Aksel Kankaanranta, a Finnish artist who gained fame after winning the Uuden musiikin kilpailu in March 2020, has revealed that he is currently living on unemployment benefits. Despite initial hopes for a successful career in music, his journey has been challenging, particularly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which led to the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest for which he had hoped to perform. Kankaanranta reflected on his unexpected journey in the music industry and expressed his concerns during a tumultuous time that began with excitement and competition.