Väsen (Sweden)

Swedish musicians Olov Johansson and Mikael Marin have performed together for more than forty years, and since 1989 under the name Väsen, a word that in Swedish can mean both “spirit” or “essence”and “creature,” as in a folkloric being. Over the years Väsen has appeared in several lineups, but recently the focus has returned to the duo format of nyckelharpa and viola. The nyckelharpa, Johansson’s primary instrument, is a traditional Swedish keyed fiddle played with a bow; its rows of keys and sympathetic strings create a resonant, layered sound. This interlocks naturally with Marin’s hypnotic bass-viola, a unique instrument he developed himself. With fifteen studio albums, four live releases and collaborations across Europe and North America, the duo has developed an intuitive interplay that blends tradition with innovation.

Featured Song:

“Kungshatt” (King’s Hat), from their 2025 album Vågor, takes its title from a small island in Lake Mälaren associated with a local legend of a king who lost his hat while fleeing across the water. Väsen often draw on landscapes and stories for inspiration, and this instrumental tune reflects that sense of motion and place. Building momentum through interwoven melodic lines, “Kungshatt” offers a concise example of how Väsen connects traditional forms with understated contemporary invention.

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