Mikko Härkin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mikko Härkin | |
|---|---|
 Mikko Härkin
|
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Finland |
| Genre(s) | Power metal |
| Associated acts | Sonata Arctica Kenziner Mehida Essence of Sorrow |
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 second 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 Stefanovich, 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), Härkin 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 Stefanovich 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)
- Sonata Arctica - Songs of Silence (2002)
- Divinefire - Hero (2005)
- Wingdom - Reality (2006)
- Essence of Sorrow - Reflections from the Obscure (2007)
[edit] External links
- Mikko Härkin Fan Site
- Mehida official website
- Essence of Sorrow official website
- Divinefire official website
 |
This article on a keyboardist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This article about a Finnish musician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
