Mikko H. Haapoja

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 various soundscapes together, Haapoja creates unheard worlds. In Haapoja's solo music, bowed lyres (jouhikko & bass talharpa), alongside electronic beats, connects this mixture of sounds to our living tradition.

Mikko H. Haapoja playing bass jouhikko at Osaka World Expo 2025.

In April 2025, Haapoja had his second solo tour in Japan, culminating to the concerts at the opening week of Osaka World Expo.

Currently Haapoja is composing music for his second solo album and the upcoming contemporary circus piece 'Unleashed'. The first trailer of the piece is included on the showreel video above. The second Unheard Landscapes album will be out in 2026.

Unheard Landscapes – CD | LP

The album debuted at #16 on WMCE's September 2023 World Music Charts.

Purchase the LP from Levykauppa Äx or listen to the album on streaming platforms. CD available also via Kansanmusiikkiliitto.

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 debut album music was originally composed for Contemporary Circus Performance Fragile, which premiered in September '22 in Helsinki. Read the first review of Fragile here (FI).

UNHEARD LANDSCAPES

Electroacoustic bowed lyre music with global soundscapes

Unheard Landscapes – CD | LP