VILMA JÄÄ

Bands & projects

Vilma Jää

In Vilma Jää’s ethno-pop music, acoustic and electronic sounds intertwine, blending traditional folk instruments such as kantele, harmonium, hurdy-gurdy and fiddle with synthetic beats. She creates her music in collaboration with producer-composer Mikko Renfors, fusing Finno-Ugric singing traditions with pop aesthetics. Vilma Jää released her debut album Kosto (Revenge) in October 2023.

 

live band:

Pilvi Kekkonen, live electronics & backing vocals 

Hanna Ryynänen, kantele

(occasionally backing vocalists)

photo: Oscar Jankes
photo: Kaarlo Autio

Jäine

Jäine is a new-generation runolaulu ensemble comprised of professional singers from the fields of folk and pop & jazz music. Founded by folk musician Vilma Jää, who specializes in traditional Ingrian ensemble runolaulu, the group performs Jää’s tradition-inspired compositions, showcasing the singers' technical mastery. Arrangements are crafted collaboratively, both in advance and spontaneously, as Jäine’s stunning harmonies arise from heterophony—improvised polyphony.

 

Members: Vilma Jää, Anne-Mari Pitkänen, Laura Maria Rinta and Noora Kauppila

former ensembles

mammantytöt!

2015–2019

Glitter & trad.!

 

Vilma Jää (née Jääskeläinen): voice, whistling, harmonium, fiddle, piano

Laura Maria Rinta (née Petäjä): voice, whistling, double bass, cello

Musta lammas

2016–2018

Irresistible grooves and delicious soundscapes, made by 23 voices

opera

Innocence

Kaija Saariaho

as Markéta (Student 1)

San Francisco Opera (2024)

Dutch National Opera (2023)

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London (2023)

Finnish National Opera (2022)

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence (2021)

photo: Jean-Louis Fernandez

Bands & projects

Vilma Jää

In Vilma Jää’s ethno-pop music, acoustic and electronic sounds intertwine, blending traditional folk instruments such as kantele, harmonium, hurdy-gurdy and fiddle with synthetic beats. She creates her music in collaboration with producer-composer Mikko Renfors, fusing Finno-Ugric singing traditions with pop aesthetics. Vilma Jää released her debut album Kosto (Revenge) in October 2023.

 

live band:

Pilvi Kekkonen, live electronics & backing vocals 

Hanna Ryynänen, kantele

(occasionally backing vocalists)

Jäine

Jäine is a new-generation runolaulu ensemble comprised of professional singers from the fields of folk and pop & jazz music. Founded by folk musician Vilma Jää, who specializes in traditional Ingrian ensemble runolaulu, the group performs Jää’s tradition-inspired compositions, showcasing the singers' technical mastery. Arrangements are crafted collaboratively, both in advance and spontaneously, as Jäine’s stunning harmonies arise from heterophony—improvised polyphony.

 

Members: Vilma Jää, Anne-Mari Pitkänen, Laura Maria Rinta and Noora Kauppila

former ensembles

mammantytöt!

2015–2019

Glitter & trad.!

 

Vilma Jää (née Jääskeläinen): voice, whistling, harmonium, fiddle, piano

Laura Maria Rinta (née Petäjä): voice, whistling, double bass, cello

Musta lammas

2016–2018

Irresistible grooves and delicious soundscapes, made by 23 voices

opera

Innocence

Kaija Saariaho

as Markéta (Student 1)

San Francisco Opera (2024)

Dutch National Opera (2023)

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London (2023)

Finnish National Opera (2022)

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence (2021)