow musicians. Her songs are
written from a Christian perspective and are a personal statement of
her desire that we be aware, as human beings, that we are vulnerable
and need each other's support and commitment. We also need God’s grace.
Through the years it has become increasingly important to Nina to be
able to communicate this grace; not only through the songs that she
writes and performs, but also through spoken and written word.
Nina Åström was born and now lives in Finland. She has an MA-degree in English. She is married and has twin daughters.