Making Music Without Borders: A Conversation with Teosto

I am very pleased to share that I have been featured in the latest edition of Teostory, the online publication of the Finnish composers' copyright society, Teosto.

In a joint interview alongside the brilliant musician Nemat Battah, we sat down with journalist Henna Hietamäki to discuss our experiences as foreign-born music creators working in Finland.

We touched upon the realities of navigating the Finnish music ecosystem, the importance of genuine intercultural dialogue, and how our diverse backgrounds shape our artistic practices. For me, this conversation connects deeply with my ongoing doctoral research and teaching at the Sibelius Academy. It highlights a core philosophy of my work: that breaking down musical borders and embracing diverse musical ontologies is not just an aesthetic choice, but an ethical necessity that profoundly enriches our contemporary music scene.

A huge thank you to Teosto for creating the space for this conversation, to Henna Hietamäki for her thoughtful writing, and to Emma Suominen for the beautiful photography.

You can read the full article (in Finnish) here:
Jaime Belmonte ja Nemat Battah tekevät musiikkia ilman rajoja