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Full Discography (PDF)
Mikko Raita (born 1979) first set foot in a real music studio in music high school, while he still thought he would aspire to be a great professional guitar player. However, life behind the glass soon proved to be far more interesting and he set out to be the best recording and mixing engineer he ever could instead. He started work on an endless stream of demo productions and studio experiments. During these early years he also met one Julius Mauranen who was aspiring to become an engineer as well.
After high school, Mikko started studies at the brand new Sibelius Academy Music Technology deparment in 1999, where he was met by an exciting community of like-minded young engineers-to-be (like Janne Riionheimo), as well as generous studio time at the facultys modern Pro Tools studios. In 2001 Mikko was offered a real engineering gig by stoner rockers Mannhai to work on their debut The Sons of Yesterday’s Black Grouse for Spinefarm records.
His career jumpstarted quite soon with several notable records for major labels including Olavi Uusivirta’s debut Nuoruustango And Killer’s Sure You Know How To Drive This Thing? (Including Finland’s biggest hit in 2003, Naughty Boy) as well as recording and mixing the single Seemann for Apocalyptica and Nina Hagen. Around this time Mikko and Janne set up shop at the original Studio Kekkonen locale (To be later joined by Julius) and used it for demo work and overdubs, but Mikko used other rooms as well for tracking and mixing major releases before the current Kekkonen was built.
In a few years, Mikko had become a household name on major Finnish releases as an engineer, mixer and producer/co-producer. In 2004 he worked as the engineer on the”“artistic comeback” of one of Finland’s most renowned singer/songwriters since the 60’s, Hector. The album, Ei Selityksiä is just one of the many gold and platinum awards Mikko has received. Mikko also received the closest thing Finland has to an engineering Grammy, the Pappa-Pysti (In honour of the legendary Paul Jyrälä) in 2008.
Some other notable projects include Sunrise Avenue’s 2006 smash debut On The Way To Wonderland and work with multi- talented singer/pianist/producer Tuomo on several projects, including his solo debut My Thing in 2007, as well as work with famed rocker Ismo Alanko on the albums Blanco Spirituals and Onnellisuus with multi-instrumentalist Teho Majamäki. In 2009, Mikko also mixed Fly Away: The Songs Of David Foster by arranger-producer great Tomi Malm, featuring a dazzling cast of world famous singers and musicians and even playing by mr. Foster himself. Mikko has also worked with some of the best from the new generation of scandinavian Jazz musicians, like engineering Aurora for trumpeter/composer great Verneri Pohjola in 2008. He is no stranger to heavy metal either, and has worked on tracks for the likes of Stratovarius and Fireal, as well as mixing the Helsinki Eurovision Song Contest 2007 half-time medley by Apocalyptica for millions of viewers.
Mikko continues to work as a first-call studio professional, always bringing along his enthusiasm for great music and sound as well as his unrivalled attention to detail to every project.
Selected Discography:
Olavi Uusivirta: Nuoruustango (R/M/Ps), Me Ei kuolla Koskaan (R/M)
Hector: Ei Selityksiä (R/M)
Ismo Alanko Teholla: Blanco Spitiuals (R/M), Onnellisuus (M)
Tuomo: My Thing (R/M)
Emma Salokoski & Ilmiliekki Quartet: Vi Sålde Våra Hemman (R/M),
Verneri Pohjola: Aurora (R/M)
Mimmit: Hats Hats Harakkainen (R/M), Maailman Ympäri (R/M)
Joona Toivanen Trio: At My Side (R/M)
Ana Johnsson: Little Angels (R/M/cP, 5 tr)
Fireal: The Dark Side (R/M/P, 7 tr)
Sunrise Avenue: On The Way To Wonderland (R/M, 4 tr)
Various Artists: Fly Away: The Songs Of David Foster (M)
Full Discography (PDF) |
