Ville Raasakka works with material ecology in musical composition. His recent compositions are based on the sounds of coal, oil and wood—their formation, extraction, energy use, product use and their dispersion. He has recorded and gathered sounds from coal power stations in Finland, coal mines in Pennsylvania, British oil rigs, packaging materials and cosmetics with petrochemical by-products, and forest logging and harvesting in Finland.

His orchestral work gained a recommendation at the International Rostrum of Composers in 2019. He has been commissioned by the Gaudeamus Muziekweek, Royaumont and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Raasakka’s works have been programmed at Eclat, ISCM World Music Days, Archipel, Klang Festival, Mise-en Music Festival and the SWR and BBC radios.

In season 2021-2022 his works will be performed by the Klangforum Wien and the Auckland Philharmonic. Raasakka studied with Veli-Matti Puumala at the Sibelius Academy and privately with Georges Aperghis in Paris. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in composition at the Sibelius Academy, focusing on material ecology in musical composition.