Nikita Rafaelov (FI)

Nikita Rafaelov is a Helsinki-based keyboardist, producer and composer who has established himself at the forefront of Finnish jazz and experimental music.

He is active in the bands Teddy Rok: Atonal Drums, Silva Kallionpää Quartet, Chico Matada Quintet, Markus Perttula, Pyry Peltonen. Rafaelov has collaborated with the country’s best musicians, and has performed at almost all of the country’s biggest festivals where jazz and indie music can be heard, including Flow, Sideways, Pori Jazz, Provinssi, Wejazz, Tampere Jazz Happening, Oulun Musiikkijuhlat and many others.

‘Heart Does What Heart Wants” is Rafaelov’s latest, second solo album, in which he deals with themes from his own life; his relationships, the pain of loss, letting go, and creative power.

Musically and sonically, the project is built by combining acoustic and electronic instruments, using samples, field recordings, various synthesizers and drum machines. The album features many well-established guest artists: Teppo ”Teddy Rok” Mäkynen, Tapani Rinne, Paleface, Spirit Eagle, Adele Sauros, Silva Kallionpää, Joonas Tuuri, Jonas Due (DK) and Oilly Wallace (DK).

At ODDFest, the musician will perform songs from his new solo album Heart Does What Heart Wants, which deals with the pain of loss, letting go and creative power. Using piano, synthesizer, sampler and computer, Rafaelov conjures up an adventure for listeners into the worlds of electro-acoustic jazz, ambient and lo-fi hip-hop.