What began as a playful act of mischief would set the stage for a remarkable journey.
In the late 1990s in Oulainen, a quaint town nestled in Finland’s North Ostrobothnia region, 12-year-old Päivi Kujanen found herself drawn into a minor sibling skirmish. Her younger sister, an ardent player of the five-string kantele—a traditional zither revered as Finland’s national instrument—was the target of her teasing, which Päivi deemed overly tedious.
The turning point came when their uncle, having returned from a local auction, presented a striking 30-string kantele. He posed a question that stirred curiosity: which sister would take the plunge and give it a try?
“I was on the verge of declining when it struck me that even the slightest tease counts,” Kujanen recalled, laughter punctuating her words.
Yet, what started as an irritation quickly evolved into a fascination that would prove irresistible.
“I was instantly captivated. It was something fresh and exhilarating,” she shares, reflecting on how this instrument transformed her perspective.
As the sole kantele player in her hometown, she discovered that the path to mastery lay wide open before her. The moment she received her first concert kantele and began formal lessons, her ambition crystallized.
“By the age of 15, my greatest dream was to become a kantele artist.”
Reinventing Finland’s National Instrument
Video: Nina Karlsson and Annukka Pakarinen
Today, known by her stage name Ida Elina, Kujanen stands out as one of the defining voices of contemporary kantele music, both in Finland and beyond. Her innovative electric kantele harmonizes the instrument’s gentle tones with the vitality of modern pop and rock.
The kantele, or kannel, boasts a history that stretches back over a millennium, interwoven through Finnish folklore and immortalized in the Kalevala, the national epic of Finland and Karelia, compiled in the 19th century. In those verses, the hero Väinämöinen enchants his audience with the haunting allure of the kantele’s sound.
“The kantele has a unique tone that marries elements of the guitar, harp, and piano with a rich bass line,” Kujanen explains. “Its versatility is astonishing.”
However, carving out her unique sound was no straightforward task. As a musically gifted child, she progressed rapidly initially, but the 30-string instrument opened new horizons, offering a canvas far beyond the limitations of the five-string.
“I approached the instrument with certain preconceptions. But when I heard the larger kantele’s sound, it left me spellbound. I thought, ‘Wow—this can produce real music.’ It was a revelation.”
A Crisis, a Turning Point, and Billie Jean
Päivi Kujanen possesses four custom-built concert kanteles, featuring 40 strings and lever systems for rapid key changes—truly one of a kind.
However, Kujanen’s path was not without its detours. A setback struck when she failed to secure a place in the performance program at the Sibelius Academy, Finland’s premier music institution named after the renowned composer Jean Sibelius. While she initially studied Classical kantele within the music education department, she soon recognized it wasn’t her calling.
Then came an exchange year in Japan in 2009—a pivotal moment that changed everything.
“I left Finland feeling adrift. I even prayed that if something transformative happened in Japan, I’d continue playing. Otherwise, I would quit,” she recalled.
In Sapporo, she serendipitously stumbled upon a video featuring a performer interpreting Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean.
“I instantly thought, ‘Could you actually play pop music on this instrument?’”
That realization launched her into uncharted territories.
“Even my mother doubted anything would come of it. Becoming an artist demanded tremendous courage.”
New Horizons: Film Scores and Finnish Myth
Päivi Kujanen performs not only across Finland but also internationally, having been invited to events like Finland’s Independence Day reception hosted by the President.
Today, Kujanen wears many hats—not just performing, but also composing. Her latest significant endeavor, Under the Northern Skies, is a short film that reinterprets the tales of Lemminkäinen, a dashing yet headstrong figure from Finnish mythology.
“When composing songs, I often draw from my own experiences, but this project was deeply rooted in the Kalevala,” she notes.
As co-producer and composer of the film’s score, she crafted the script around her music, which has garnered acclaim on the international festival circuit and won numerous awards.
It feels fitting that the kantele, so integral to the Kalevala, also holds a central place in Päivi Kujanen’s life.
By Emilia Kangasluoma, photos by Annukka Pakarinen, February 2026