Max Lilja facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Max Lilja
Lilja in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Max Fedi Tapani Lilja
Born	(1975-10-27) 27 October 1975 (age 49) Vantaa, Finland
Genres	Electronica, cello rock, symphonic metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, songwriter
Instruments	Cello
Years active	1996–present
Associated acts	Apocalyptica, Hevein, Tekijä Tuntematon, Tarja

Max Lilja, born on October 27, 1975, is a talented Finnish cello player. He is famous for being one of the first members of the Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica. He left Apocalyptica in 2001 to join another Finnish band called Hevein. Since 2007, Max Lilja has also played and toured with Tarja Turunen, a well-known singer. He has always enjoyed playing both classical music and different styles like rock and metal.

Early Life and Music Training

Max Lilja was born in Vantaa, Finland. He started playing the violin in 1980. But he quickly switched to the cello when he was seven years old.

In 1985, Max began studying at the Junior Academy of Helsinki's famous Sibelius Academy. He was a practice student for a cellist named Panu Saari. In 1993, he was accepted into the Sibelius Academy's university program. There, he studied with Dr. Raimo Sariola and Professor Arto Noras.

It was during this time that he first started playing songs by the band Metallica on the cello. He played with other cellists who later formed Apocalyptica. Max did very well at the Sibelius Academy. In 1995, he became the main cellist in the academy's Symphony Orchestra.

Playing with Apocalyptica

In 1995, Max Lilja joined his future bandmates from Apocalyptica. They were trying out playing rock and metal music using cellos. This led to their first show at a rock club.

Within a year, the band Apocalyptica was officially formed. They signed with a Finnish record label called Zen Garden. Their first album, Plays Metallica by Four Cellos, came out in 1996. In 1997, this album started selling all over the world. Apocalyptica began touring and performing so much that Max left the Sibelius Academy. He wanted to focus on the band full-time.

Over the next three years, Max recorded two more albums with Apocalyptica. These were Inquisition Symphony and Cult. In 2001, Max Lilja went on tour with Apocalyptica for the last time as a band member.

Hevein and Tarja's Band

In 2002, Max Lilja left Apocalyptica and joined the band Hevein. He played on their first album, Sound Over Matter, which came out in 2005. He also played on some earlier demo recordings.

Hevein later left their record label and released their own demo in 2012. They were looking for a new label. Later that year, Hevein broke up. They said they would get back together if they could find money to finish their newest album.

In 2007, Max Lilja started performing with Tarja Turunen. She was the former singer of the band Nightwish. Tarja was starting her solo music career. Besides touring with Tarja, Max has played on several of her albums. This includes the 2010 album What Lies Beneath.

Solo Music Projects

Max Lilja had been experimenting with electric cello for over ten years. In 2010, he started writing his own music for solo electronic cello. His first solo album, Plays Electronica By One Cello, was released in April 2013. His second album, Morphosis, came out in April 2015. His third album, 10,000 Miens, was released in 2018.

Max says that his electronic cello music is made using only the cello as the sound source. His latest album, Six Shades of Bach, was released in 2024.

Discography

Solo albums

• 2013: Plays Electronica by One Cello
• 2015: Morphosis
• 2018: 10 000 Miens
• 2020: The Exorcist (Original Radio Play Soundtrack)
• 2024: Six Shades of Bach (PENTATONE)

With Apocalyptica

• 1996: Plays Metallica by Four Cellos
• 1998: Inquisition Symphony
• 2000: Cult

With Hevein

• 2005: Sound Over Matter

With Tarja

• 2010: What Lies Beneath
• 2013: Colours in the Dark
• 2016: The Shadow Self

Images for kids

• 

  Lilja in 2007

See also

In Spanish: Max Lilja para niños