Ida Elina
Uurainen, Ostrobothnia, Finland | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | INDIE
Music
Press
Ida Elina’s debut album Songs of Freedom is phenomenal, no kantele player has ever done something like this before. -- Her voice is soft and the singing is very skillful and hand in hand with the playing the music is both grooving and innovative.
Kantele -magazine, Maija Pokela (02/2012) - Kantele-magazine
Ida Elina has created a totally new and amazing way to play the kantele (Finnish zither). Her strong and soulful voice combined with her virtuosic kanteleplaying plus the message of her songs are really something unheard-of.. - Maanalainen levykauppa
" - - Päivi Ollikainen -solo was especially unforgettable. We really should imprint the names of these ladies on our minds." - Sauli Heikkilä, Kantele.net 27.5.2011
(http://kantele.net/kilpailuaikataulu-time-schedule/4185, In Finnish!) - Kantele
"Päivi Ollikainen is a songwriter, who won the professional series in contemporary music in the 1.international kantele competitions in 2011. Her playing style is very rhythmic and skillful. " - Hannu Saha, Kansanmusiikki.fi, 27.5.2011
(http://www.kansanmusiikki.fi/ajankohtaista/arkisto/toukokuu-2011/suomalaisen-kanteleen-vapaus-on-esikuva-muille/, in Finnish) - Kansanmusiikki
Discography
Ida Elina Songs of Freedom released in June 2012 by IMU-Inkoon musiikki
IMU-CD 112
Ida Elina Valkoista valoa released in August 2013 by IMU-Inkoon musiikki
IMU-CD 131
Photos
Bio
Ida Elina is a phenomenon. A woman with a strong and characteristic voice combined with a unique Finnish instrument, kantele, is just something you've never heard before. Her debut album Songs of Freedom was released in June 2012.
Ida Elina's music is described as unique, intensive kantelegospel with the touch of r&b mentioning Michael Jackson, Kirk Franklin and Whitney as the ones of her major musical influences.
After some attempts to form a band of her own she decided to create a totally new way of playing her instrument to bring out the rhythm.
Ida Elina is the first pop-jazz-kanteleplayer in Finland and graduated from Sibelius-Academy with the master's degree in Music in 2012.
She's also the winner of the professional series in the 1.international kantelecompetition that was held in Helsinki in May 2011.
Links
