The Sámi musician and singer Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman, who is behind the artist name Ánnámáret, grew up between two cultures: the modern Finnish and the traditional Sámi. Through her studies of archival recordings of the unique singing style joik, Ánnámáret has learned the tradition from the nomadic reindeer herders and created her own interpretation of the style. In Ánnámáret’s work, joik is supported by somber electronic soundscapes created in collaboration with Finnish musician Turkka Inkilä, as well as musician Ilkka Heinonen’s string playing on the traditional lyre instrument jouhikko. Together, the trio creates breathtaking and intense encounters between the old and the new, evoking thoughts of Arctic landscapes as well as desolate industrial scenes.
A concert with Ánnámáret is an audiovisual experience, where images from video artist Marja Viitahuhta are in constant dialogue with the music, providing the audience with a holistic experience of Sámi culture. Images of reindeer, Sámi nomads, and lonely landscapes underscore the themes in Ánnámáret’s joik and take the audience on a journey across the tundra. Ánnámáret released her second album Bálvvosbáiki in August this year. In the album, she explores everyday life for the Sámi in 2024 and how ancient Sámi traditions continue to resonate in the modern age. Ánnámáret is an artist who must both be seen and heard, which can be experienced in November when she takes the stage at ALICE with her audiovisual show.