Edea (musical group)

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Edea is a Finnish musical group. It is an ensemble of musicians whose music brings to life centuries of European cultural tradition. The Edea's song lyrics are written in an older form of the Finnish language. The mysterious runic symbols inscribed on the bows of Viking boats, door posts, drinking vessels, and amulets [1] as well as the Finnish composer Sibelius ^[1] are the source of Edea’s haunting, harmonic music and evoke an echo of times past. Edea competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 with their song, Aava.

Marika Krook is Edea’s figurehead and soprano performer; she is a well-known Finnish actress, singer, and dancer. She started her classical music studies at age 15 and made her debut at the Vaasa Opera in 1988. In 1992, she won the International Opera Song Contest in Tallinn and sang the principal role of Maria in The Sound Of Music in summer theatre. She is currently studying opera singing at the Sibelius Academy.

Alexi Ahoniemi plays keyboard and saxophone. He has written lyrics, composed, and arranged for numerous groups. He is a popular studio musician and teacher.

The ensemble also includes Tommy Mansikka-Aho, who plays ethnic wind instruments, and percussionists Samuli Kosminen and Ethiopian-born Abdissa Assefa, who provide underlying harmonies.