By Jessica Moskowitz
Welcome, Ida Edina, to NYWIFT!
Ida is a multi-hyphenate singer-songwriter, composer, and filmmaker who started playing the Finnish harp at 13. She brands herself as a modern pop kantele queen from the nordics.
Ida truly is an ethnomusicologist obsessed with the ancient Kalevala poems of her homeland. Her work currently has over three million views on her YouTube channel.
Ida’s award-winning short film, Under the Northern Skies, is a journey through her 13-song album that combines original music with an audiovisual concert experience. It premiered in Finland in February 2025.
Read on to learn more about Ida’s art and her dreams for the year ahead.
What brings you to NYWIFT?
What excites me about NYWIFT is being part of a creative community of women who support and inspire one another. Even though I’m not New York–based, but live in the Helsinki Capital region in Finland, I plan to spend a lot of time in the city — learning, exchanging ideas, and building meaningful creative relationships.
I’m especially interested in collaborating with NYWIFT members on future film projects. I truly believe storytelling grows stronger through collaboration.
I’m also grateful to SOHO International Film Festival and [NYWIFT Board Member] Sibyl Raymundo-Santiago for introducing me to NYWIFT and welcoming me into the organization.
What is a project or goal you’re dreaming about right now?
I’m currently dreaming about expanding Under the Northern Skies into an international collaboration with symphony orchestras around the world.
The symphonic version had its world premiere in October with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, and collaboration with Finnish orchestras continues this year. My long-term goal is to bring this project to international stages – combining mythology, film, and orchestral music in a way that connects across cultures.
Talk about the intersection of your art across music and film.
In my 15-minute short film Under the Northern Skies, music was the foundation of the entire project. Inspired by the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic, the film tells its story without dialogue — the narrative is carried entirely by music and lyrics.
The project combined two working approaches: the visuals initially grew from the music, and later, additional music was composed in response to the finished imagery. Exploring both directions within the same film highlighted how deeply music and visuals can shape and strengthen each other.
What is it about Nordic mythology that first drew you in?
Nordic mythology is a deep part of Finnish cultural heritage and has been with me throughout my artistic life. I started playing the kantele at 13, and the instrument itself is closely tied to myth and oral tradition.
While working on this project, that connection resurfaced strongly. I was drawn to the ancient Kalevala poems and the lost world they represent. Grounded in folk poetry and tradition, the Kalevala’s symbolism, depth, and artistic richness continue to inspire me.
What projects are you looking forward to most in 2026?
In 2026, I’m most excited about developing the next chapters of my Kalevala project. We are planning two new sequels, both rooted in Kalevala mythology. I will compose the music, and from that foundation, we will build new films.
As these projects grow internationally, I’m especially happy to be part of NYWIFT and look forward to collaborating with its members on my upcoming films.
Connect with Ida Elina via her website idaelina.fi/en, and on:
Instagram: @theidaelina
YouTube: at @idaelinamusic
TikTok: @theidaelina
Facebook: @idaelinamusic
LinkedIn: @ida-elina
About Ida Elina:
Ida Elina is a Finnish singer-songwriter, composer, and kantele artist recognized for her innovative playing of Finland’s national instrument. Through her percussive “slap style” technique, she has brought the traditionally gentle kantele into contemporary pop contexts (Vorarlberger Nachrichten). She has performed at music festivals and concert venues across Europe, Asia, and the United States. In recent years, her work has expanded into film and visual storytelling. Her 15-minute short film Under the Northern Skies, inspired by the Kalevala, is based on her original music, and has received multiple international awards and nominations. The Kalevala project unfolds as a three-part work — a short film, an album, and a concert experience — and has expanded into orchestral collaborations that connect music, moving image, and live performance.
(All images courtesy of Ida Elina)
Jessica Moskowitz
Jessica Moskowitz is a storyteller, event programmer, executive video strategist, and community builder with over a decade working across platforms at CNN. In 2019, she spent two weeks in Brussels and Germany as a R.I.A.S fellow, a program designed to connect journalists and foster transatlantic dialog. Early in her career, she was honored with a National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) vision award for her profile of a drum teacher as part of CNN’s Special Projects series ‘Leaders with Heart.’ She has lived in Wisconsin, California, and Georgia and currently resides in Queens, NY, with her dog Mr. Dips.
https://riasberlin.org/programs/
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