We interviewed our Music Content Producer, Markus, to find out how he combines his musician life with his work at Musopia.
How long have you worked at Musopia?
I started in the Spring of 2023, so one and a half years now.
What is your area of responsibility at Musopia?
I write and produce in-house songs to support the learning purposes of our apps. I’m also involved in the video side, lesson and exercise design, and music used in marketing—so basically, all things content.
What do you like best about working at Musopia?
The relaxed, friendly, and fun atmosphere. I was also able to set up a flexible working schedule so I could live my musician life on the side.
What is your musical background?
I started playing drums when I was 10, and I picked up the saxophone and flute when I was 15. I’ve always played a little piano and composed many songs on the side. In the army band, my friends convinced me to apply to Sibelius Academy, where I graduated with a master’s in music technology in 2013. I’ve played hundreds of gigs in probably hundreds of line-ups, but nowadays, I lead my own jazz-rock/prog band called Utopianisti and am a member of Von Hertzen Brothers, Frank Zappa Memorial Pancake Breakfast and Njet Njet 9.
“Music is a higher form of communication and an outlet for emotions so powerful that it makes most other things in life seem pretty much redundant.”
Are there any other instruments you play?
I play saxophones, flutes, clarinets, drums, percussion, keyboards, and ukulele. I also took some lessons on the violin and in conducting.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Anything from zeuhlcore to zydeco or cha cha cha to Cha Cha Cha. I love all kinds of music, but for favorites I like to dig deeper than the most commercial selection. Some of my favorite composers are Frank Zappa and Pekka Pohjola, whose influences can be heard in my Utopianisti project.
How do you feel music makes the world a better place?
It’s a higher form of communication and an outlet for emotions so powerful that it makes most other things in life seem pretty much redundant.
“I love all kinds of music, but for favorites I like to dig deeper than the most commercial selection.”
What is the meaning of music in your life?
See the previous answer. Also, I might play drums with a death metal band and the next day play sax in an opera singer’s Christmas concert, where the different audiences wouldn’t even call the other performance music. That’s awesome.
What is your guilty pleasure song, the song that you secretly love?
Radio Helsinki has a program called Kotibileet, which hits all my guilty pleasures and creates some new ones. I love it!
What kind of coffee do you start your working day with?
Dark roast with oat milk. Coffee brands change, but only Elovena or Oddlygood oat milk qualify!
Which famous musician would you like to jam with, if possible?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to get to play with many of my favorite bands, like Kingston Wall, Saimaa, WÖYH, Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha, Black Motor, of course, the Von Hertzen Brothers and Njet Njet 9, and I also get to play Zappa music with the excellent cover band Frank Zappa Memorial Pancake Breakfast. But to name a few, a flute battle with Ian Anderson, a drum battle with Tatsuya Yoshida or a free-form jam with French guitarist Marc Ducret would be something to dream about.
Follow Musopia on Linkedin for the latest news.
Read the previous Music in My Life article.