I am a musician and translator working internationally within a broad scope of cultural and artistic fields. I work as a recording and performing pianist and composer internationally, especially within the Nordic jazz scene. I translate artistic texts such as poetry, lyrics and prose; I am also experienced in translating for subtitles and dubbing as well as translating educational material. I have developed a broad intuition for connecting disciplines through organizing projects. Through collaborations and residencies, I have gained skills in creative problem solving; I thrive in environments where I can combine my musical and linguistic skills, and I enjoy learning from others as well as working independently. I translate between Scandinavian languages, Finnish and English.

Antti Lähdesmäki

I am a musician and translator working internationally within a broad scope of cultural and artistic fields. I work as a recording and performing pianist and composer internationally, especially within the Nordic jazz scene. I translate artistic texts such as poetry, lyrics and prose; I am also experienced in translating for subtitles and dubbing as well as translating educational material. I have developed a broad intuition for connecting disciplines through organizing projects. Through collaborations and residencies, I have gained skills in creative problem solving; I thrive in environments where I can combine my musical and linguistic skills, and I enjoy learning from others as well as working independently. I translate between Scandinavian languages, Finnish and English.

Available to hire

I am a musician and translator working internationally within a broad scope of cultural and artistic fields. I work as a recording and performing pianist and composer internationally, especially within the Nordic jazz scene. I translate artistic texts such as poetry, lyrics and prose; I am also experienced in translating for subtitles and dubbing as well as translating educational material.

I have developed a broad intuition for connecting disciplines through organizing projects. Through collaborations and residencies, I have gained skills in creative problem solving; I thrive in environments where I can combine my musical and linguistic skills, and I enjoy learning from others as well as working independently.

I translate between Scandinavian languages, Finnish and English.

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Language

Finnish
Fluent
English
Advanced
Swedish
Advanced
Norwegian
Advanced
Danish
Intermediate
German
Intermediate
Spanish; Castilian
Beginner

Work Experience

Artist-in-Residence at Bathyscaphe
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2027
Three-week residency in Brussels in late 2025 as an invited artist (project with Bathyscaphe).
Composer at UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2027
Currently composing a new concert programme for an extended big band commissioned by UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. Premiere planned for 2027; project supported by Arts Council of Finland.
Composer at Jyväskylä Big Band
March 1, 2024 - November 1, 2024
Commissioned full-length concert programme Ensikäsityksiä XX; premiered Finland March 2024; international premiere in Gothenburg November 2024 as conductor of West Coast Big Band.
Conductor at West Coast Big Band
November 1, 2024 - November 1, 2024
Conducted West Coast Big Band in Gothenburg for the international premiere of Ensikäsityksiä XX (Nov 2024).
Album Release at Howling Jazzrecords
May 1, 2025 - May 1, 2025
Solo piano debut released May 2025; internationally acclaimed.
Composer at Self-Produced/Independent
January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2024
Album: I tried to tame the sea; 2021-2024; forthcoming 2026 release by Eclipse Music; features international line-up; produced with Tapio Ylinen; supported by Finnish Cultural Foundation.
Translator at Nordic Junior Sessions Network (NoJSe)
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2018
Finnish subtitles for films; network of five Nordic film festivals for children and youth.
Translator at Norden i Skolen (Nordic Learning Platform)
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2022
Translated learning materials across subjects and subtitles for short films, documentaries and features.
Translator at Poems of the North
January 1, 2019 - Present
Since 2019, translating favorite Nordic poems into Spanish to foster cultural understanding.
Finnish Translator at Nordic AI Translation Project
January 1, 2019 - Present
Finnish translator for an AI dubbing tool across eight Nordic languages; project supported by MEDIA - Creative Europe.
Subtitles Translator at NoJSe (Nordic Junior Sessions Network)
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2018
Finnish subtitles for films; 2013-2018.
Artist-in-Residence at Granada Improfest
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023
Invited artist at the inaugural Granada Improfest at Teatro Garcia Lorca (2023).
Artist-in-Residence at Villa Karo (Benin)
January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2021
Chosen resident in interdisciplinary residency programme at the Finnish-African culture center in Benin (2021).
Artist-in-Residence at Villa Karo (Benin)
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
Chosen resident in interdisciplinary residency programme at the Finnish-African culture center in Benin (2025).
Residency Participant at Minga Festival
January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2021
Invited artist at the intercultural, international Minga festival in Gothenburg (2021).
Residency Participant at Creatopia
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
Residency in Semkovo, Bulgaria (2025) for a group of artists creating and curating the inaugural Creatopia festival in July 2026.
Composer at Jyväskylä Big Band
March 1, 2024 - November 1, 2024
Ensikäsityksiä XX premiered in Finland March 2024; international premiere in Gothenburg November 2024.

Education

Master of Fine Arts in Music (Improvisation Performance) at University of Gothenburg
January 11, 2030 - January 18, 2026
Studies at Norwegian Academy of Music
January 11, 2030 - January 18, 2026
Rhythmic Music Conservatory Studies at Rhythmic Music Conservatory
January 11, 2030 - January 18, 2026
Bachelor in Music Pedagogy at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Helsinki
January 11, 2030 - January 18, 2026
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Jyväskylä University
January 11, 2030 - January 18, 2026

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Other
    paper We exist in everyone we love - Music video

    See the music video for the single “We exist in everyone we love” from my album “We tend to help each other out here”:

    paper Poetic translator, Finnish and Scandinavian languages to English and Spanish

    I have translated a vast body of Scandinavian poetry and lyrics between Finnish and Scandinavian languages as well as to English and Spanish.

    Work examples are available upon request.