Finnish singer Hanna-Maaria introduces “Change My Vibe,” a new song with an ’80s feel. It focuses on appreciating what we have, seeing things differently, and enjoying small moments. The X Factor Finland alum comes from a country named the world’s happiest for nine years in a row.
The idea for “Change My Vibe” began in Zürich, Switzerland. After moving there, Hanna-Maaria thought she had found the perfect home for making music. It had a grand piano she could use whenever she wanted and rooms where the sound carried beautifully. Yet she woke each morning with headaches and felt ill without knowing why. She later found mold in the house.
While still unsure what was causing her symptoms, she tried turning her thoughts toward the good things in her life.
She describes her interest in happiness this way: “I’ve always been interested in understanding what creates happiness. What makes us happy, and how can we feel happiness despite the challenges we all face in life?”
That idea became a song. Hanna-Maaria worked on the lyrics with U.S. songwriter Emry Kettle during an afternoon at her old apartment in Vienna. After relocating from Vienna to Zürich, she made a demo with just her voice and piano. She then shared it with Finnish producer Janne Oinas, a longtime collaborator who helped turn the demo into the final track.
She offers the song as a small boost for the day: “If you want to start your morning on the right foot, get a little motivation to take on whatever you have to do, and set the right vibe for the day, then this might be your song. It’s honest. It’s not overly happy or pretending that everything is perfect. It’s just a little reminder to look around, notice the good things, and maybe change your vibe.”
Her music blends alt-pop, classical influences, and heartfelt storytelling, shifting between quiet, cinematic passages and bright, rhythmic sections.
Hanna-Maaria speaks six languages. She became widely known after finishing as runner-up on The X Factor Finland, then appeared on Austria’s Die Große Chance. Since then, she has released music and played shows across Europe.
Hanna Maaria is now preparing her first full-length album. She is also taking on more songwriting and composing projects with collaborators abroad, including music for the French-Danish documentary When The Smoke Clears.
“Change My Vibe” rolls out on a sparkling piano topped by luminous accents. A mid-tempo, vibrant rhythm gives the tune a light, unruffled feel. Hanna-Maaria’s delicately delicious vocals imbue the lyrics with a sense of reflection and the nuances of optimistic energy. It’s one of those crystalline, alluring voices that charm listeners because of its clear, pure tones and effortlessly airy quality.
“(I can) Change my vibe / Gotta go against the grain / Stop focusing on the pain / It’s too easy to go with gravity / But I wanna fly
Humming with contagious alt-pop flair, “Change My Vibe” finds Hanna Maaria delivering a yummy earworm of a song.
