The virtuosic Ilta first charmed Finns by singing the chorus in Cheek’s hit Sillat. Her debut single Koukkuun (“Hooked”), released in summer 2017, has since gone platinum. In September 2020, Ilta released her debut album Näitä hetkiä varten(For These Moments). Before that, she had already won the Newcomer of the Year award at the Iskelmä Gala, and with the album she also earned her first Emma Award nominations.

In 2021, Ilta competed in Finland’s Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK, the national Eurovision selection) with the song Kelle mä soitan (“Who Will I Call”), finishing in third place. The track has been streamed double platinum, peaked at #8 on the Finnish radio chart, and climbed as high as #3 on Spotify’s Top 50 in Finland. Ilta’s second album Mä oon vaan ihminen (I’m Only Human) was released in September 2023, and had already gone gold in pre-release streams. In addition to the hit Kelle mä soitan, the album includes singles such as Ei kukaan muu (“No One Else”) and Taivas maan päällä(“Heaven on Earth”). With this second record, Ilta was nominated for the Emma Award for Schlager of the Year.

Ilta’s music radiates joyful positivity while also touching on relatable heartbreak. On the 2019 season of Tähdet Tähdet(“Stars Stars”), she impressed both judges and audiences with her stunning interpretations and personality. In autumn 2023, she was one of the featured soloists on the hugely popular TV show Elämäni biisi (“The Song of My Life”), and in 2024 she joined the cast of Vain elämää (“Just Life”), where she added new hits like Kiire (“Rush”) and Tässä talossa(“In This House”) to her repertoire.

Ilta’s voice is captivating—marked by powerful powerhouse vocals often accompanied by piano. She performs in clubs, concert halls, and festivals with her band, while her legendary Christmas concerts have sold out for several years in a row.