NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL KINDS OF GIGS & PROJECTS
* All styles of music - mainstream and underground
* Solid playing skills
* Click track & loop friendly
* Live and studio experience + performances on national tv and radio
* International touring experience
* Professional gear
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Contact: +358 40 5528 669
Biography
Olli Tumelius was born in 1981 in Pelkosenniemi, Finland, but spent his early years in Taivalkoski. Olli’s innate affinity for music - especially drums and anything you can use to hit things - surfaced at a very young age. He began his formal training at age 8, taking lessons from a local teacher. Teenage rebellion was put to good use in various bands he put together with friends in junior high, playing rock and metal - fast, loud and with attitude. During school semesters, he continued taking drum lessons in Kajaani; his summer breaks he spent at music summer camps that were organized nearby. He also took guitar lessons and studied music theory to prepare himself for music high school.
After junior high Olli moved to Oulu to attend the Madetoja Music High School. Meeting other young musicians and studying with Tauno Räsänen made him take music even more seriously. Memorable projects from his high school days include Trish, which even got airplay on national radio at the time, playing at a music video festival gala, and playing percussion in the musical "Pop Show". What little free time he had was spent playing rock, pop and reggae in various extracurricular bands.
Having graduated high school in 2000, Olli relocated further south to the capital, Helsinki, where he took more lessons at the Pop & Jazz Conservatory and the Espoo School Of Music with well known Finnish drummer Rami Eskelinen, while working the odd job. In 2002 he landed the gig as rising Finnish female rapper and Warner recording artist Mariska’s live drummer. Her albums enjoyed moderate chart success and Olli got valuable touring experience including performances on national tv and radio. At the same he took a jazz course at The Sibelius Academy Open University.
In 2002 Olli decided to pursue his studies at Pop & Jazz Conservatory, which opened the door to study with teachers like Jari Kettunen, Miri Miettinen and Leevi Leppänen. The school also offered many workshops ranging in styles from tango to jazz and Brazilian music. That environment let him further hone his drumming skills and he also made great contacts with other musicians. He also studied privately with Dave Hassel, Darren Altman, Sami Kuoppamäki, Klaus Suonsaari, Tommi Rautiainen and Harri-Ala Kojola.
While still in school Olli played with bands and artists like Anniina, Sunrise Avenue, Mad Ice and Confusa getting plenty of live experience. The busy drummer has managed to play in every kind of venue you can think of: bars & clubs, arenas, festivals, weddings, corporate gigs, squats and even an S/M club. He has toured Europe three times with Confusa and and played in 14 countries. Olli has recorded with Confusa, My Seven and Melting Blacktop.
After graduating the three-year degree program in December of 2006 Olli stayed active in the music scene in Helsinki. His projects included Swingers Company, The Gentleman Losers, Confusa and Proteus. He also started teaching privately and has written articles published in Finnish drum magazine, Viidakkorumpu.
In late 2007 Olli decided that it's time for a change and started doing some research about music school in the United States. In 2008 he was awarded the Los Angeles Music Academy drum scholarship and off he went. Olli lived in Pasadena, California, and studied with world-renowned teachers like Ralph Humphrey, Joe Porcaro, Dave Beyer and Matt Starr. In Los Angeles and New York Olli had the opportunity to meet many of his musical heroes and he also managed to study privately with people like Steve Hass, Joel Taylor, Carl Allen and Kenny Washington.
My Seven: Bye Bye
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