Heliä Mailiis Viirakivi is a versatile Finnish vocalist-flutist, improviser, and performer-composer working across innovative new music, experimental music, improvisation, and interdisciplinary concepts. Trained at the Helsinki Conservatory and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, she blends extended vocal and instrumental techniques, folk influences, and classical singing to shape her unique artistic voice.
In both performance and composition, she explores meaning, communication, and community through attention to small details, transforming them into expressive sound and form. She is especially interested in questioning musical norms and stereotypes—such as ideas of harmony and discord—and enjoys spontaneous experimentation.
As a performer, she has premiered numerous contemporary works as a soloist and ensemble member, and performed widely across Europe. She has performed at festivals such as Hetkfest, Estonia (2025), Barents Spektakel Festival, Norway (2025), Hjorted Art and Music Festival, Sweden (2025), SLURPS Contemporary Art Stage, Finland (2024), COMPOSTER Festival, Estonia (2024), Asbestos Ars Week II Festival, Finland (2024), Mixtur Festival, Spain (2023), Time of Music Festival, Finland (2022), MüriaadFest, Estonia (2022), and IberoFest, Estonia (2022).
Viirakivi has released one solo album of flute improvisations, duo improvisation album Distorted Distraction and folk-jazz album Tai Tui with NARAT trio. In 2025 she will release two collaborative improvisation albums.
In her compositional work vocals are her main material. She has composed a narrative musical story for children, several ensemble works and oner work with electronics. Starting from 2025, she is composing her depute composition EP, that will be released in 2026.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Viirakivi is an active cultural worker, serving as a board member, producer, and curator for Asbestos ry and the Hjorted Art and Music Festival. She is also keen to spread the exciting world of contemporary improvisation to others and has mentored a workshop for contemporary improvisation in San Sebastián, La Gomera (2024).