Paradise Oskar is not Paradise Oskar’s real name. This may not be a surprise to some of you. His real name is Axel Ehnström, and he likes to sing.

Axel is 19, but with a voice that sounds older, and he’s hoping for Euroviisut glory with Da Da Dam. It’s a ballad about the environment, which Schlagerfiasko was distinctly cynical about at first (because I’m miserable) – but then we pressed the play button on the song and loved it. A meandering song that showcases Axel’s guitar and vocal abilities, it’ll certainly have a few fans in Finland come Saturday.

He started playing and singing while he was at school, and he’s taken his musical studies onto the Pop & Jazz Konservatorio in Helsinki.

Hello Axel! Choose one -
Hello! Schlagerfiasko is a really nice blog you got. Thanks for showing interest in me!

That’s quite alright Axel. Thank you for talking to us. That’s all the thanks out of the way, and they do sure take up a lot of blog space! Now, if you could choose one word to describe your song, what would it be?
Think.

Who are your musical heroes?
At the moment, Jimmy Webb, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits.

Tell us one thing we would never know about you…
If I could afford it, I would retire and just eat for the rest of my life. I love food.

Saara Aalto talked about food for that one, too. It must be a Finnish thing. What are you most excited about for Saturday?
I’m excited about the fact that a lot of people are going to hear a song that I’ve written.

Finally, teach us a phrase in Finnish…
Minä yritin varoittaa sinua. It means ”I tried to warn you.”

He did. He really did.

Here’s the song:

Photo: Sari Gustafsson / Lehtikuva / Helsingin Sanomat