Mika Vainio

Finnish electronic musician

Mika Vainio

Background information
Birth name| Mika Tapio Vainio
Also known as|

* Ø
* Kentolevi
* Philus
* Tekonivel

Born| (1963-05-15)15 May 1963
Helsinki, Finland
Origin| Turku, Finland
Died| 12 April 2017(2017-04-12) (aged 53)
Trouville-sur-Mer, France
Occupations| Musician
Years active| 1991–2017
Labels| Sähkö, Blast First, Elektro Music Department
Website| www.mikavainio.com

Musical artist

Mika Tapio Vainio (15 May 1963 – 12 April 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[edit]

Mika Vainio was born on 15 May 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 18 December.[10]

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

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Notice de personne "Vainio, Mika (1963–2017)". Retrieved 2 August 2019. `{{cite book}}`: `|website=` ignored (help)
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."

## External links[edit]

* Mika Vainio official site
* Mika Vainio official Facebook
* Mika Vainio fansite on pHinnWeb
* Mika Vainio discography at Discogs
* Mika Vainio discography at MusicBrainz
* Mika Vainio remembered by Blast First boss Paul Smith

Authority control databases

International|

* FAST
* ISNI
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* VIAF
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5

National|

* Norway
* France
* BnF data
* Germany
* Finland
* 2
* United States
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5

Artists|

* MusicBrainz
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5

Other|

* IdRef