Performance

Ossi started his professional career as a freelance musician in 2006. Performing in an average of 50 - 70 concerts each year, he has developed a distinctive style influenced by various musical traditions from around the globe. His repertoire includes the tama (‘talking drum’), drum kit, keyboard, electronics, djembe, bodhran, sabar, bugarabu, and congas.

For over a decade, Ossi has been heavily involved as founding member, drummer, and manager of the Finland-based band, Faso Kan, as well as the percussionist of Sole Glow.

Faso Kan’s Emma-nominated debut album saw the light of day in 2023, with music that continues the legacy of the West African griot tradition, even though the compositions are new and the arrangements their own. In Faso Kan, Ossi plays alongside several musicians from Finland’s West African diaspora: Issiaka Dembele, who composes much of the music, sings and plays the balafon, kamele ngoni calabash harp and djembe drums; Issa Dembele, who like Issiaka Dembele is originally from Burkina Faso and plays balafon and percussion; Adama Koné originally from Mali who plays balafon, djembe and kora; and Senegalese-born bassist Pothio Ndiaye. Other band members include Jaakko Arola and Mikko Veijonen (wind instruments), and Tomi Pekkola (guitar and ngoni).