Introduction
Essi Miia Marianna Launimo (born 1993), known professionally as BESS (stylized in all caps), is a Finnish singer. She combines pop, electro and house in her music. Bess makes music together with her producer Nopsajalka.
Bess has a double degree in hairdressing and has also studied as a professional musician at the Pop & Jazz Conservatory in Oulunkylä, Helsinki.
Bess' debut singles were released in 2017, with the track "Tempo" being particularly successful. At its peak, it ranked third on the official download list in Finland and 13th on the singles list. It has been listened to more than 10 million times, which is enough to justify a double platinum record. In total, BESS' music has already been listened to more than 55 million times.
Bess' self-titled debut album was released in November 2019, surpassing the number of listens required for a gold record even before its release. Bess entered the 2022 Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (New Music Competition) with the song "Ram pam pam", which placed third in the competition.
In the year 2023 Emma-gaala Bess won four awards in the categories of Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Pop of the Year and Most Streamed Domestic Song of the Year.
Personal life
Bess has been dating Danish actor Danny Bærtelsen since summer 2020. Bærtelsen has starred in the American film Happy Endings Sleepover.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart peak |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Bess | 29 |
| 2023 | Kädet ylös | 5 |
Singles
As lead artist
| Year | Single | Chart peak | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "En pysty lopettaa" | – | Bess |
| "Tempo" | 13 | ||
| "Uneton" | – | ||
| 2018 | "Yhden liikaa" | – | |
| "Kuuma" | – | ||
| 2019 | "Feng Shui" | – | |
| "Pidä musta kii" | – | ||
| "Läpinäkyvää" | – | ||
| 2020 | "Aja" | 20 | Kädet ylös |
| "Melodia" | – | Non-album singles | |
| 2021 | "Peace" | – | |
| "Viisi kesää" | 12 | ||
| "Valoo" | – | Kädet ylös | |
| 2022 | "Ram pam pam" | 1 | |
| "Rakastan en rakasta" | 17 | ||
| "Sammumaton" | 15 | ||
| 2023 | "Lähtee käsistä" | 49 | |
| "Kädet ylös" | 19 | ||
| "Missio" | 10 | Non-album singles | |
| "Riivattu" | 35 | ||
| 2024 | "Kyyneleet sateessa" | 41 |
As featured artist
- "Pimeyteen" (Mikael Gabriel, 2017)
- "100%" (Keko Salata, 2020)
- "Seittemän" (Raappana, 2020)
- "Grindr Mayhem" (Antti Tuisku, 2022)