Lauri Porra

{{short description|Finnish bassist and composer (born 1977)}} {{Title language|fi|italics=no}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Lauri Porra | image = Stratovarius-6 (cropped).jpg | caption = Porra performing with Stratovarius in 2025 | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|12|13|df=y}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} | origin = Helsinki, Finland | instrument = Bass guitar | genre = Power metal, contemporary classical, experimental, post-rock, progressive rock, jazz fusion | occupation = Musician, composer | years_active = 1997–present | associated_acts = Stratovarius, Lauri Porra Flyover Ensemble, Sinergy, Warmen, Almah }}

'''{{Langr|fi|Lauri Porra}}''' (born 13 December 1977) is a Finnish bass guitarist and composer who has written scores for films and other media,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1840125/|title=Lauri Porra|website=IMDb}}</ref> as well as commissions from orchestras such as the Lahti Symphony and the Finnish Radio Symphony. He is also known for his work as the bass guitarist in the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius.<ref name="Huey">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/stratovarius-p279223/biography|title=Biography: Stratovarius|last=Huey|first=Steve|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=3 August 2011}}</ref> Porra is a fourth generation musician, and the great-grandson of famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stenger|first1=Wif|title=Sisu, sauna, Sibelius and heavy metal, too|url=http://finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=319215|website=thisisFINLAND|publisher=Finland Promotion Board|access-date=19 March 2015|date=January 2015}}</ref>

==Early life==

Porra started to study music at age six when he started to play cello in a local music school. In 1993, he switched to bass guitar and continued his studies in the Helsinki Pop Jazz Conservatory (1994–2004). He has also taken lessons in piano, double bass, trumpet and male vocals. From 1997 to 1999, he was a member of the YL male choir,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ylioppilaslehti.fi/dev/1997/10/ei-mika-tahansa-miesjoukko/|title=Ei mikä tahansa miesjoukko | Ylioppilaslehti|website=ylioppilaslehti.fi|date=17 October 1997}}</ref> performing for instance with the London Symphony Orchestra.

==Career==

Porra has released five instrumental solo albums, including ''Entropia'' (a collaboration with Lahti Symphony Orchestra), released in January 2018 on BIS-records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bis.se/lauri-porra-entropia/|title=BIS Records|website=bis.se}}</ref> He has also composed music for films and other media. His orchestral compositions have been performed by the Finnish Radio Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and the New Bedford Symphony.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newbedfordguide.com/event/the-sibelius-connection|title=The Sibelius Connection: Electric Bass Guitar Meets Orchestra}}</ref> His live projects include Lauri Porra Flyover Ensemble,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tamperejazz.fi/en/artist/lauri-porra-flyover-ensemble-fi/|title=Lauri Porra Flyover Ensemble (FI) – Tampere Jazz Happening 2019}}</ref> which plays the music from his albums, and the Bach Reimagined project,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lso.co.uk/whats-on/icalrepeat.detail/2020/01/11/1732/-/jonathan-roozeman-lauri-porra-baroque-at-the-edge.html/|title=London Symphony Orchestra – Jonathan Roozeman & Lauri Porra: Baroque at the Edge|website=lso.co.uk}}</ref> which performs music based on Johann Sebastian Bach's six cello suites arranged and recomposed for electric bass, cello and electronics. Porra has performed in over 50 countries, with performances ranging from The Proms<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ed8qwh|title=Prom 70: Tango Prom|website=BBC Music Events}}</ref> and Wacken Open Air to Pori Jazz. As a session musician, he has played on over 50 records with styles ranging from heavy metal to contemporary classical, electronic, hip hop and pop albums. His commissioned work Ääniä – Finland’s Official Soundscape, unveiled on Finland’s Independence Day 2025, was commissioned by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and marks the world’s first official national soundscape.<ref>https://finlandabroad.fi/web/un/current-affairs/-/asset_publisher/TMs3SoX45i0K/content/finland-debuts-the-world-s-first-national-soundscape/35732</ref> Lauri's large-scale work BASSO — written for 150 bass voices — premiered at Helsinki Festival for an audience of 26,000 at Helsinki Senate Square.<ref>https://musiikintekijat.fi/artikkeli/lauri-porran-basso-teosta-valmisteltiin-kaksi-vuotta/</ref>

Lauri won the Jussi Award for Best Film Music in 2025 for Tiina Lymi's film Myrskyluodon Maija (2024)<ref>https://sinfonialahti.fi/myrskyluodon-maija-elokuvamusiikille-jussi-palkinto/</ref> In 2016, Porra received the Nordisk Popularauktors NPU Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musiikintekijat.fi/ajankohtaista/uutiset/saveltaja-lauri-porralle-pohjoismaisten-musiikintekijajarjestojen-npu-palkinto/|title=Säveltäjä Lauri Porralle pohjoismaisten musiikintekijäjärjestöjen NPU-palkinto|date=26 August 2016}}</ref> and was nominated for a HARPA Nordic film composer music award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://filmmusiccritics.org/2016/02/ifmca-members-participate-in-the-2016-harpa-awards-for-best-nordic-film-score/|title=IFMCA members participate in the 2016 Harpa Awards for Best Nordic Film Score|date=25 February 2016}}</ref>

Porra is artistic director of Turku music festival <ref>https://turunmusiikkijuhlat.fi/en/lauri-porra-appointed-artistic-director-of-turku-music-festival-as-of-2025</ref> and the Vantaa orchestra,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.viihdeorkesteri.fi/uutiset/lsthb98osdp01y16mpahy8ylf204ep |title=Lauri Porra uusi taiteellinen johtaja — Vantaan Viihdeorkesteri |website=www.viihdeorkesteri.fi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022130737/https://www.viihdeorkesteri.fi/uutiset/lsthb98osdp01y16mpahy8ylf204ep |archive-date=22 October 2021}} </ref> founder and artistic director of Unelmien Heinola festival<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itahame.fi/paikalliset/2343466|title=Elokuussa koetaan Unelmien Heinola, kun viimevuotinen Illallinen taivaan alla laajenee koko viikonlopun mittaiseksi kulttuuritapahtumaksi|date=28 July 2020}}</ref> and was artistic advisor of the Helsinki Festival (2015–2019).

== Personal life == Porra is married to conductor Dalia Stasevska.<ref name="Tilden">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/25/dalia-stasevska-joins-bbc-symphony-orchestra-as-principal-guest-conductor | title=Dalia Stasevska joins BBC Symphony Orchestra as principal guest conductor | work=The Guardian | author=Imogen Tilden | date=25 January 2019 | access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref>

==Discography== [[File:Lauri Porra.jpg|thumb|Porra with Stratovarius in 2007]] ===Solo albums=== * ''Lauri Porra'' (2005) * ''All Children Have Superpowers'' (2008) * ''Flyover'' (2015) * ''Entropia/With Lahti Symphony'' (2018) * ''Dust/With Flyover Ensemble<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nordicmusicreview.com/post/2019/12/17/-lauri-porra-flyover-ensemble-dust-album|title='Lauri Porra Flyover Ensemble' – 'Dust' (album)|first=Andy|last=Wors|date=17 December 2019|website=nordicmusicreview}}</ref>'' (2019) * ''Matter & Time (Aineen ja ajan messu)'' (2024)

===Orchestral works=== * ''Entropia concerto for orchestra and electric bass'' (2015) * ''Kohta for orchestra and vocals'' (2016) * ''Near & Distant for concert band'' (2017) * ''Domino suite for orchestra and soloist(s)'' (2017) * ''Aineen ja ajan messu for orchestra, ensemble and two soloists'' (2017) * ''Memento for electric bass and orchestra'' (2019) * ''Flyover Symphony for ensemble and orchestra'' (2019)

===Stratovarius=== * ''Polaris'' (2009) * ''Polaris Live'' (2010) * ''Elysium'' (2011) * ''Under Flaming Winter Skies: Live in Tampere'' (2012) * ''Under Flaming Winter Skies (Live in Tampere – The Jörg Michael Farewell Tour)'' (2012) * ''Nemesis'' (2013) * ''Nemesis Days'' (2014) * ''Eternal'' (2015) * ''Best Of'' (2016) * ''Enigma: Intermission 2'' (2018) * ''Survive'' (2022) * ''Live Under the Southern Cross - South America 2019'' (2022)

===Film scores=== * ''V2: Dead Angel'' (2007) * ''Life for Sale'' (2011) * ''Walker'' (2012) * ''Rat King'' (2012) * ''The Hijack That Went South'' (2013) * ''Nuotin vierestä'' (2016) * ''Look of a Killer'' (2016) * ''Lapland Odyssey 3'' (2017) * ''Heavy Trip'' (2018) * ''Stormskerry Maja'' (2024)

===TV series=== * ''Married to a Lie'' (2008) * ''Underworld Trilogy'' (2011) * ''Tappajan näköinen mies'' (2011) * ''Elämää suurempaa'' (2012)

===Selected discography=== * Tunnelvision: ''While the World Awaits'' (1999) * Warmen: ''Unknown Soldier'' (2000) * Ben Granfelt: ''All I Want to Be'' (2001) * Warmen: ''Beyond Abilities'' (2001) * Tunnelvision: ''Tomorrow'' (2002) * Emma Salokoski Trio: ''Puutarhassa'' (2003) * Esa Kotilainen: ''Turpeisen Baari'' (2003) * Peter Lerche: ''Peshawar Diary'' (2004) * Juice Leskinen & Mikko Alatalo: ''Senaattori ja Boheemi'' (2004) * Emma Salokoski Ensemble: ''Kaksi mannerta'' (2005) * Raskasta Joulua: ''Raskasta joulua'' (2004) * Kriya: ''Kriya'' (2005) * Crazy World: ''Crazy World'' (2005) * Ben Granfelt: ''Live Experience'' (2005) * Warmen: ''Accept the Fact'' (2005) * Torpedo: ''Tietä ja vähän bensaa'' (2005) * Raskasta Joulua: ''Raskaampaa joulua'' (2006) * Jonna's Problem: ''S/t'' (2006) * Edu Falaschi: ''Almah'' (2006) * Kotipelto: ''Serenity'' (2007) * ''Guitar Heroes'' (2007) * Manna: ''Sister'' (2007) * Emma Salokoski Ensemble: ''Veden alla'' (2008) * Apocalyptica: ''Seventh Symphony'' (2010) * Uusi Fantasia: ''Heimo'' (2010) * Freeman: ''Freeman 4'' (2011) * Asa: ''Asamasa'' (2011) * Kalle Ahola: ''Pääkallolipun alla'' (2011) * Tuomas Wäinölä: ''Human Being'' (2012) * Emma Salokoski: ''Valoa pimeään'' (2012) * Stig: ''Puumaa mä metsästän'' (2012) * Crazy World: ''The Return of the Clown'' (2012) * Stratovarius: ''Nemesis'' (2013) * Stig: ''Niks ja Naks'' (2012) * Sini Sabotage: ''22 m2'' (2013) * Mikko Hassinen: ''Elektro GT'' (2015) * JVG: ''Rata/Raitti'' (2019) * KXP: ''IV'' (2019)

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{cci}} * {{official|https://lauriporra.wordpress.com/}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Porra, Lauri}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Finnish heavy metal bass guitarists Category:Stratovarius members Category:21st-century Finnish bass guitarists Category:Sinergy members Category:Almah (band) members Category:Warmen members Category:Sibelius family Category:Musicians from Helsinki