Ithaka Maria
If the moniker Ithaka Maria sounds somewhat exotic for a girl born
and raised on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, then perhaps her
family background explains the atypical name of the Estonian singer,
which is – on her birth certificate at least – even more audacious:
Gyrcelea Ithaka Maria. Born to a bohemian hippie family of a designer-
musician-poet father and an avid Indian dance and art-worshipping
mother, the future pop queen was always treated as an equal. Hence her
unique style, strong survival instincts and sharp focus.
Music has been an integral part of her life as long as she can
remember.
Ithaka Maria started penning songs – mainly about her mum and kitty and
the rain and the sun – pretty much the same time she traded her
soother for
chocolate; songs that proved to be an indication of early creative
impulses
and artistic freedom she had inherited from her liberal parents.
At the age of 17, the soon-to-be teenage icon auditioned for a band
called Best B4, and soon became the most prominent and idolized
member. Both fans and critics alike were stunned by her aura and
impulsiveness. Within months, she gained the reputation of the “first
Estonian artist with an attitude”. Soon thereafter, Ithaka Maria –
known for her mesmerizing sound – established herself as a
heavyweight songwriter as well. Her first national hit stormed the
airwaves of her native Estonia in 1998. “Children of the Sea” was a
massive knockout hit, and it was soon evident she needed a band of
her own. “Slobodan River” became Ithaka Maria’s band for years.
They released eight singles nationwide in 2004 alone, seven of which
became local radio hits.
It’s probably her personal diversity that has paved her way to both
mainstream success and critical acclaim. Having taken lessons in
classical piano, sound design, conducting, and - who would have
guessed -
kickboxing, she is nothing less than unconditionally ambitious, yet
she is
altruistic and warm in her personal and creative endeavours. And if
the world
needs saving one gloomy afternoon – Ithaka Maria will be there to give
a hand,
even if her only weapon is a bagful of brilliant pop tunes.
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