Karina are Karin Mäkiranta & Helmi Tikkanen, a dream pop duo from Helsinki. With their new second album "2" Karina follows their Nordic Music Prize-nominated and critically acclaimed debut ‘Karina’, which was championed by a handful of tastemakers in the UK including BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 2, and more, and set them up on a European tour supporting Beirut. Their music is a stunning blend of ethereal vocals and intricate instrumentation, with lyrical themes that deal with “self-acceptance, going to therapy, letting go of ego, facing fears, breaking habits and making up one’s mind”. ‘2’ is predominantly a dream pop record with sonic influences that range from Julia Holter to Cocteau Twins. Each of the tracks on the record has a wonderfully rich atmosphere that is made from very few moving parts. Their voices carry so much weight that the music can swing through a range of different genres and sounds but remains succinct and unified. “We were longing for some rock and rhythm after our first album, which was a bit more minimalist”, explains Helmi. “I think Karin and I have a mental connection when it comes to our sound. We tend to have similar ideas and they find their way on to our music naturally. I think with this album we were longing for some massive sounds and great feelings and the end result of that is what is now called ’2’.”