Mikko Härkin

Mikko Härkin
Mikko Härkin
Background information
Birth name	Mikko Härkin
Born	May 25, 1979 (1979-05-25) (age 32)
Origin	Keitele, Finland
Genres	Melodic/Power metal, Melodic Death Metal
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Keyboards
Years active	1999-Present
Associated acts	Sonata Arctica Kenziner Mehida Essence of Sorrow Solution .45 Cain's Offering Symfonia

Mikko Härkin (born May 25, 1979, in Keitele, Finland) is a Finnish power metal keyboardist, who has performed with Sonata Arctica^[1] and Kenziner.

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.

In 2000, he joined Sonata Arctica and toured Europe with Stratovarius and Rhapsody. Härkin recorded keyboards for Sonata Arctica's second album, Silence, which was released in 2001. Sonata Arctica's first live CD, named Songs of Silence, featured Härkin on keyboards. At the end of 2002, Härkin left Sonata Arctica.^{[citation needed]}

In 2003, Härkin started a band named Wingdom with vocalist Sami Asp, Alessandro Lotta (ex-Rhapsody), Markus, and guitarist Jukka (who had worked with Härkin since 1998). In 2005, Wingdom' released their first album, Reality, and Mikko Härkin left the band.^[2] Afterwards^[when?], the band Divinefire invited Härkin to play keyboards on the album Hero.^{[citation needed]}

Härkin formed the band Essence of Sorrow with Markus (who played drums for Wingdom), Christian Palin (singer for Random Eyes) and Jani Stefanovic (guitarist for Divinefire). In January 2007, they released their first album, Reflections From The Obscure.^{[citation needed]}

As of 2009^[update], Härkin is working on a project titled Mehida, which consists of the three members of Wingdom as well as Jani Stefanovic from Essence of Sorrow and Divinefire. He worked on Solution .45's debut album For Aeons Past, alongside Jani Stefanovic and ex-Scar Symmetry vocalist Christian Älvestam.

Last news are that he's currently part of Symfonia, a power metal supergroup formed in with André Matos, Timo Tolkki, Jari Kainulainen and Uli Kusch.^[3] They are expected to make their debut performance at Finnish Metal Expo 2011.

Discography

• Kenziner - Prophecies (1999)
• Sonata Arctica - Silence (2001)
• Sonata Arctica - Orientation (EP) (2001)
• Sonata Arctica - Songs of Silence (2002)
• Sonata Arctica - Takatalvi (EP) (2003)
• Divinefire - Hero (2005)
• Wingdom - Reality (2006)
• Essence of Sorrow - Reflections from the Obscure (2007)
• Mehida - Blood & Water (2007)
• Cain's Offering - Gather the Faithful (2009)
• Solution .45 - For Aeons Past (2010)
• Symfonia - In Paradisum (2011)

References

1. ^ Hinds, Andy. "Biography: Sonata Arctica". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p430616/biography. Retrieved 20 March 2010. 
2. ^ "Wingdom To Open For Stratovarius, Hammerfall In Finland". Blabbermouth. October 21, 2005. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=43186. Retrieved 20 March 2010. 
3. ^ "Former Stratovarius, Helloween, Angra Members Join Forces In Symfonia". Blabbermouth.net. 8 November 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=149046&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blabbermouth+%28Blabbermouth.net%27s+Daily+Headlines%29&utm_content=Twitter. Retrieved 8 November 2010. 

External links

• Mikko Härkin Fan Site

Persondata
Name	Harkin, Mikko
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1979-05-25
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death