Heli Hartikainen

Heli Hartikainen is a Finnish saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, improviser and sound artist whose practice derives from a pursuit of enduring textures, functions, and forms. As a saxophonist, Hartikainen is a passionate instrumentalist who constantly pushes the boundaries of their instrument (and themself) ever further. Experimentation is at the core of Hartikainen’s creative practice, in which abstraction and existential inquisitiveness playfully intertwine with an insatiable love of sound – their work stands as a testament to the power of artistic experimentation.

Hartikainens’ training and interests lie especially in experimental free improvisation and multidisciplinary art. They are best known for their solo project CHRONOVARIATIONS that was part of Flow Festival 2022. CHRONOVARIATIONS binaural album was released 06.09.2024 by Hartikainens’ own label Multiphonic Works.

Hartikainen has studied classical clarinet playing, jazz saxophone, folk music and improvisation, and graduated as a master of music from Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts, Helsinki. In their studies Hartikainen researched the ancient styles of improvisation and the aesthetics of repetitiveness in Finnish folk music, and gained knowledge in electroacoustic music, spatial audio and live electronics. They perform both solo and in ensembles and work as a freelance composer, an instrument teacher and a studio musician. Their music has been played at prestigious festivals like Ung Nordisk Musik and Nordic Music Days 2024. They are also known for their art folk ensemble Aoide, whose debut album was published by record label Helmi Levyt 2020.