Mikko Kuustonen is not only well known for his ambitious music and touching lyrics, but also for his long-term commitment to international development.
The music of Kuustonen is rooted deeply in Blues and singer-songwriter traditions. His first solo album was released as early as 1979, but it wasn’t until after Kuustonen and his friend Heikki Silvennoinen, a guitarist, started the band Q.Stone in the late 80s that his music became more popular. Soon the band was hosting a very special club in Café Metropol. This was the time when roots music was on the rise in Finland. The club was even given its own TV show, called the Q-klubi, which was later followed by another music show, Q ja tähdet. The band made international contracts and toured around Europe with musicians like John Mayal and Philip Bailey. Three albums were recorded in English and released around the world.
The turning point of Kuustonen’s career came in 1991 with the release of his platinum-selling solo album Musta jalokivi. Taivas varjele won an Emma award, and Kaktusviinaa and Enkelit lentää sun uniin are considered timeless. It was time to give up the band Q.Stone.
In 1992 another one of Kuustonen’s albums, Abrakadabra, went platinum. The successful album was followed by the albums Aurora, Valon valtakunta, Siksak, Seepran varjo, Kaartamo Kettunen Kuustonen, and the double album Lauluja linnunradan laidalta – parhaat 1991-1998. Kuustonen released his last studio album Atlantis in 2000.
During the last fifteen years, in addition to singing and songwriting, Kuustonen has traveled in developing countries writing and producing material for magazines and newspapers as well as television and radio. Through his production company, Medicine Man Productions Oy, he has produced documentaries for television and helped NGOs (Non-governmental organizations) in spreading information about sustainable development. Worth mentioning are documentaries such as Kolme ikkunaa maailman laidalle, Bom Dia Mozambique, Veden valtakunta, Laulun synty and Naisia vuosituhannen partaalla, which was a series of ten parts.
Together with Esa Kaartamo and Edu Kettunen, Kuustonen made three episodes of the series Laulava sydän, which was aired on TV2. EMI released the material as a double album with Medicine Man Productions. Similar cooperation lead to the release of Arttu Takalo’s and Janne Louhivuori’s solo albums.
Kuustonen was the first Finn to be nominated as a UN goodwill ambassador in 1998. The following year he was awarded the Kirkon rauhanpalkinto (Church’s Peace Prize).
Even though the new duties have largely replaced touring, making music still plays a vital role in Kuustonen’s life:
-It is impossible to separate the role of the musician from the other parts of my life. Somehow my work as a journalist, documentarist and a TV-producer is always connected to songwriting – after all, all these roles are part of one person. In regards to curiosity, I have been ‘dropped in the pot’ - and I am happy about that.
-I am not able to write political songs; instead I believe that the best music continues from where the explaining ends.
-I believe in idealism that is not based on illusions, and I simply want to learn something new. Sometimes my encounters lead to a song, other times to something completely different.
