Kiki (singer)

Arja Petra Maria Gavalas, known professionally as Kiki, is a Finnish singer-songwriter. She participated in UMK 2026.[1]

Background

Kiki was born to a Greek father and Finnish mother in Vantaa. Her brother, Lukas Leon, is a rapper.[2]

Career

In her twenties, she started her music career by meeting her producer Jimi Pääkallo through her brother, Lukas Leon.[1] With Pääkallo she released her debut single "666" in 2021.[1] "666" placed 8th on Finnish single charts and in 2022,[1] she was named as one of the YleX breakthrough artists.[3] In 2023, she released her first album, Intuitio.[4] A track on Intuitio "Jos sul ei oo mua", featured Finnish artists Bess and F.[5]

In 2026, Kiki was announced as a participant for UMK that year[2] with the song "Rakkaudenkipee" ("Lovesick").[1] In the final, she placed seventh with a total of 42 points.[6]

Style and influences

Kiki has named artists like Doja Cat, Rihanna, Jenni Vartiainen,[3] Rosalía, Lady Gaga[1] and Michael Jackson[3] as influences and role models for her music. She has also cited that her inspiration comes from multiple genres like Latin music, trap and R&B,[3] along with her Greek and Finnish roots.[1]

Discography

Singles

• "666" (2021)[1]

• "Rakkaudenkipee" (2026)[2]

Albums

• "Intuitio" (2023)[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Kiki sekoittaa suomalaisen melankolian ja kreikkalaisen intohimon – UMK26-kappale "Rakkaudenkipee" nyt kuunneltavissa". Yle Kulttuuri ja Asia (in Finnish). 2026-01-23. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  2. 1 2 3 Farren, Neil (2026-01-22). "🇫🇮 Finland: KIKI Releases UMK 2026 Entry "Rakkaudenkipee"". Eurovoix. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 YleX. "YleX valitsi vuoden lupaavimmat artistit – Läpimurto-raati nosti ykköseksi Ege Zulun, yleisö äänesti oman suosikkinsa murskavoittoon". yle.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-06-21.
  4. 1 2 "Kikin debyyttialbumi Intuitio on yhdellä tämän hetken upeimmista äänistä kerrottu kasvutarina - Kaiku Entertainment". kaikuentertainment.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  5. ↑ "Kikin debyyttialbumi Intuitio on yhdellä tämän hetken upeimmista äänistä kerrottu kasvutarina - Kaiku Entertainment". kaikuentertainment.fi/ (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  6. ↑ "Näin pisteet jakautuivat UMK:ssa – yleisöääniä annettiin ennätysmäärä". Yle Kulttuuri ja Asia (in Finnish). 2026-03-01. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
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