identity

"Boundaries between nationalities are becoming more relaxed, and people increasingly feel themselves belonging to transnational groups. And as people move around, so does their music. Changes in society also affect music," writes Anna Dantchev in her column.

"As a worldwide sub-culture, heavy metal is an excellent example of the specialised communities that emerge in modern society, governed by individual preferences rather than a shared physical environment – similar music tastes or, say, consumer choices."

Over the decades, music has been an important element in the shaping of the identity of Finland’s Swedish-speaking population. Yet this minority has never had a uniform culture and still does not; today, discussion focuses increasingly on the variations of Finland-Swedish culture and its constant state of flux.