Percussionist Ossi Raippalinna has been selected for Making Tracks 2024 residency and tour! Inspired by diverse music from around the world, and the natural world itself, Making Tracks brings together eight extraordinary musicians to create brand new, original collaborations. During a two-week rural residency at Cove Park in Scotland, eight talented musicians incubate new collaborations – including several pieces inspired by this year’s theme of Oceans – before heading off on two-week concert tour. Making Tracks is based around the idea that intercultural and interspecies approaches to music-making have the power to bring people together and foster a greater appreciation of both cultural diversity and biodiversity.

Ossi is a Finland-based percussionist, producer, researcher, educator, and drum maker. As part of his recent master’s studies at Sibelius Academy, research trips to Senegal, Mali, Scotland, and Cuba have enriched his understanding of the interplay between rhythm and melody in percussion traditions – particularly within West African drum traditions. Ossi’s repertoire includes the drum kit, keyboard, electronics, talking drum, djembe, bodhran, sabar, bugarabu, and congas. Ossi is also an expert drum maker, who crafts high-quality congas and djembe drums from sustainable Finnish wood.

Ossi will join seven other talented musicians at Cove Park: Christian Mohr Levisen (Denmark), Helen Anahita Wilson (UK), Kasiva Mutya (Kenya), Anna McLuckie (UK), Shohret Nur (UK), Nina Harries (UK) and Ayman Hlal (Syria/Germany). The two-week residency begins in early September, followed by a tour that starts on the 24th of September. The musicians will perform in York, Manchester, Sheffield, Cardiff, Bristol, Norwich, Worcester, London and Brighton. Find more info about Making Tracks and the residency here, and more info about the shows on this site.

Ossi’s travel and residency has been supported by the Finnish Institute in the UK and Nordisk Kulturfond.

Photo: Rio Gandara