I find a stunning and peculiar familiarity between the desert of Arabia and Finnish landscapes. both can be  magical, hostile, empty, silent and awesome. It makes sense to try and bring these two worlds together, not only in musical style but also with the talents of the artists in both geographical areas. Since 1993 I have performed in over 70 countries, mainly as a solo guitarist, performing my own compositions. These concert tours have taken me far and wide, from Mozambique to Uzbekistan, Estonia to China, Saudi Arabia to Canada.  This project is an attempt to bring these worlds together, the worlds that I have experienced through music.

Artists include Iiro Rantala, Paleface, Hosni Boudali, Aladin Abbas, Vishnu Sanju Sahai, Juki Välipakka, Elisa Laiho, Ndioba Gueye, Tapio Waismaa, Reijo Ikonen, Mia Puutio, Torsten Harder, Mike Haughton, Noel Schenker, Sirpa Suomalainen, Jemina Nylund, Steve Bingham, Tarun Bathija and Duran Bathija.


The Helsinki Project was released on the Naim Label in July 2007 and premiered at Tapiola Cultural Centre in January 2008 in Helsinki.

“The Helsinki Project is a compositional showcase contrasting textures, tempos, melodies, languages and voices, moments of excitement, moments of peace. The human capacity for hope pervades the harshness - the raw materials for a fuller and richer life..."

The Beat Magazine, USA