Suistamon Sähkö

About

" A love letter to Suistamo land, where the summer sun never sets… "

It’s of no surprise that in the land of the midnight sun, with its endless woodlands and diverse folk cultures, you would find such a vibrant, pagan, ethno-rave act. Suistamon Sähkö are all about making informed, cultural, dance music that tells the story of the Suistamo region. Blending traditional Finnish music with modern electronic sounds, the high-energy, arctic etnotekno quarter [that’s ethno-techno-tronica to folks like you and me], Suistamon Sähkö embody brash coloured, party-pop, performed in the most singular of styles. Not many acts out there can say that they combine Finnish Karelian sounds with techno beats and rap music, but somehow Suistamon Sähkö seem to have gotten away with it. Using a Soviet-made Notka accordion, and jouhikko (a traditional Finnish stringed instrument), the band fuse melodic rave-synths and lively powerful hymns and vocals to create their own Karelian electronic music, unparalleled in sound and style.

Suistamon Sähkö have made their biggest impact through their intense, colourful, and spirited live shows, in which they really flaunt their range of styles and skills. Along the way, the band manages to tackle some important political issues, including the erosion of their culture, the changing arctic climate, the dangers of hate speech, and much more. Showing their Karelian roots to a wider audience through the power of rave is a bold and courageous step, one that’s taken them to festivals across Europe, and to the NTS Tiny Desk series, proving that they’re more than just a ‘folktronica’ gimmick, and that there’s plenty more on offer lurking inside the Finnish woodlands.