Who Are KAJ? Get to Know Sweden’s Eurovision 2025 Representatives

Founded in 2009, KAJ is a Swedish-Finnish group chosen by the Swedish public to fly the flag for Sweden at Eurovision Song Contest 2025 after their victory at Melodifestivalen 2025. They will perform “Bara Bada Bastu”, marking Sweden’s first entry in Swedish since 1998.

The band consists of three members: Kevin Holmström, Axel Åhman, and Jakob Norrgård—whose initials form the name KAJ. With seven albums released before their Eurovision debut, they bring significant experience to the contest.

Their music blends humor and techno, often using the unique Vöyr Finnish-Swedish dialect—a dialect even native Swedes find hard to understand.

KAJ released their debut single “Heimani i Skick” in 2012, followed by their first album Professionella Pjasalappa in 2013. Their breakthrough came with their second single.

In 2014, their song “Jåo nåo e ja jåo YOLO ja nåo” was named Song of the Year on Swedish-language radio in Finland. That same year, they hosted a popular Christmas calendar show on Yle X3M, combining comedy sketches and original music videos that gained a loyal following in both Sweden and Finland. In 2015, they were awarded Ostrobothnian of the Year.

Their energetic live shows have taken them across dozens of cities in Swedish-speaking regions, with hits like “Pa to ta na kako” and the 2016 summer anthem “ACO HEJ (me. GU$TA)”.

KAJ’s creativity extends beyond music—they have written and performed two musicals. The first, staged in 2018 at Wasa Theatre, sold out all 24 performances, breaking attendance records. Their second musical, “Botnia Paradise”(2021), also featured original songs and a dedicated album.

In 2020, they celebrated their 10th anniversary with a televised concert and live album KAJ 10. After a brief hiatus, they released their latest album Karar i Arbeit last year.

The Song: “Bara Bada Bastu”

“Bara Bada Bastu”, composed by Anderz Wrethov, Kristoffer Strandberg, Robert Skowronski, and KAJ themselves, is a festive, humorous tribute to Finnish sauna culture.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the sauna experience—from the intense heat to the feeling of relaxation. With its catchy beat and playful lyrics mixing Swedish and Finnish expressions, the song celebrates Nordic traditions while nodding to Arja Saijonmaa, the Finnish singer who popularized “Jag vill tacka livet” in Sweden.

“Bara Bada Bastu” Lyrics (Original Swedish & English Translation)

Looking for the “Bara Bada Bastu” lyrics in Swedish and English? Here’s the full side-by-side translation of Sweden’s Eurovision 2025 entry so you can sing along or understand the meaning behind the fun and catchy song.

Sweden at Eurovision: A Powerhouse Nation

Sweden debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958 and has since become one of the contest’s most successful countries. With seven victories, Sweden ties with Ireland for the most wins in Eurovision history.

Sweden’s winning moments include:

• 1974: ABBA with “Waterloo”
• 1984: Herreys with “Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley”
• 1991: Carola with “Fångad av en stormvind”
• 1999: Charlotte Nilsson with “Take Me to Your Heaven”
• 2012: Loreen with “Euphoria”
• 2015: Måns Zelmerlöw with “Heroes”
• 2023: Loreen with “Tattoo”

Sweden’s national selection, Melodifestivalen, is one of the most prestigious and watched pre-selections in the Eurovision world, spanning six weeks and attracting millions of viewers both nationally and internationally.

In recent years, Sweden has maintained its reputation as a Eurovision powerhouse, finishing 4th in 2022 with Cornelia Jakobs’ “Hold Me Closer”, and hosting the contest in 2024 following Loreen’s historic second win.