“There’s no greater pain than having your soul go unseen. Come, receive the light.”
Finland’s only Piano Balladist and Mons Records artist Heikki Hallanoro is a vagabond pianist and composer with a degree in astronomy. Heikki Hallanoro became one of the most listened finnish pianist immediately with his first solo piano album Soul Songs (Mons Records, release date 15th of December 2023).
Heikki Hallanoro plays over 100 years old piano. This characterful 19th century period instrument is like a mother elephant who has remembrance of her own.
All songs are composed and performed by Heikki Hallanoro.
Once Heikki was a promising astronomer who discovered the origins of Saturn’s Rings. But he was also a child of an alcoholic mother. He had played his own songs on piano since a little boy and music had become his kingdom, his safe haven.
When Heikki plunged into serious depression he started to remember old piano songs he had made. Eventually Soul Songs lifted Heikki from deep depression.
Soul Songs became his life’s work. He makes his living playing them live and this studio recording you have in your hands got immediately signed by legendary Mons Records, a label that has released albums from such artists as Clark Terry (trumpetist of Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington), Manu Katché (drummer of Sting, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell) and Bob Mintzer (saxophonist of Buddy Rich, Jaco Pastorius, Tito Puente), among others.
Heikki has no time for things that have no soul. That’s why he does not sit in the study and compose. Heikki “hears” music when he wanders in nature. For example, Soul Songs No. 3 and No. 6 Heikki got when walking Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route in Japan. “Music comes when one is open and experiences the world around. I tried to create safe and comforting space for listener to embark on inner journey.” Heikki didn’t want to name the songs and direct listeners impression any way since he knew from own experience that same song can evoke different emotions and memories at different times. “Songs are continuous and ever-evolving, and they work like magic - since so are we, continuous and ever-changing.”
Heikki Hallanoro lives in Oulu, a city close to arctic circle, Finland.