When she burst onto the music scene last year, Olga quickly became one of Finland’s most talked-about and exciting emerging artists. Now, with the release of her debut album, Saint Olga, Vogue Scandinavia sits down with the creative to discuss her journey from actor to artist, the boundary-pushing album, and how she’s manifesting pop stardom
‘Make pop great again’. The statement was emblazoned on the skirt of Olga Heikkala’s sultry, milky white faux fur-trimmed floor-skimming halterneck dress by Studio Lamea – complete with a plunging neckline and low-cut back – as she swept down the red carpet at the 2024 Emma Gaala, aka the Finnish Grammys.
At the time, Heikkala was best known for her role as Mira Angervuo in the iconic Finnish soap opera Salatut Elämät. But a whiff of change was already in the air: in November 2023, the actor had announced her departure from the wildly popular show after a five-year run.
A few days after Emma Gaala, it was official: Heikkala was venturing into music under Finland’s powerhouse pop export and Vogue Scandinavia alum Alma’s new record label, Cyber Recordings, her debut single, aptly titled ‘Uus Bitch’ (‘New Bitch’), dropping on March 22. The song – a hard-hitting, unapologetic electropop anthem of post-breakup liberation – went platinum and swiftly topped the charts, cementing Heikkala as one of the country’s most exciting new talents.
And now, Heikkala – or simply Olga, as her artist name goes – has reached another milestone: the release of her debut album, Saint Olga, last Friday.
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Photo: Kenana Alic
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Corset. Vintage Chloé via Karina K Vintage. Jeans. Talent's own. Shoes. Vintage Dolce & Gabbana via Karika K Vintage. Bag. Vintage Chloé via Karina K Vintage. Sunglasses. Vintage Dior. Photo: Kenana Alic