Marian valinta is a solo project of Ilja Karsikas. Ilja is working as an illustrator and graphic designer in Helsinki, making music is only a great hobby.
Current line-up:
Ilja Karsikas
Marian valinta began when Ilja started to make his small and soft love songs in 1999. Ilja started to perform small troubadour gigs in 2003. 2005–2008 Marian valinta was a real band with four members (Ilja Karsikas, Sami Nissinen, Antti Mikkola and Ville Rönkkö). The band made a lot of gigs and a country influenced EP called Harhaan (2006).
Now Ilja continues by himself again. The soft and sensitive thing is hopefully still there.
Marian valinta plays acoustic based indiepop with romantic lyrics in Finnish.
Some influences: The Cure, Marko Haavisto, Hermann Hesse, Tuomari Nurmio, Red House Painters, Kauko Röyhkä, The Smiths, Mika Waltari.
Future hopes, goals and wishes:
I wish I could make some of music ’til the day I die. But I have no real goals. I only hope that my songs can give some relief to someone else, too.
If you could work with any producer in the world, who would it be?
Jari Haapalainen
Which instrument would you like to learn to play?
Any instrument well enough to play whatever I want. But that will never happen ’cause I’m not too exited in practising.
Your biggest influence?
Robert Smith vs. Morrissey
How does living in Finland affect your work?
I’ve made a lot of songs where there’s rain in summertime. Snow is sometimes also sometimes present. Wintertime is great but depressive at the same time and maybe you can hear it in some of my songs, too.
Your dream gig venue?
Summer cottage.
Gigs or recording?
Recording
Do lyrics matter?
Yes, a lot.
