Bahamas

Biography

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. 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. Downtown Music Publishing represents Bahamas' songs. Jurvanen recorded his debut album — Pink Strat×Pink Strat21 July 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Lonely Loves2:022Hockey Teeth2:353Southern Drawl2:484For Good Reason3:435You're Bored, I'm Old2:416Sunshine Blues2:217Already Yours2:068What's Worse?3:299Let the Good Times Roll1:3410Try, Tried, Trying3:5611Till the Morning2:0012Whole Wide World2:35, 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×Barchords1 January 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Lost in the Light3:562Caught Me Thinkin3:003Montreal2:414Okay Alright I'm Alive2:585Never Again4:306Overjoyed4:267I Got You Babe2:468Any Other Way1:039Snow Plow3:0110Your Sweet Touch3:5211Time and Time Again3:1212Be My Witness3:46, 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×Bahamas is Afie14 August 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Waves4:222Can't Take You With Me3:103Bitter Memories2:284All the Time3:545Stronger Than That2:376Half Mine2:167All Time Favourite4:098Like a Wind3:279Nothing to Me Now3:1910Little Record Girl3:0211I Had It All3:4112All I've Ever Known6:15 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". He won the awards in both categories.
Jurvanen tours with drummer Jason Tait and backing vocalist Felicity Williams. Bahamas opened for Jack Johnson, Robert Plant, Wilco, The Lumineers and City and Colour.
Jurvanen released his fourth album, Earthtones×Earthtones19 January 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Alone3:242Opening Act3:523No Wrong3:494Show Me Naomi3:515No Expectations3:306Way With Words4:217Bad Boys Need Love Too3:418Everything to Everyone4:299So Free7:0610No Depression3:0711Any Place4:01 on January 19, 2018. 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×Sad Hunk9 October 2020 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Trick to Happy3:242Own Alone3:153Less Than Love4:124Done Did Me No Good2:505Half Your Love2:246Up With the Jones4:107Not Cool Anymore2:068Can’t Complain1:549Fair Share2:5310Wisdom of the World4:45, on October 9, 2020. The album won the Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2021.
Jurvanen released his sixth studio album, Bootcut×Bootcut15 September 2023 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Girls Bugging Me0:552Just a Song3:573Working on My Guitar3:154I’m Still5:295Somebody Just Like Me2:346Second Time Around2:507Into the Unknown2:498Sports Car4:099The Only One3:5210Gone Girl Gone3:4811Nothing Blows My Mind4:00, on September 15, 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.
Jurvanen released his seventh studio album, My Second Last Album×My Second Last Album24 October 2025 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Sauna3:592Country for the Town2:433The Bridge3:054Ready for a New Thing2:465Only Inspiration2:586Dearborn2:567Shadows2:128Play the Game3:029Feels So Good3:3410In Country4:04, 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.

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.