Ruffus

Ruffus was an Estonian indie rock band best known for representing Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003. The group originated as a band called Claire’s Birthday in 1997, founded by singer Vaiko Eplik. They achieved popularity in Estonia with a catchy indie pop/rock style and English-language songs.

Formation and Early Career (1997–2002)

Ruffus began as the indie band Claire’s Birthday in 1997. Singer and songwriter Vaiko Eplik started the group with drummer Margus Tohver and keyboard player Siim Mäesalu. An early member known as Cät completed the first lineup. From the start, the band worked inside Estonia’s growing indie scene. As the lineup settled, the musicians built a clear identity on stage and in the studio. 

By 2000, Claire’s Birthday released their debut album Venus. The title track “Venus” became their first hit and introduced the band to a wider audience. The same year they won two Estonian Music Awards: Band of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. These prizes confirmed their fast rise at home. In 2001 the group followed with the album City Loves, which kept their focus on direct hooks and compact song forms. The music stayed radio‑friendly, but the band also pushed for a sharper indie edge. Step by step, Claire’s Birthday became one of the most visible guitar bands in Estonia at the turn of the decade. 

Eurovision Song Contest 2003

In 2003, the band decided to enter Eurolaul 2003, Estonia’s national selection for Eurovision, reportedly as a light-hearted joke. Around this time they changed their name to Ruffus and adjusted their lineup, a previous member left and guitarist Jaan Pehk and bassist Ivo Etti joined the group. Under the new name, they competed with the song “Eighties Coming Back,” written and composed by Vaiko Eplik. The upbeat song won the Estonian selection by a narrow margin, scoring 65 points to beat the runner-up by just one point.

Ruffus went on to represent Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003, held in Riga, Latvia. Estonia finished in 21st place out of 26 finalists, earning 14 points in total. 

After Eurovision and Later Years

Following their Eurovision appearance, Ruffus released one album under that name, titled Lessons in Pop (2003). They soon decided to go their separate ways, effectively disbanding the group. The band’s active years (1997–2003) had been relatively short, but they left a mark on the Estonian indie music scene. In later years, the musicians occasionally revisited their past work, in 2019, Vaiko Eplik even led a special reunion concert of Claire’s Birthday at an Estonian music festival after a 13-year hiatus.

Band Members’ Solo Careers and Projects

Vaiko Eplik (lead vocalist)

After Ruffus, Vaiko launched a successful solo career. In 2006 he formed the project Vaiko Eplik ja Eliit, releasing multiple albums that frequently topped Estonian album charts. He became known as a prolific independent artist and producer in Estonia’s music industry.

Jaan Pehk (guitarist)

Jaan continued his music career under the stage name Orelipoiss, releasing several solo albums. He is also known as a poet and writer in Estonia.

Ivo Etti (bassist)

Ivo went on to join the acclaimed Estonian indie folk-rock band Ewert and The Two Dragons as a bassist and multi-instrumentalist. With that group, he gained broader international recognition in the 2010s as they toured Europe and won multiple music awards.

Margus Tohver (drummer)

Margus returned to his rock roots. He has been a longtime member of Palat, Estonia’s first thrash metal band, which has kept the same lineup since the late 1980s. Tohver continued to perform and record with Palat after the Ruffus years.

Siim Mäesalu (keyboardist)

Siim pursued a career in music beyond performing. He furthered his studies in music, including electronic music at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Mäesalu also works in music production.