Jori Hulkkonen
F Communications
Biography
Discography
Booking Form
Press Kit
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BIOGRAPHY
Jori Hulkkonen was born in 1973 in a small town called Kemi in the north of Finland. After growing up in the 80's
listening to a weird mix of traditional Finnish pop and early electronic beats from the neighboring Swedish radio,
he decides in to get equipment and try producing music himself. He launched his own label Lumi in 1993, and the year
following that moved to a slightly larger northern city, Oulu, where he ran the label together with Ari Ruokamo (who
runs the label nowadays alone). In 1995, Jori decides it is time to seek new challenges and contacts various labels,
resulting to releases on Cari Lekebusch's Hybrid and Trainspotter's Nightmare labels, and ACV's Out Of Orbit off-shoot
(Italy). In 1996, Jori gets in touch with F Communications, who fall in love with his demo, and release later that year
his critically acclaimed debut album "Selkasaari Tracks". Pioneering tech-house, the album melts beautifully Detroit-influenced
melodies with a groove reminiscent of Chicago and is hailed everywhere as one of the year's best release. Quickly Jori started
doing live acts and DJ gigs all over Europe. A memorable first ever DJ set in front of a crow of 15,000 is the prelude to a
year of touring Europe's finest clubs. Crowds at the Rex Club (Paris), the End (London), Cream (Liverpool), E-Werk (Berlin),
I LOVE TECHNO (Gent), and Paradiso (Amsterdam) discover Jori's DJing style, a mix of house and techno with - oddly enough for
a Finn - a latin feeling that will soon influence his production.
Since that Jori has seen the best that Europe has to offer club and festival wise: Roskilde, Sonar, Transmusicales, Montreux Jazz festival,
10 days Of Techno, Respect at Le Queen, Moog, Florida 135, Vertigo, KU, Who's Who Land, Chemistry, etc.- not forgetting clubs and
festivals in his native Finland and Sweden. He has also kept himself busy on the production front. After a critically acclaimed second
album for the Swedish label Plumphouse (Bobby Forester "Love You Forever", 1997), and an album for Cari Lekebush's Trainspotter's Nighmare
("Finland: 0 points", 1997) Jori released probably his biggest record so far: Jii Hoo "Let Me Luv U" on F Communications. A huge record
which was played and praised by DJs and music lovers worldwide in spite of a limited edition pressing due to a sampling "incident". And
in 1998, Jori re-invents his sound once again with a new album, "The Spirits Inside Me" (F Communications), a record that permanently
established Jori as a household name in the scene. First half of 1999 has seen Jori releasing a few 12"'s on various guises and labels,
producing some other artists, remixing, and DJing accross Europe.
Four years and a Finnish Grammy equivalent for "Best New Artist" later, Jori has moved to Helsinki. There, he is the resident in Finland's
number one club, Kerma, has two radio shows on national RadioMafia. His DJing travels have taken him from the Golden Gate Bridge to the
Red Square, and things are just starting to warm up. In February, Jori will release his first mix CD on Turbo Records (Canada). Then
in May, he releases his third album on F communications. Featuring vocal contributions from Chris Udoh of The Wamdue Kids and Paul
Oxley (a Finnish one hit wonder from the 80's), and a collaboration with Tuomas Salmela (20:20 vision), the album sees Jori expanding his
sound to a more organic direction, but still keeping faithful for the classic electronic vibe. Also keep an eye out for his track on the
Pushpac Records label compilation (January) and forthcoming collaborations with Alexi Delano and Jimi Tenor.
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