Maija Vilkkumaa

Maija Johanna Vilkkumaa (born 9 November 1973) is 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.

During her solo career from 1999 to 2011, Vilkkumaa has released eight full-length solo albums and sold over 300,000 certified records, becoming the tenth-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.

Life and career 1973–1993: Early life and education Maija Vilkkumaa was born in Helsinki on 9 November 1973. She has two little sisters and she lived her childhood in the neighborhood of Töölö. 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. and selling gold with over 38,000 copies, 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.

2000s: Meikit, ketjut ja vyöt, Ei, Se ei olekaan niin and Superpallo

In 2001, Vilkkumaa released her second studio album Meikit, ketjut ja vyöt (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 and sold gold with over 25,000 copies. 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 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 suuntaa (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. On 5 April 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". In January 2012, Vilkkumaa performed at a fundraising concert for the presidential campaign of the Green League's candidate Pekka Haavisto.

Personal life On 28 April 2007, Maija Vilkkumaa married 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 leikki (1999) Meikit, ketjut ja vyöt (2001) Ei (2003) Se ei olekaan niin (2005) Totuutta ja tehtävää (2006) Ilta Savoyssa (2007) Superpallo (2008) Kunnes joet muuttaa suuntaa (2010) Aja! (2015) 1973 (2022)

Awards and nominations Emma Awards

Emma Award for New Female Soloist of the Year

Emma Award for Debut Album of the Year

Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year

Emma Award for Album of the Year Emma Award for Pop/Rock Album of the Year

Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year

Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year

Emma Award for Album of the Year Emma Award for Rock Album of the Year

Emma Award for Female Soloist of the Year