TK Website 2007 Edition

It's the year 1999. The story begins to unfold in Tampere, Finland. Tapsa Kuusniemi has just suggested an alliance to his two good friends, Teemu Rimpinen and Erno Helen. They have accepted. The adventure begins and the trio set a grand goal; they are going to conquer the world.

For Tapsa everything began much earlier; 14 years prior he was introduced to the world of moving pictures as his uncle brought him along to watch the shoot of some long forgotten commercial. Everything spiralled upwards from there. Years passed and Tapsa helped his uncle on projects; sometimes behind the camera, sometimes in front of it. He liked doing everything, following his uncles example. But a fatal step was approaching...

In 1994 Tapsa went to see the movie "Crimson Tide" with his friends and that simple event would put him on a course that would have impact on the rest of his life. The musical score swept him away with the sheer staggering power of it and he knew that that was what he wanted to do. That he was destined to compose. The only problem was; he didn't know where to begin.

He found the answer in musical software called trackers. Entry level music programs that allowed the user to create music using samples. It was not much, but it held it's innovations and Tapsa had taken his first steps on his chosen path. The trackers lasted for several years as Tapsa honed his skills and developed his style. But it was years later when he eventually broke free and began to blossom.

In the winter of 1999 Tapsa moved to Tampere to study acting. The school lasted for six months. There he met director Tommi Lepola, who was about to begin creating a feature length motion picture. Tapsa saw an opportunity there and summoned his friends Teemu and Erno, who came aboard and together they convinced Lepola that they were the men for the job.

The film proved to be the best education Tapsa could have received for film music. It was the episodic film "Kohtalon Kirja", which required several different types and genres of music. It also brought along a software upgrade from trackers to sequencers. Cakewalk was the weapon of choice. The project took four years to complete in which time the trio of composers led by Tapsa had formed a tightly working unit with creative minds capable of doing anything.

Years have passed since and the trio are fearlessly heading for their journey to take on the world with Tapsa at the helm!

Tapsa finds the crossroads of worlds interesting. He relies heavily on ethnic and traditional instruments and their strongs sounds. He combines them with modern electronics and orchestras to create innovative soundscapes that echo through the ages.

Story telling is the basis he relies on when setting out to compose a project, large or small. The foundation of this story telling can be traced back to ancient Greece and in the writings found in Aristotle's "Poetics".

Collaboration with Teemu and Erno and a plethora of different artists gives always new kick when to minds come together to find new interesting ideas and worlds.