Afie Jurvanen (born April 28, 1981), known by his stage name Bahamas, is a Canadian musician.
Early life Jurvanen was born in Toronto and raised in Barrie, Ontario.Eisner, Ken (March 25, 2010). "Afie Jurvanen reinvents himself as Bahamas". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2010-04-02. He speaks Finnish fluently, and he also has a Finnish passport.
Career Jurvanen taught himself guitar. He worked with a variety of musicians including The Lumineers, City and Colour, Feist, Howie Beck, Jason Collett, Jack Johnson, The Weather Station, and Zeus.Semansky, Matt (February 25, 2010). "Bahamas's island life". The Coast. Retrieved 2010-04-02. Downtown Music Publishing represents Bahamas' songs. Jurvanen recorded his debut album — Pink Strat, in a cabin in rural Ontario in 2008. He released the album under the name Bahamas in 2009 and was subsequently nominated for a 2010 Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year – Solo.
Bahamas' second album – Barchords, was released on February 7, 2012. The album received nomination at the 2013 Juno Awards for the Adult Alternative Album of the Year. Jurvanen received a nomination for Songwriter of the Year for the tracks "Be My Witness", "Caught Me Thinking", and "Lost in the Light".
Jurvanen released his third album, Bahamas Is Afie on August 19, 2014. The album received first place on Q'''s Top 20 Albums of 2014. Bahamas Is Afie received a nomination for Adult Alternative Album of the Year At the Juno Awards of 2015, and Jurvanen received nomination for Songwriter of the Year for "All the Time", "Bitter Memories" and "Stronger Than That"."2015 Juno Award Nominees: The complete list" . CTV, January 27, 2015. He won the awards in both categories.
Jurvanen tours with drummer Jason Tait and backing vocalist Felicity Williams.Ben Rayner, "Bahamas' latest album is all about Afie Jurvanen". Toronto Star, August 17, 2014. Bahamas opened for Jack Johnson, Robert Plant, Wilco, The Lumineers and City and Colour."Bahamas wants listeners to lean in to hear 'Bahamas Is Afie' album". Los Angeles Times, August 21, 2014.
Jurvanen released his fourth album, Earthtones on January 19, 2018."Bahamas Announce New Album 'Earthtones,' Share Charming New Track 'No Wrong': Exclusive". Billboard, October 26, 2017. Bahamas began their Canadian tour for Earthtones on January 18, 2018, the Earthtones World Tour and recruited Zach Gill to open the shows.
Jurvanen released his fifth studio album, Sad Hunk, on October 9, 2020. The album won the Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2021.Holly Gordon and Andrea Warner, "Here are the 2021 Juno Award winners". CBC Music, June 4, 2021.
Jurvanen released his sixth studio album, Bootcut, on September 15, 2023.All Eyes Media, https://alleyesmedia.com/bahamas-releases-bootcut-and-three-tracks/ Bahamas Releases Three Tracks From Classic Country-Inspired New Album Bootcut – Out September 15th, Jul 11, 2023. Bahamas performed on the second episode of the 28th season of The Bachelor.
In 2024 he appeared as a guest musician on New Kind of Familiar, the second album by Clever Hopes.Brendyn Creamer, "Clever Hopes meditates on memories in sophomore album, ‘New Kind of Familiar’". The Coast, June 7, 2024.
Jurvanen released his seventh studio album, My Second Last Album, on October 24, 2025. The album was cowinner, with Begonia's Fantasy Life'', of the Juno award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2026.Holly Gordon, "Here are all the 2026 Juno nominees". CBC Music, January 27, 2026.
Discography
Albums YearDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications(sales threshold)CANUSUS salesUS HeatUS Folk
2009Pink Strat Released: July 21, 2009 Label: Brushfire Records Format: CD, LP, digital download—————2012Barchords Released: February 7, 2012 Label: Brushfire Format: CD, LP, digital download———1414 MC: Gold2014Bahamas Is Afie Released: August 19, 2014 Label: Brushfire Format: CD, LP, digital download4——1562018Earthtones
Released: January 19, 2018 Label: Brushfire Format: CD, LP, digital download5—763132020Sad Hunk Released: October 9, 2020 Label: Brushfire Format: CD, LP, digital download67————2023Bootcut Released: September 15, 2023 Label: Brushfire Format: CD, LP, digital download—————2025My Second Last Album Released: October 24, 2025 Label: Brushfire Format: CD, LP, digital download—————"—" denotes releases that did not chart
Singles Year Song Chart peakCertifications(sales threshold) AlbumCANRockUSAAAUSRock 2012 "Caught Me Thinking"48——Barchords"Lost in the Light"——— MC: 2× Platinum RIAA: Gold2014 "All the Time"—1019 RIAA: PlatinumBahamas Is Afie "Stronger Than That"42——2017 "No Wrong"———Earthtones "Way with Words"—27— "My Love"———The Tribes of Palos Verdes 2018"Bad Boys Need Love Too"———Earthtones"No Expectations"——— 2020"Own Alone"—26—Sad Hunk"Trick to Happy"—39— 2023"I'm Still"—35—Bootcut 2025"Please Don't Return"———Songs from the Gang "—" denotes a release that did not chart.
Personal life Jurvanen lived in The Junction neighborhood of Toronto with his wife and two children until December 2018, when they relocated to Nova Scotia.
Awards and nominations +YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResultRef 2024 Canadian Country Music Association Alternative Country Album of the Year Bootcut
References
External links