Mikko Härkin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mikko Harkin | ||
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 Mikko Harkin
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Finland  |
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| Genre(s) | Power metal | |
| Associated acts |
Sonata Arctica Kenziner Mehida Essence of Sorrow |
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Mikko Härkin (born May 25, 1979, in Keitele, Finland) is a Finnish power metal keyboardist. He is best known for playing with Sonata Arctica and Kenziner. Härkin has a strong neo-classical style, influenced by keyboardists such as Jens Johansson. Much of his work also has progressive influences.
[edit] History
Härkin begun to study piano at the age of 5. He joined Kenziner in 1999 and with them recorded his first album, The Prophecies.
A year later, he joined Sonata Arctica and toured Europe with bands such as Stratovarius and Rhapsody. With Sonata Arctica, Härkin recorded keyboards on their sophomore album, Silence, which was released in 2001. Sonata Arctica's first live CD, named Songs of Silence, also featured Härkin on keyboards. At the end of 2002, Härkin decided to leave the band for personal reasons.
In 2003, he started a new band called Wingdom with Sami Asp (vocals) and Jukka (guitars) who had already worked with Härkin since 1998. This band played a more progressive style with the arrival of two new members: Alexandro Lotta (ex-Rhapsody) and Markus. In the end of 2006, Wingdom released their first album, Reality, and Mikko Härkin left the band.
Afterwards, the band Divinefire called Härkin to invite him to play keyboards on Hero, one of their albums. It was there that he met Jani, a guitarist, with whom he played in other recent side projects.
In 2003 he joined a band called Random Eyes who he is still involved with. and is working with them on a new release at the moment.
With Markus (who played drums for Wingdom), Christian Palin (singer for Random Eyes) and Jani Stefanovic (guitarist for Divinefire), Hârkin formed a band called Essence of Sorrow with progressive elements and a dark theme. They released their first album, Reflections From The Obscure, in January 2007.
Currently, Härkin is working on a new project called Mehida, which consists of the three members of Wingdom as well as Jani from Essence of Sorrow and Divinefire. The band is recording their first album, called Blood & Water. Some of the songs from this album are available on their website.
[edit] Discography
- Kenziner - Prophecies (1999)
- Sonata Arctica - Silence (2001)
- Divinefire - Hero (2005)
- Wingdom - Reality (2006)
- Essence of Sorrow - Reflections from the Obscure (2007)
[edit] External links
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| Sonata Arctica (Official site) |
| Tony Kakko | Jani Liimatainen | Henrik Klingenberg | Marko Paasikoski | Tommy Portimo |
| Former members: Janne Kivilahti | Mikko Härkin | Pentti Peura |
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| Discography |
| Singles: "UnOpened" | "Wolf & Raven" | "Last Drop Falls" | "Victoria's Secret" | "Broken" | "Don't Say A Word" | "Shamandalie" | "Replica 2006" | "Paid in Full" |
| Studio Albums: Ecliptica | Silence | Winterheart's Guild | Reckoning Night | Unia |
| EPs: Orientation | Successor | Takatalvi | Don't Say a Word |
| Demos: Friend 'till the End | Agre Pamppers | PeaceMaker | FullMoon |
| Live albums: Songs of Silence | For the Sake of Revenge |
| Compilations: The End of This Chapter | The Collection 1999-2006 |
| DVDs: For the Sake of Revenge |
