multi-instrumentalist - singer - composer - arranger - instructor

Coming from a background of classical music in his childhood, Nils studied the traditional music during several stays in West Africa. He was profoundly inspired by the deeply ingrained musicality amongst the ordinary people.

In Guinea he had the opportunuity to study with several internationally renowned masters of traditional instruments and vocals such as Fodé Kalissa (kora / National Ballet Guinea), Ba Cissoko (kora / vocals) Alseny Camara (djembe solist Ballet Djoliba), Famoudou Konate and family (National Ballet Guinea)  and Koungbana Konde (Percussion de Guinee).

He was always particularly interested in gaining deeper understanding of African mentality and the spiritual essence of African music. This shines through to his life performances where his interactive compositions with the audience create an atmosphere of one “village”.

Since 1992 he gives concerts and workshops and since 1998 he lives and works together with his partner, Kira Kaipainen (Finland).

“To me the essence behind traditional African music, as well as all original music, is to be a gateway to an inner world, behind the superficial world of physical existence.

In this way, I feel my music is coming from the same impulse. During concerts and workshops I wish to share this fullfilling, extraordinary and at the same time very simple way of mutual listening and communication.

This ancient source does not belong to anyone in particular; during concerts both audience and musicians can discover it freshly and be vitalized by it.

Since the real tribal people as well as their music have nearly been eradicated from this planet, maybe something like this can be the continuation of that timeless wisdom - not as a conserving (and thereby making it something dead) but as a fresh discovery and exploration of the new, rooted in that ancient spirit of serving the whole. This approach can eliminate some of that inner isolation, our modern civilization seems to bring with it.” (N.K.)