Ánnámáret (Finlandia)
Ánnámáret’s work focuses on exploring the potential of joik, one of the most compelling traditional vocal techniques. Somewhat reminiscent of yodelling, it is characteristic of the music of the indigenous peoples living in the northeastern reaches of Europe, namely the Sámi community from which Ánnámáret originates.
The songs of the Finnish artist are musical miniatures which, as the title of one of her albums suggests, could be called “dreamscapes.” Archaic melodies are always at the fore, set against a backdrop of ambient textures painted with unorthodox electronics and the sounds of traditional instruments, including the jouhikko lyre.
This multi-layered sound brings to mind the harsh landscapes of the tundra, capturing their vastness and cool melancholy. Ánnámáret does not confine herself to ambient aesthetics, wilfully taking advantage of noise and psychedelic sounds. Her live performances are enriched with singular visuals that draw on the landscape of her ancestry.
Text by Dr. Łukasz Smoluch - ethnomusicologist from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.
