About Islaja
Born 1979. Islaja is a Finnish singer, songwriter and musician.
Merja Kokkonen (born 19 May 1979), better known by her stage name Islaja, is a singer-songwriter and musician from Helsinki, Finland. Besides her solo career, she is a member of free improv and psychedelic folk bands Avarus, Kemialliset Ystävät, and the trio Hertta Lussu Ässä.
She has been compared to Björk, Syd Barrett, and Nico.
Her music is psychedelic and intimate using a large variety of instruments. She is a multi-instrumentalist.
As of 2017, she is based in Berlin.
Discography Meritie (Fonal, 2004) Palaa aurinkoon (Fonal, 2005) Ulual Yyy (Fonal, 2007) Blaze Mountain Recordings (Ecstatic Peace, 2008) Keraaminen Pää (Fonal, 2010) S U U (Monika Enterprise, 2014) Tarrantulla (Svart Records, 2017) Angel Tape (Other Power, 2023)
Also appears on Beginner's Guide to Scandinavia (3CD, Nascente 2011)
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Important facts
People in Islaja's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Islaja's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Islaja?
Finnish singer
When was Islaja born?
Islaja was born on 19 May 1979 in Helsinki.
What is Islaja's occupation?
Islaja is a singer, songwriter and musician.
What nationality is Islaja?
Islaja is Finnish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Islaja. https://biography.guide/islaja/
MLA: "Islaja." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/islaja/.
Chicago: "Islaja." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/islaja/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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