Islaja
Encyclopedia
Islaja or Merja Kokkonen (born May 19, 1979) is a singer-songwriter and musician from Helsinki
, Finland
. Besides her solo career, she is a member of free improv and psych folk
bands Avarus
, Kemialliset Ystävät
, and the trio Hertta Lussu Ässä.
She has been compared to an acid folk version of Björk
, a female Syd Barrett
, and to Nico
.
Her music is notably psychedelic and very intimate using a large variety of instruments.
Her solo music is often rather ethnic sounding. African, Middle Eastern and less easily categorized styles can be heard. One might just as well file Islaja as World Music.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Besides her solo career, she is a member of free improv and psych folk
Psych folk
Psychedelic folk or psych folk is a loosely defined form of psychedelic music that originated in the 1960s through the fusion of folk music and psychedelic rock...
bands Avarus
Avarus (band)
Avarus are a band from Tampere, Finland. They were formed in 2001 by members of The Anaksimandros and Pylon and soon absorbed members of other Finnish bands such as Kiila, Munuaissymposium 1960, Kemialliset Ystävät and solo performer Lau Nau...
, Kemialliset Ystävät
Kemialliset Ystävät
Kemialliset Ystävät is the name of a recording project of musician Jan Anderzén of Tampere, Finland. Anderzén began recording under the name in 1995 and although he has enlisted numerous musicians over the years, most Kemialliset Ystävät recordings are solo productions...
, and the trio Hertta Lussu Ässä.
She has been compared to an acid folk version of Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, a female Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
, and to Nico
Nico
Nico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
.
Her music is notably psychedelic and very intimate using a large variety of instruments.
Her solo music is often rather ethnic sounding. African, Middle Eastern and less easily categorized styles can be heard. One might just as well file Islaja as World Music.
Discography
- MeritieMeritieMeritie is an album by Islaja, released in 2004. The word "Meritie" is Finnish for "Sea Road".-Track listing:#"Kristallipallosilmät" – 3:48#"Kenen maa" – 4:15#"Emoa ikävä" – 2:19#"Kämmen, kynsi, kieli" – 3:01#"Kukkia" – 3:14...
(Fonal, 2004) - Palaa aurinkoonPalaa aurinkoonPalaa aurinkoon is an album by Islaja, released in 2005. The title of the album is Finnish for "Return to the Sun".-Track listing:#"Laivat saapuu" – 2:56#"Rohkaisulaulu" – 4:24#"Uni pöllönä olemisesta" – 4:10#"Palaa aurinkoon" – 5:06...
(Fonal, 2005) - Ulual YyyUlual YyyUlual Yyy is the third full-length album by Finnish folk musician Islaja, released on Fonal in 2007. The word 'ulual' in the album title is the Finnish word 'laulu' written backwards...
(Fonal, 2007) - Blaze Mountain Recordings (Ecstatic Peace, 2008)
- Keraaminen Pää (Fonal, 2010)