Pekka Airaksinen

**Pekka Airaksinen** was a Finnish experimental music pioneer and a fascinating figure in avant-garde circles. Starting in the 1960s, he co-founded the psychedelic noise collective **The Sperm**, whose wild, boundary-pushing sound became a cult favorite in Finland’s underground scene. Airaksinen’s work always leaned into the unconventional—think tape loops, dissonant textures, and a DIY spirit that ignored traditional musical rules.

Later in life, he embraced Buddhism, becoming a monk and infusing his music with meditative, spiritual themes. Releases like *Buddhas of Golden Light* and *Other Power* reflect this shift, blending minimalist drones with electronic experimentation that feels both ancient and futuristic. Even into his later years, Airaksinen stayed curious, collaborating on projects like 2021’s *FRKWYS Vol. 17: Hungry Shells* with Kuupuu, proving his knack for merging weirdness with wisdom never faded. A true outsider artist, he left behind a legacy as mysterious and mesmerizing as his music.