[1] Along with meeting commercial success, the singer—who writes and composes the songs by herself[2]—has also been credited for her songwriting skills by receiving the Juha Vainio Award.

[4] In 1990, Maija Vilkkumaa set up the band Tarharyhmä with her friends, gaining national radio play with its songs.

The band consisted of keyboard player Tero Pennanen, bassist Niko Kokko and guitarist Mikko Kosonen.

[4] With the debut album peaking at number three on the Finnish Albums Chart[6] and selling gold with over 38,000 copies,[1] critics welcomed Vilkkumaa as an inventive new artist in the then-sparse scene of Finnish female pop rockers[7][8][9] and she received the 2000 Emma Award for New Female Soloist of the Year.

Released in November 2006, Totuutta ja tehtävää peaked at number four on the Albums Chart[14] and sold gold with over 25,000 copies.

[19] In 2009, Vilkkumaa embarked on her second major tour, 10 + 10, to celebrate the ten years that had passed since the release of Pitkä ihana leikki.

[20] In April 2010, Vilkkumaa released her sixth studio album Kunnes joet muuttaa suuntaa (Until Rivers Change Direction).

[23] In January 2012, Vilkkumaa performed at a fundraising concert for the presidential campaign of the Green League's candidate Pekka Haavisto.