Ánnámáret Ensemble (Sápmi / Finland)

Photo by Anna-Maria Viksten

Ánnámáret is the artistic name of Sámi yoiker and singer Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman, whose work brings traditional Sámi vocal expression into dialogue with contemporary folk and experimental music. With her Ánnámáret Ensemble she released Beallječiŋat (Earrings) in 2011 & Gollehelmmot (Golden Pearls) in 2016, albums that combine acoustic instrumentation with Sámi interpretive approaches. Central to her artistry is yoik, a traditional Sámi form used to evoke people, places or states of being, and historically tied to the worldview of Sápmi, the Sámi homeland spanning northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia’s Kola Peninsula. Ánnámáret also works in multimedia contexts that blend sound, archival research and

visual art.

Featured Song:

“Dutnje” (To You), from the 2016 album Gollehelmmot, reflects themes of unspoken emotion and the desire for reassurance. The translated lyrics ask whether quiet thoughts can be perceived: “Do you hear these thoughts of mine / Even if I don’t say them aloud / Your warmth surrounds the two of us and our space / If only you knew these thoughts of mine / Would you melt me from this eternal ice? / Would you comfort me?” Performed with accordion, guitar, piano and double bass, the arrangement highlights the intimate atmospherics of the song.

Artist Website

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