Islaja or Merja Kokkonen (born May 19, 1979) is a singer-songwriter and musician from Helsinki, Finland. Besides her solo career, she is a member of free improv and psych folk bands Avarus, Kemialliset Ystävät, and the trio Hertta Lussu Ässä.
She has been compared to an acid folk version of Björk, a female Syd Barrett, and to Nico.
Her music is notably psychedelic and very intimate using a large variety of instruments.
Her solo music is often rather ethnic sounding. African, Middle Eastern and less easily categorized styles can be heard.
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