Bio

I was only a couple of months old when I was taken to the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival (Kaustisen kansanmusiikkijuhlat back then) for the first time. Naturally I don't recall anything from that but the rough beauty of the Nordic folk music likely left its indelible mark in my soul. Studying music was an integral part of my life through my childhood and the hunger for learning more and growing as a musician have not faded to this day.

Music studies carried me from my childhoods hometown Puhos (or Kitee as some folk like to call it) to Savonlinna, Joensuu, Kuopio, Stockholm, Esbjerg, Voss and finally to Helsinki where, at least for the time being, is my home, castle and headquarters situated.

Photo: Jorma Airola

While touring around Europe as a musician I have observed that working with and sharing culture and art over national borders and social class boundaries is the most important thing we as artist and supporters of artistic work can do these days.

Therefore my mission during the short period I'm bound to spend on this beautiful planet is to implement that important task. I explore the traditional music from the territories that nowadays are Finland and its neighboring countries and compose new music from those roots.

I believe that art can make everything better to the extent that it can save our species' whole existence. Nevertheless, if my work as an artist affects even one person (be it me or someone else) and makes their everyday life less gray and monotonous, I find it worth doing.