Vaiko Eplik is an independent Estonian pop-composer, producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist. A diverse variety of influences includes
artists and composers from Beach Boys to Stevie Wonder and J.S. Bach to Frank Zappa.
Vaiko became well known at quite a young age in the mid-late-90s when living a rock ‘n roll dream in a brit-pop laden outfit called Claire’s
Birthday. In 2003 the latter was renamed as Ruffus, which - after a nation-wide televote and popular request - attended and provided a
quality-check to the Eurovision song contest with Eighties Coming Back. The British Coun ...read more
Vaiko Eplik is an independent Estonian pop-composer, producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist. A diverse variety of influences includes
artists and composers from Beach Boys to Stevie Wonder and J.S. Bach to Frank Zappa.
Vaiko became well known at quite a young age in the mid-late-90s when living a rock ‘n roll dream in a brit-pop laden outfit called Claire’s
Birthday. In 2003 the latter was renamed as Ruffus, which - after a nation-wide televote and popular request - attended and provided a
quality-check to the Eurovision song contest with Eighties Coming Back. The British Council nominated Eplik for the International Young Music
Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2008 in the following words: "Vaiko is a highly creative and engaging individual who is clearly passionate
about music. He is obviously a highly influential figure in the Estonian industry. The judges appreciate his integrity and his thought-through
artistic approach. He has defined his own business model that reflects his aspirations and expectations and that allows him to quietly
champion a different approach."
He has been part of several collectives: Claire's Birthday, Ruffus and Koer. In 2006, Eplik started his solo project under the name Eliit. He
has released eight albums, regularly reaching the top of Estonian album charts. In 2014, he released two albums in close sequence,
"Nõgesed" ("Nettles") and "Nelgid" ("Carnations"). He has emphasised his aspiration to "earn enough money to get by, and keep being
intelligent and free to be creative with music." Eplik is a principled independent artist, producing his music at home and releasing it under his
independent record label. He has commented on it in the following words:"Home-made music has no rival... From now on to in about five
years time, record companies will be bankrupt." « hide
