I started playing drums in the fall of 1994 and got my first drum kit in May 1995. I currently play in A Sullen Day, Sotajumala and Where Victims Lie. I’m also the session drummer for Kataplexia. In the past I’ve been part of Atakhama and Funeris Nocturnum (RIP).

While I am mainly self-taught, I have taken some lessons. When I first started, I took lessons for a couple of years. In 2002 I took five or six lessons from Kai Hahto on hand technique. There aren’t words to describe how much Kai helped me in that short amount of time. He is simply a phenomenal drummer and an incredible teacher.

Influences

When I was a kid, my biggest influences were Lars Ulrich and Nicko McBrain. The second wave of influence came from Derek Roddy, Flo Mounier, Kai Hahto, John Longstreth, Tony Laureano and George Kollias. I can never get tired of watching Jojo Mayer, Benny Greb or Steve Smith.

Nowadays my biggest influences are Jamie Saint Merat, Dave Norton, Dave Grohl, Tuomo Latvala and Kauko Kuusisalo.