Both jazz and sailing expose you to the forces of nature and new adventures

12.6.2025

Veikka Kajamies is a jazz musician from Turku who first sailed the Archipelago Sea at the age of two weeks. His relationship with both music and the sea began even before he was born.

Jazz drummer Veikka Kajamies exudes a passion for both music and the sea.

“For me, the sea, coastlines and the archipelago are landscapes of tranquility and inspiration,” says Kajamies, who was born into a family of musicians.

“Music is a living thing that is inspired by its surroundings, which is why playing at the shore is great for both bands and audiences alike,” says Kajamies.

He will be performing at Korpo Sea Jazz, and will also be sitting down to discuss jazz and inspiration at Turku Sea Jazz’s Baltic Sea-themed discussion on 30 July.

People are united by both music and the sea

Jazz is a common language for musicians and audiences – a way of communicating through learned chord progressions and melodies. You play by listening and letting yourself go, taking risks and testing your limits. When you play music together, keeping an open mind and responding positively to other people’s suggestions is the key to getting the most interesting and surprising results.

Music and its universal language unite cultures, just as the sea has united us and will continue to do so: along coastlines or sailing from one harbour to the next. Stopping by the sea, or sailing across it, exposes you to the unpredictable and uncontrollable forces of nature. You also need to be able to read and listen to the sea, and sniff the sea air.

A jazz band doesn’t need a captain

Veikka Kajamies’ childhood love of sailing lives on, as do his skill and way of enjoying the wind and the power of the sea. Like music, navigating is another universal subject. In harbours, boating enthusiasts often find a common language – or at least a common topic to discuss, such as the sea, the weather, their trip so far, or their destination.

Kajamies also sees differences between sailing and playing music:

“A band is more democratic than a yacht crew. Whether a jazz band has just formed or has been playing together for a long time, everyone harnesses their strengths and there’s no need for a captain to lead the way or give orders. The drummer sets the rhythm and volume, the wind instrument player defines the solo melody, and off we go!”

A shared wish

As with sailing or playing music, it’s important to surround yourself with like-minded people in other areas of life that are important to you. When the conversation turns to how everyone can use their own skills to strengthen people’s relationship with the sea, Kajamies mentions the jazz musicians Jussi Fredriksson and Jukka Perko.

Kajamies is aware of how the sea benefits his own wellbeing, and is happy to share that with others: “The sea reduces my stress levels and has a calming effect on me. I always feel good when I’m at sea, and the knots of life start untangling in my mind. Even after a short sailing trip, I feel refreshed and full of new energy. And during difficult times, the sea inspires hope for the future. Its inexorable, hypnotic motion goes on, and will always be my friend no matter what happens on terra firma.”

Sharing this ‘secret’ won’t take anything away from you, but it may inspire others to pause by the sea for a moment and experience it for themselves.

Although we might – and should – be concerned about the eutrophication of the sea, Kajamies encourages us to think about all the joy and beauty that it brings, and how we can give something back. He does not seek or point out others’ former mistakes, but instead sets his sights on the horizon.

Text: Maija Soljanlahti / The John Nurminen Foundation
Photo: Anu Kajamies

20-year-old Veikka Kajamies has studied at Turku Conservatory and in the Jazz department of the Sibelius Academy’s Junior Academy. He plays around a hundred gigs a year in various line-ups, including the Turku Jazz Orchestra and Veikka Kajamies Trio. He has been a music industry entrepreneur since 2020. Kajamies feels at home with both his bands on stage and his family on their Finnish Jonmeri 33 sailboat, the Manasse.

Sustainability, and in particular the protection of the Baltic Sea, lie at the heart of the Archipelago Sea Jazz festival’s values. The organisers of this series of events, which take place in Kemiönsaari, Korpo, Turku and Mariehamn, want to contribute to the wellbeing of the environment both locally and throughout the Baltic Sea region by promoting archipelago tourism and the sustainable provision of cultural services in a manner that respects environmental values. The John Nurminen Foundation is one of the festival’s environmental partners, and you can participate in our Baltic Sea rescue operation by supporting the work of the John Nurminen Foundation when purchasing festival tickets from Tiketti.