Vaiko Eplik ja Eliit

Vaiko Eplik (born 08.02.1981 Rapla, Estonia) is an independent Estonian pop-composer, producer, singer and multiinstrumentalist. After his singing talent was discovered by his kindergarden’s music teacher Lemmi Linnas, he won his first singing contest „Laululind“ in 1986. After that he became an only male singer in Estonian Television’s Children Choir, conducted by Aarne Saluveer, the keyboard player of a pop-rock combo Karavan. He’s first interest in pop music appeared when he was eight years old – he bacame a fan of Elvis Presly. In his early teens in 1993 he saw the MTV for a first time in his life. By the way – he’s as old as the mighty MTV itself. After that he started to play the guitar and write songs. During that time he also sang in a Rapla’s sensational doo-wop group Segased, conducted by former lead singer of a new-wave group Proov 538, Thea Paluoja. He’s first band was Friroid, formed in 1995 with his friend, now actor, Priit Võigemast. In 1998 they formed the very first incaration of what later became a britpop outfit Claire’s Birthday. During that time he went to Georg Otsa Music School to study pop-jazz singing and jazz theory by the guidance of seminal jazz-composer Kustas Kikerpuu. When Claire’s Birthday started to take off, he immideately dropped ot of the school. Claire’s Birthday became a national pop sensation in spring of 2000 with it’s singel „Venus“. Soon followed by same named album (sold 2000 copies in first six months), gigs in big open air festivals, including supporting Alice Cooper in Baltics, good club gigs season in winter, Claire’s Birthday was a fresh breath of air in Estonian pop music. After the relase of it’s second album „City Loves“ in 2001 and by the release of their last planned studio album „Future Is Now“ in 2003, Claire’s Birthday joining the national Eurovision Song Contest with a song „80’s Coming Back“ was meant to be a joke. Suprisingly the song won the national contest and ended up in 23rd place in final contest in Riga, Latvia. Eplik and his post-Claire’s Birthday pop-rock group Ruffus were occasionaly treated as public enemies during that period. The were occasionally even attacked by rednecks. In 2004, he formed punk and pop rock outfit Koer, with which he released chart-topping singles „Maiu on piimaauto“ and „Pihkupeksja“, both sung in estonian for a first time in his career. By that time he also became interested of drumming and to master his skills, he formed surf/hard rock trio Mammut with Janno Zõbin and Mart Niineste. By 2005, after disbanding his bands and getting into R Stevie Moore’s attitude of recording music, he built a small home studio to his parents house living room and started recording his first solo album, playing all instruments by himself. For a playing live he formed an experimental pop group Eliit with his friends, that became known for it’s fully improvised live performances. Album Vaiko Eplik ja Eliit „1“, that included guest appearences by rapper Jarek „Chalice“ Kasar and actress Evelin Pang, was released in spring 2006 under his own label Mortimer Snerd Records. In fall 2006, Eliit (Vaiko Eplik – voc, key, gtr; Raul Saaremets – dr, Hannaliina Uusma – voc, Jaan Pehk – voc, Jarek „Chalice“ Kasar – key, voc) performed in front of an audience of few hundred an hour long fully improvised musical „Sinilind“ live on air in Raadio Kaks, the Estonian national youth station. During that era, he worked as one of station’s morning progam hosts. Before the release of his second solo album in early 2007, Vaiko Eplik was fired from the morning program by the director of the Estonian National TV and Radio, Margus Allikmaa himself. As a moral compensation, he got his own hour long weekly radio show „The Vaiko Eplik Show“ in Raadio Kaks. Album Vaiko Eplik ja Eliit „2“ was released in spring of 2007 and included three huge hit singels „Armastus päästab maailma“, „Silvester otsustab surra“ and „November“. Album’s presentation was at Kumu Öö festival, where Eliit played a short set of songs from Eplik’s both solo albums. The Kumu Öö’s festval line up also included Jimi Tenor and Jah Wobble. Successful festival and club seasons were followed by recording sessions of third album, entitled Vaiko Eplik ja Eliit „3“. During the break in recording, Eliit represented Estonian pop music in EuroSonic music fair in Holland. The finished third solo album was released in spring 2008. The story continues…2. Discography Claire’s Birthday – „Venus“ (2000) Claire’s Birthday – „City Loves“ (2001) Claire’s Birthday – „Future Is Now“ (2003) Koer – „Pure“ (2004) Vaiko Eplik ja Eliit – „1“ (2006) Vaiko Eplik ja Eliit – „2“ (2007) Vaiko Eplik ja Eliit – „3“ (2008)3. Awards Estonian Music Award 2008 for The Best Rock Artist Estonian Music Award 2008 for The Best Band (Vaiko Eplik ja Eliit) Estonian Music Award 2007 for The Best Song (actually it was a cover) Estonian Music Award 2005 for The Newcomer (Koer) Estonian Music Award 2000 for The Best Band (Claire’s Birthday) Estonian Music Award 2000 for The Newcomer (Claire’s Birthday)