Maija Vilkkumaa
Encyclopedia
Maija Johanna Vilkkumaa (born November 9, 1973 in Helsinki
, Finland
) a Finnish pop rock
singer-songwriter
. Beginning her musical hobbies playing piano at an age before school, Vilkkumaa studied in high school where she and her friends set up the band Tarharyhmä in 1990, which broke up in 1995. While studying Finnish language at the University of Helsinki
, she started to take singing lessons and went on to start her solo career in 1999.
From 1999 to 2011, Vilkkumaa has released eight full-length solo albums and sold over 300,000 certified records, becoming the 10th-best-selling female soloist in Finland. Along with meeting commercial success, the singer—who writes and composes the songs by herself—has also been credited for her songwriting skills by receiving the Juha Vainio Award. She has also received five Emma Awards
, accolades for outstanding achievements in music, awarded by the Finnish music industry federation, Musiikkituottajat, and five Emma nominations.
. She played piano beginning younger than at the age of seven and finishing when she was 16. In 1992, Vilkkumaa completed her matriculation examination at Kallio
High School in Helsinki and studied Finnish language
at the University of Helsinki
since 1993.
In 1999, Vilkkumaa started a solo career setting up a band around her. The band consisted of keyboard player Tero Pennanen, bassist Niko Kokko and guitarist Mikko Kosonen. In August of the same year, Vilkkumaa released her debut album Pitkä ihana leikki
(Long Sweet Game), after the arrival of its debut single "Satumaa-tango". With the debut album peaking at number three on the Finnish Albums Chart and selling gold with over 38,000 copies, critics welcomed Vilkkumaa as an inventive new artist in the then-sparse scene of Finnish female pop rockers and she received the 2000 Emma Award
for New Female Soloist of the Year. At the same event, Pitkä ihana leikki was nominated for Debut Album of the Year.
(Make-ups, Necklaces and Belts) which was her first number-one release on the Albums Chart and sold nearly 37,000 copies and earning her her second gold certification. By the 2003 release of her third studio album Ei
(No), Vilkkumaa established her status as one of the prominent contemporary Finnish musicians—the album debuted at number one on the Albums Chart, while charting for over a year (56 weeks), and sold over 120,000 copies (double-platinum) in Finland. Ei earned her three Emma Awards; for Female Soloist of the Year, Album of the Year and Pop/Rock
Album of the Year.
Ei was followed by Vilkkumaa's fourth studio album Se ei olekaan niin
(But It's Not Like That) in 2005, which sold over 47,000 copies and earned the artist her second platinum certification and the 2005 Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year. Preceding Vilkkumaa's first compilation, Totuutta ja tehtävää
(Truth and Dare), its lead single "Hei tie
" (Hey There, Road) was Vilkkumaa's first number-one release on the Finnish Singles Chart, in September 2006. Released in November 2006, Totuutta ja tehtävää peaked at number four on the Albums Chart and sold gold with over 25,000 copies. In early 2007, Maija Vilkkumaa embarked on her first major concert tour, Totuutta ja tehtävää. The performances were recorded for her first live album, Ilta Savoyssa
(Evening at Savoy).
Vilkkumaa's fifth studio album Superpallo
(Bouncy Ball) was released in October 2008. Selling gold with 19,000 copies and spawning three singles, "Suojatiellä
" (On the Pedestrian Crossing), "Luokkakokous" (Class Reunion) and "Mä haluun naimisiin" (I Wanna Get Married), the album did not meet with as much success as the previous studio albums, though still debuting at number one on the Albums Chart. However, Vilkkumaa received three nominations at the 2009 Emma Awards: Female Soloist of the Year, Album of the Year (Superpallo) and Rock Album of the Year. In 2009, Vilkkumaa embarked on her second major tour, 10 + 10, to celebrate the ten years that had passed since the release of Pitkä ihana leikki.
(Until Rivers Change Direction). Though continuing the trend of declining record sales, the album still debuted at number one on the Albums Chart and sold gold with 16,000 copies. In July 2010, Vilkkumaa was awarded the prestigious Juha Vainio Award worth €6,000 for her merits as the "pioneer songwriter of her generation". The Board of Juha Vainio Fund justified its decision saying "Maija Vilkkumaa's texts present good colloquial language
" and that "the lyrics are a classical example of how modern language works in songs". In February 2011, Vilkkumaa received her fifth Emma nomination for Female Soloist of the Year. In April 5, 2011, Maija Vilkkumaa announced in her press release that she would leave her band after the 2011 summer tour. Not sure when she would start doing music again and whether with a band or not, she stated she wanted to have a break and "take a breath".
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2000
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Maija Vilkkumaa
| Emma Award for New Female Soloist of the Year
|
|-
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Pitkä ihana leikki
| Emma Award for Debut Album of the Year
|
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|2004
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Maija Vilkkumaa
| Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year
|
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Ei
| Emma Award for Album of the Year
|
|-
| Emma Award for Pop/Rock Album of the Year
|
|-
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"|2006
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Maija Vilkkumaa
| Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year
|
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|2009
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Maija Vilkkumaa
| Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year
|
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Superpallo
| Emma Award for Album of the Year
|
|-
| Emma Award for Rock Album of the Year
|
|-
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"|2011
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Maija Vilkkumaa
| Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year
|
|-
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...
) a Finnish pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. Beginning her musical hobbies playing piano at an age before school, Vilkkumaa studied in high school where she and her friends set up the band Tarharyhmä in 1990, which broke up in 1995. While studying Finnish language at the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
, she started to take singing lessons and went on to start her solo career in 1999.
From 1999 to 2011, Vilkkumaa has released eight full-length solo albums and sold over 300,000 certified records, becoming the 10th-best-selling female soloist in Finland. Along with meeting commercial success, the singer—who writes and composes the songs by herself—has also been credited for her songwriting skills by receiving the Juha Vainio Award. She has also received five Emma Awards
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
, accolades for outstanding achievements in music, awarded by the Finnish music industry federation, Musiikkituottajat, and five Emma nominations.
1973–1993: Early life and education
Maija Vilkkumaa was born in Helsinki on November 9, 1973. She has two little sisters and she lived her childhood in the neighborhood of TöölöTöölö
Töölö is the collective name for the neighbourhoods Etu-Töölö and Taka-Töölö in Helsinki, Finland. The neighbourhoods are located next to the city centre, occupying the western side of the Helsinki Peninsula....
. She played piano beginning younger than at the age of seven and finishing when she was 16. In 1992, Vilkkumaa completed her matriculation examination at Kallio
Kallio
Kallio is a district and a neighbourhood in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, located on the eastern side of the Helsinki peninsula about one kilometere north from the city centre. It is one of the most densely populated areas in Finland...
High School in Helsinki and studied Finnish language
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
at the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
since 1993.
1990s: Tarharyhmä, solo career beginnings and Pitkä ihana leikki
In 1990, Maija Vilkkumaa set up the band Tarharyhmä with her friends, gaining national radio play with its songs. Vilkkumaa wrote and composed and most of the songs. With Tarharyhmä breaking up in 1995, Vilkkumaa started to attend singing lessons. She has also played keyboard in the band Hunajamelonit (Honey Melons).In 1999, Vilkkumaa started a solo career setting up a band around her. The band consisted of keyboard player Tero Pennanen, bassist Niko Kokko and guitarist Mikko Kosonen. In August of the same year, Vilkkumaa released her debut album Pitkä ihana leikki
Pitkä ihana leikki
Pitkä ihana leikki is the debut album by Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter Maija Vilkkumaa, released by Warner Music in Finland in August 23, 1999...
(Long Sweet Game), after the arrival of its debut single "Satumaa-tango". With the debut album peaking at number three on the Finnish Albums Chart and selling gold with over 38,000 copies, critics welcomed Vilkkumaa as an inventive new artist in the then-sparse scene of Finnish female pop rockers and she received the 2000 Emma Award
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
for New Female Soloist of the Year. At the same event, Pitkä ihana leikki was nominated for Debut Album of the Year.
2000s: Meikit, ketjut ja vyöt, Ei, Se ei olekaan niin and Superpallo
In 2001, Vilkkumaa released her second studio album Meikit, ketjut ja vyötMeikit, ketjut ja vyöt
-Charts:-Certifications:...
(Make-ups, Necklaces and Belts) which was her first number-one release on the Albums Chart and sold nearly 37,000 copies and earning her her second gold certification. By the 2003 release of her third studio album Ei
Ei (album)
-Charts:-Certifications:...
(No), Vilkkumaa established her status as one of the prominent contemporary Finnish musicians—the album debuted at number one on the Albums Chart, while charting for over a year (56 weeks), and sold over 120,000 copies (double-platinum) in Finland. Ei earned her three Emma Awards; for Female Soloist of the Year, Album of the Year and Pop/Rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
Album of the Year.
Ei was followed by Vilkkumaa's fourth studio album Se ei olekaan niin
Se ei olekaan niin
-Charts:-Certifications:...
(But It's Not Like That) in 2005, which sold over 47,000 copies and earned the artist her second platinum certification and the 2005 Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year. Preceding Vilkkumaa's first compilation, Totuutta ja tehtävää
Totuutta ja tehtävää
Totuutta ja tehtävää is the fifth album and the first compilation album by Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter Maija Vilkkumaa. It was released by Warner Music in Finland on November 8, 2006 and peaked at number four on its debut week on the Finnish Albums Chart and spent 15 weeks on the chart...
(Truth and Dare), its lead single "Hei tie
Hei tie
-References:...
" (Hey There, Road) was Vilkkumaa's first number-one release on the Finnish Singles Chart, in September 2006. Released in November 2006, Totuutta ja tehtävää peaked at number four on the Albums Chart and sold gold with over 25,000 copies. In early 2007, Maija Vilkkumaa embarked on her first major concert tour, Totuutta ja tehtävää. The performances were recorded for her first live album, Ilta Savoyssa
Ilta Savoyssa
Ilta Savoyssa is the sixth album and the first live album by Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter Maija Vilkkumaa. Released by Warner Music in Finland on June 13, 2007, the tracks of the album were recorded on live performances of her debut concert tour Totuutta ja tehtävää...
(Evening at Savoy).
Vilkkumaa's fifth studio album Superpallo
Superpallo
-Charts:...
(Bouncy Ball) was released in October 2008. Selling gold with 19,000 copies and spawning three singles, "Suojatiellä
Suojatiellä
-References:...
" (On the Pedestrian Crossing), "Luokkakokous" (Class Reunion) and "Mä haluun naimisiin" (I Wanna Get Married), the album did not meet with as much success as the previous studio albums, though still debuting at number one on the Albums Chart. However, Vilkkumaa received three nominations at the 2009 Emma Awards: Female Soloist of the Year, Album of the Year (Superpallo) and Rock Album of the Year. In 2009, Vilkkumaa embarked on her second major tour, 10 + 10, to celebrate the ten years that had passed since the release of Pitkä ihana leikki.
2010s: Kunnes joet muuttaa suuntaa and departure from the band
In April 2010, Vilkkumaa released her sixth studio album Kunnes joet muuttaa suuntaaKunnes joet muuttaa suuntaa
Kunnes joet muuttaa suuntaa is the sixth studio album by Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter Maija Vilkkumaa, released by Warner Music Finland and WEA Records in Finland on April 19, 2010...
(Until Rivers Change Direction). Though continuing the trend of declining record sales, the album still debuted at number one on the Albums Chart and sold gold with 16,000 copies. In July 2010, Vilkkumaa was awarded the prestigious Juha Vainio Award worth €6,000 for her merits as the "pioneer songwriter of her generation". The Board of Juha Vainio Fund justified its decision saying "Maija Vilkkumaa's texts present good colloquial language
Colloquialism
A colloquialism is a word or phrase that is common in everyday, unconstrained conversation rather than in formal speech, academic writing, or paralinguistics. Dictionaries often display colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier...
" and that "the lyrics are a classical example of how modern language works in songs". In February 2011, Vilkkumaa received her fifth Emma nomination for Female Soloist of the Year. In April 5, 2011, Maija Vilkkumaa announced in her press release that she would leave her band after the 2011 summer tour. Not sure when she would start doing music again and whether with a band or not, she stated she wanted to have a break and "take a breath".
Personal life
In April 28, 2007, Maija Vilkkumaa got married to Mikko Kosonen (the guitarist of her band), after having been in a relationship since 2002. The couple has two children, daughter Saara who was born in 2007, and another daughter, who was born in January 2011.Discography
- Pitkä ihana leikkiPitkä ihana leikkiPitkä ihana leikki is the debut album by Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter Maija Vilkkumaa, released by Warner Music in Finland in August 23, 1999...
(1999) - Meikit, ketjut ja vyötMeikit, ketjut ja vyöt-Charts:-Certifications:...
(2001) - EiEi (album)-Charts:-Certifications:...
(2003) - Se ei olekaan niinSe ei olekaan niin-Charts:-Certifications:...
(2005) - Totuutta ja tehtävääTotuutta ja tehtävääTotuutta ja tehtävää is the fifth album and the first compilation album by Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter Maija Vilkkumaa. It was released by Warner Music in Finland on November 8, 2006 and peaked at number four on its debut week on the Finnish Albums Chart and spent 15 weeks on the chart...
(2006) - Ilta SavoyssaIlta SavoyssaIlta Savoyssa is the sixth album and the first live album by Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter Maija Vilkkumaa. Released by Warner Music in Finland on June 13, 2007, the tracks of the album were recorded on live performances of her debut concert tour Totuutta ja tehtävää...
(2007) - SuperpalloSuperpallo-Charts:...
(2008) - Kunnes joet muuttaa suuntaaKunnes joet muuttaa suuntaaKunnes joet muuttaa suuntaa is the sixth studio album by Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter Maija Vilkkumaa, released by Warner Music Finland and WEA Records in Finland on April 19, 2010...
(2010)
Emma Awards
|-| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2000
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Maija Vilkkumaa
| Emma Award for New Female Soloist of the Year
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
|
|-
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Pitkä ihana leikki
Pitkä ihana leikki
Pitkä ihana leikki is the debut album by Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter Maija Vilkkumaa, released by Warner Music in Finland in August 23, 1999...
| Emma Award for Debut Album of the Year
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
|
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|2004
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Maija Vilkkumaa
| Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
|
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Ei
Ei (album)
-Charts:-Certifications:...
| Emma Award for Album of the Year
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
|
|-
| Emma Award for Pop/Rock Album of the Year
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
|
|-
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"|2006
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Maija Vilkkumaa
| Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
|
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|2009
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Maija Vilkkumaa
| Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
|
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Superpallo
Superpallo
-Charts:...
| Emma Award for Album of the Year
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
|
|-
| Emma Award for Rock Album of the Year
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
|
|-
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"|2011
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"|Maija Vilkkumaa
| Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year
Emma-gaala
The Emma-gaala is a Finnish music gala arranged yearly by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, awarding the most distinguished artists and music professionals of the year. It has been arranged since 1983, except for the years 1988–1990....
|
|-