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Joik pop
" A magical, mystical blend of Sámi joiks, accordion, and contemporary pop "
The joik, the traditional form of song of the Sámi, has a long and noble history – researchers believe it to be one of Europe’s oldest continuous musical traditions. Meant to evoke a particular person, animal, or place, joiks were typically sung a cappella, and deeply personal or spiritual in nature. And while they’re also prevalent in modern day Nordic pop culture, they’d never been combined with accordion, Finland’s most traditional instrument. Until now.
The story goes that when Hildá Länsman, an acclaimed Sámi singer and musician, and Viivi Maria Saarenkylä, Finland’s leading young accordionist, first heard each other’s music, they decided they had to collaborate. The result is VILDÁ, a magical duo blending the past with the present and casting fresh spells with their talent. Debut album ‘Vildaluodda’ combined contemporary pop with traditional Finnish folk, all “mystical yoiks, swinging rhythms and improvisation”. The result is as enchanting as it is unique; there’s a shamanic element to many of their songs, and they conjure both a deep sense of history and the remote wilderness the Sámi call home.
But there’s a modern edge to their work too, a reimagining of what folk music can be or do – witness the beat underpinning ‘Utsjoki-disko’, or the drone-like tones of ‘Talvisalo’. And they’re reaching new audiences; having already played WOMEX and several prominent Canadian festivals, they won a Music Moves Europe Talent Award earlier this year. But really, giving such a rich, cultural heritage a new lease of life – and new set of devotees – is the best prize of all.
