Koikson says pleasing everyone does not define a musician’s quality

Estonian musician Liisi Koikson says an artist’s quality should not be judged by whether everyone likes their music. She also told ERR’s programme Ringvaade that her new album is due out early next year and that she is grateful to young musicians Säm and Eleryn Tiit for inviting her to contribute to their albums.

Koikson recently read a book about musician Joni Mitchell, whose 83rd birthday was recently celebrated. She said Mitchell’s tenderness, fluidity and honest lyrics resonate with her, and described Mitchell as someone who was honest in everything because she did not know how to be any other way.

Koikson said she saw parallels between her own life and Mitchell’s, particularly in not wanting to be confined to one public image and wanting to explore other styles. Mitchell did not make music to please people, Koikson said, but followed what felt right to her at the time.

Koikson said the ideal would be for the music an artist likes to also be loved by the audience. She reflected on Mitchell’s decision, when she was very young, to have her child adopted and to keep that private for a long time. Mitchell saw herself primarily as a painter who had also taken up music, Koikson said; many of her albums feature self-portraits she made.

Koikson said she is excited to be finishing her new album. She also welcomed the chance to work with younger singers, calling her contributions to Säm’s and Eleryn Tiit’s albums a connection between generations.