Nina Åström

Early Career and Musical Beginnings

Nina Åström (born 1962) is a Finnish singer-songwriter and Christian music artist. She began writing songs in her early twenties and started performing regularly in the late 1980s. Åström released her first album Person 2 Person in 1992. That same year, she performed at a Christian music seminar in the Netherlands, which led to her first international exposure. A Dutch television producer, Gerrit aan’t Goor, noticed her talent and became her manager and chief lyricist during the 1990s. By the end of the decade, Åström had established herself in Finland’s gospel music scene with several albums and a growing audience. She has long been regarded as one of Finland’s best-known Christian music artists.

Eurovision Song Contest 2000

In 2000, Åström’s career reached a wider audience through the Eurovision Song Contest. She took part in Finland’s national selection competition, Euroviisut 2000. Åström advanced from a semi-final and ultimately winning the Finnish final on 12 February 2000. A mix of jury and public votes chose her entry “A Little Bit” as the winner of the contest. Luca Genta composed the song’s music, and Gerrit aan’t Goor provided the lyrics. This victory led Åström to represent Finland at Eurovision 2000 in Stockholm. At the Eurovision final in May 2000, she performed 20th on the night and finished in 18th place out of 24 countries, earning 18 points.

Christian Music Ministry and Outreach

After Eurovision, Åström focused even more on her faith-based music ministry. In 2001, she began performing on evangelistic tours in Russian prisons, bringing hope through songs and testimony. Over the next two decades, she gave concerts in roughly 400 prisons and rehabilitation centers, particularly across the former Soviet Union. Åström often partners with local churches and ministries during these tours to reach people on the margins.

Her message is one of grace and redemption. She aims to connect warmly with listeners and share “grace and truth in Jesus Christ” at every venue. Beyond prisons, she has appeared in churches, schools, and community events in more than 30 countries around the world. For her compassionate work, Åström even served as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in her home region of Kokkola.

Later Career and Achievements

Åström’s musical output continued steadily into the 21st century. In 2007, she returned to songwriting and released the album Landscape of My Soul, followed by The Way We Are in 2010. She then recorded a Finnish-language album, Avoin taivas, in 2012; it earned a gold record in Finland by 2013 and later reached platinum status in 2020. This level of commercial success is very rare for a Christian music album in Finland. In 2016, author Leevi Launonen published a biography of Åström titled Nina Åström – Toisin silmin, chronicling her life and career. Åström also released an English-language compilation album, Give Me Jesus, in 2019, which featured new recordings of some of her signature songs.

Even in recent years, Nina Åström remains active and influential. She frequently teaches and mentors aspiring artists about what it means to be a Christian musician. In late 2025, she launched a new multilingual music project called “Covered,” releasing soothing songs in Finnish, English, and Swedish. Over her career she has released about 18 albums in total. Åström continues to perform and write new music, carrying her message of hope and faith to audiences both in Finland and around the world.