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Mika Vainio

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Mika Vainio
Background information
Birth nameMika Tapio Vainio
Also known as
  • Ø
  • Kentolevi
  • Philus
  • Tekonivel
Born(1963-05-15)May 15, 1963
Helsinki, Finland
OriginTurku, Finland
DiedApril 12, 2017(2017-04-12) (aged 53)
Trouville-sur-Mer, France
OccupationsMusician
Years active1991–2017
LabelsSähkö, Blast First, Elektro Music Department
Websitewww.mikavainio.com Edit this at Wikidata

Mika Tapio Vainio (May 15, 1963 – April 12, 2017)[1] was a Finnish electronic musician. He was best known as a member of Pan Sonic. In addition to his real name, he recorded under the aliases Ø, Kentolevi, Philus, and Tekonivel.[2]

He has worked with artists such as Alan Vega, Barry Adamson, Charlemagne Palestine, Alva Noto, Peaches, Kevin Drumm, Björk, Stephen O'Malley, Keiji Haino, Michael Gira, Chicks on Speed, Merzbow, and many others.[3][4]

Life and career

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Mika Vainio was born on May 15, 1963, in Helsinki, but grew up in Turku.[5][6][7] In the early 1980s, he played in the group Gagarin-Kombinaatti while also working at a slaughterhouse.[8]

In the late 1980s, Vainio began DJing and organizing parties, playing acid house. It was here that he met Tommi Grönlund, who would later found Sähkö Recordings.[9] Sähkö would release much of Vainio's music.

In the mid-1990s, he formed the group Pan Sonic with Ilpo Väisänen and later Sami Salo (who would soon leave). Pan Sonic disbanded in December 2009, playing their final concert on December 18.[10]

Vainio died on April 12, 2017, in Trouville-sur-Mer, France,[1] after falling six meters off a cliff into the sea.[11][12] The exact circumstances of his death are unknown.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b Notice de personne "Vainio, Mika (1963–2017)". Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Mika Vainio | Discography & Songs". Discogs. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  3. ^ Young, Rob (April 2017). "Mika Vainio 1963–2017: Finland's great stone-faced sonic violator remembered by Rob Young". The Wire. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. ^ Strauss, Matthew (13 April 2017). "Pan Sonic's Mika Vainio Dead at 53". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  5. ^ Karemo, Tuomas (18 December 2017). "Mika Vainio – A Quiet Life". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Mika Vainio has died". The Wire. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  7. ^ Grönlund, Tommi (May 2017). "Tommi Grönlund of Sähkö Recordings remembers Mika Vainio". The Wire. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  8. ^ Freeman, Parker (16 January 2016). "Mika Vainio's early Gagarin-Kombinaatti recordings get first ever release". Fact. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  9. ^ White, Michelle (February 2014). "Sähkö 20 Years Anniversary Special Interview with Mika Vainio & Tommi Grönlund". Mosaic Theory. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Pan Sonic News". pHinnWeb. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  11. ^ "About". Facebook. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  12. ^ a b Vainio, Kalle (18 December 2017). "Mika Vainio – A Quiet Life". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 3 August 2019. Seuraavana päivänä Mika kuoli pudottuaan kuusi metriä jyrkänteeltä mereen. Kuolinsyy on edelleen tuntematon, vaikka ruumiinavaus on tehty kahdesti, Ranskassa ja myöhemmin Suomessa.
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