Electroacoustic bowed lyre music with global soundscapes
Helsinki-born media artist and music producer Mikko H. Haapoja has for years field-recorded sounds around the globe, from the Nordic and equatorial nature to the several cities like Istanbul, New York, Tokyo, Bamako and Bangkok. By mixing multiple sonic environments together, Haapoja composes unheard worlds. In his solo project Unheard Landscapes, Finnish traditional bowed lyre (jouhikko), bass bowed lyre and cello, alongside electronic beats, contact this mixture of sounds to the living tradition of ours.
Unheard Landscapes album is composed, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered by Mikko H. Haapoja. Kanteles in the last track Stream in the City played by Sarah Palu.
Haapoja’s duetting with jouhikko and birds is full of character - Songlines
On the album, Haapoja's backgrounds from music technology, classical music, ethno & jazz are combined in a great way. – Pirta magazine
Unheard Landscapes is soothing and lovely to listen to. – Kansanmusiikki
Unheard Landscapes music is originally composed for Contemporary Circus Performance Fragile, which premiered in September '22 in Helsinki. Read the first review of Fragile here (FI).
Unheard Landscapes Japan Tour 2024:
11/8 Yokohama, Emulle open 18:00
11/9 Hanno, Metsä 13:00 & 15:00
11/13 Osaka, CFlat 19:00
11/17 Tokyo, Juhla Festival 12:50
11/23 Shizuoka (two concerts)
In Japan 2024, Haapoja will celebrate the Unheard Landscapes LP release, yet play also brand new material, which he's composing for the upcoming contemporary circus piece 'Unleashed' and for his next solo album. Here is the first trailer of the circus performance, which premieres in November 2025 in Helsinki:
Live videos from the Unheard Landscapes tour:
The first music video single from Haapoja's debut album was Seeking Daylight:
