Hanna Ekola

Hanna Ekola-Salonen (née Heikkilä; born 9 November 1961) is a Finnish singer, songwriter and author, known for her 1990 hit "Villihevosia" composed by her brother Martti Heikkilä, and for her distinctive voice.

Early life Ekola was born in Kiikka on 9 November 1961. Her elder sister was singer and songwriter Saara Suvanto. She performed with her husband Lido Salonen (1950–2008) and Virpi Salonen (Lahti). Ekola has continued to perform mainly in churches with Salonen even after her husband's death. She has served as editor-in-chief of Finland's oldest Christian children's magazine, Vinki. Since childhood, she has written songs with Martti Heikkilä and their sister Saara Suvanto, and some of the songs have ended up on solo albums, for example, the song "Huomisaamun aikaa" written by Heikkilä and Ekola can be found on Ekola's debut album. Ekola also collaborates with other songwriters, such as Kai Jämsä; some of the songs written by Jämsä and Ekola have ended up on other artists.

Ekola's hit "Villihevosia" was the most played radio song of 1991, and the album sold gold and platinum records. In 2011, the Päijät-Häme District Court heard a case in which a man accused of aggravated assault had stabbed another man who had sung Ekola's song "Villihevosia".

Ekola has received several gold records and one platinum record for her albums and was awarded the Emma-gaala for New Female Soloist of the Year in 1991. and was awarded the Most Interesting Christian Book of the Year award in 1997. She was granted an artist's pension in the beginning of 2022.

Personal life Ekola is a widow. Her husband was Juha "Lido" Salonen and Ekola has a son born in 1998. Salonen died of cancer in 2008. Ekola has since found a new man and lives in Pusula. Lupaus (2006) Aurinkotie (AXR Music, 2011)

Compilation albums Villihevosia – 20 Hannan parasta (1995) Villihevosia - 40 unohtumatonta laulua (2008)

Singles Hento (2004) Pelkää sydän maailmaa (2004) Huomisen murheet (2007) Kaipaus (2009) Helmi (2010) Joki vai silta (2013) Nuorgam (2013) Leskenlehti (2016)