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 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. Later, he joined the Finnish thrash metal band Hevein. Since 2007, Max Lilja has also played with Tarja Turunen in her solo band. He loves to play both classical music and rock, metal, and other styles.

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 just seven years old. In 1985, Max began studying at the Junior Academy of Helsinki's Sibelius Academy. This is a very famous music school.

In 1993, he was accepted into the Sibelius Academy's university program. Here, he 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. He became the main cellist in the academy's Symphony Orchestra in 1995.

Joining Apocalyptica

In 1995, Max Lilja and his friends started trying out rock and metal music on the cello. This led to their first show in a rock club. Within a year, the band Apocalyptica was officially formed. They signed with a Finnish music 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 a lot. Max Lilja left the Sibelius Academy to focus on the band full-time. Over the next three years, he recorded two more albums with Apocalyptica. These were Inquisition Symphony and Cult. Max Lilja toured with Apocalyptica for the last time as a band member in 2001.

Playing with Hevein and Tarja

In 2002, Max Lilja left Apocalyptica. He then 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 stopped working with their record label. They released a demo on their own in 2012. After that, Hevein broke up.

In 2007, Max Lilja started playing with Nightwish's former singer, Tarja Turunen. Tarja was starting her solo music career. Max has toured with Tarja and played on several of her albums. This includes the 2010 album What Lies Beneath.

Solo Music Projects

Max Lilja has been experimenting with electric cello for over ten years. In 2010, he started writing his own electronic cello music. 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 his electronic cello music is made using only the cello as the sound source.

Music Albums (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

See also

In Spanish: Max Lilja para niños