Maija Vilkkumaa

Born in Helsinki in 1973, Maija Vilkkumaa established herself in Finnish pop‑rock with songs written and performed in Finnish, at the crossroads of melodic rock, singer‑songwriter material and a more direct style associated with suomirock (Finnish rock). She first gained attention in the early 1990s as a member of the band Tarharyhmä before launching a solo career after the group split in 1995. Her debut album Pitkä ihana leikki was released in 1999, followed by Meikit, ketjut ja vyöt (2001), Ei (2003), Se ei olekaan niin (2005), Superpallo (2008), Kunnes joet muuttaa suuntaa (2010), Aja! (2015) and 1973 (2022). Her songwriting blends pop choruses, guitars and keyboards with a strong focus on everyday narratives, relationships and social tensions. Over her career she has also taken part in other projects, notably with Lauluyhtye Viisi and as a stand‑in for Paula Vesala in Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi in 2014. After a musical hiatus beginning in 2011, she returned to the stage and studio in 2015 and released the EP Joku muu, mikä in 2017.