A multi-talented -- classical violin, piano, and vocals -- pop artist born in April of 1985 in Lumijoki, Finland, Johanna Kurkela became a household name in her home country after appearing in a preliminary round of Finland's entry into the Eurovision Song Contest. Her pop career had started prior to that 2007 event, however, as she released her debut album, Hetki Hiljaa (A Moment's Silence), in 2005. She had also appeared on the collections Tilkkutäkki and Tilkkutäkki 2. Following her Eurovision performance, in which she finished a respectable sixth, Kurkela landed a more lucrative record deal, and soon released her second album, Marmoritaivas, later that same year. ~ Chris True