LEARNING JOIK AT THE UNIVERSITY

Frode Fjellheim is a famous Sami musician and producer. He has done a lot of memorable and historical stuff in Sami music - too many to start listing things... I think he deserves his own blog post. 

But he has for years now been teaching joik at the University. His course is called "Med joik som utgangspunkt".  and its a 60 hour course. 

I have thought about this course for many years, but never attended. Not only because I didn't have time but also because I didn't think this course was for me. Frode joiks the southern-semi way, and I am Northern Sami  - so I didn't think that this was a course I could attend. But I have seen now many Northern Sami people have done this course. 

My mother mentioned to me that we have forebears who are Southern Sami - so it is ok for me to learn joiking Southern Sami way. That made it easier for me.

After I started experimenting with joik about 4 years ago, I have discovered that I naturally joik more the Southern Sami style then the Northern Sami style anyway, so maybe this course is perfect for me. 

Some people asked me : why do you go this course - you know how to joik. And I say - yes in one way I do, I know the feeling of joik now, and I understand a lot about it - but I really want to learn everything others know about it.  

But in another way - I don't really know anything about it - because the "joik-police" have come for me many times and said that what I do is not joiking. And in a traditional view it is not joiking. 

When we where asked to make our own joik the first day at the course the joik I made was actually the only one that couldn't be called a joik, because it was arranged more like a piece of music would be. It was not built as a traditional joik, - or something that everybody would categorize as a joik. 

This did not surprise me I as am always the one who does things differently then everyone else, even when I am not trying. But he did say - this was based on joik - but it is a very futuristic and a very non-sami way of building the joik because it was arranged. So it was taking the joik to another level - to a level where some people might not call it a joik anymore - but a song. 

So if anything - this course will teach me why what I do is not joiking - and what I can do to make things more traditional, - if I ever choose to... 

IS IT OK FOR A NON-SAMI PERSON TO JOIK?

Is it ok for Espen Wensaas to joik?

When I did a lifestream on Instagram where I answered some questions about joiking I actually realized a few things about the use of joiking amongst non-samis.

I am realizing that a lot of non-sami people are actually using the joik as it is meant to be used.

But first; It is possible for everybody to joik. Physically it is possible for everybody to learn it. There are no physical restrictions to it.

If you are not Sami, and you want to learn joiking, I invite you to first ask yourself: Why is it that you want to joik? What is it that is missing in you that makes you want to incorporate a foreign culture into your own? Maybe its the connection to nature and the authentic ancient expression straight from the core (that is often what people who are learning about sami culture are looking for). 

Or maybe it is just for fun, to learn a new skill, to have fun with it?

The reason why you want to learn yoking will tell you if and when it is ok for you to joik.

The main thing is to always do it in respect of Sami culture.

The joik has a lot of uses and occasions and reasons to why we would joik, - and one of them is for meditation and grounding.

After experiences and conversations about the joiking and sami music I realize that joiks and sami music are often used for meditation purposes. This is fantastic, and I am really happy that people all over the world benefit from sami music this way! <3 br="" nbsp="">
If you are alone on the mountain or at your house or wherever in private- and you feel like joiking for the purpose of coming closer to nature, to yourself, to ground yourself or to enter meditative state, to honor gods, feelings and people or anything similar - I would encourage you to do so.

You are not being disrespectful to the sami gods if you do this. in contrary - I think you are honoring them - as long as the joik is coming from a respectful place in you. A joik is always the right thing to do to honor someone, so I think it is a really good idea to joik in those occasions.

But another thing is to step on stage, perform a joik, and call this a sami traditional way of joiking. If you do this, then you must be sure that you know what you are talking about, that you are respecting the sami culture, that you have done your research and history-lessons. Because the moment you go public, you might be asked questions you are not prepared to answer.

But for yourself you can do whatever you want, and as long as you have respect and good intentions with it, I encourage you to learn joiking as it is a blessing to have in life.

Have fun experimenting! 

Are you non-sami who wants to learn to joik? Why do you want to learn it? Do you think it is ok for non-Sami people to joik? What do you use joik for?

NEW SINGLE "SÀPMI"

The song "Sápmi" was the forst song Robin and I made together in 2015. We hadn´t met yet, so we did it over the internet... Sending files to each other utnil we were happy with the result. 

This song is now for me the symbol of gratitude towards my homeland - my inspiration and love, and all the people who supported Elin & The Woods in the finals of Melodi Grand Prix 2017. 

So many people voted for us, and did their best to show support and cheer for us. We will never be able to give back all the money they spent on voting and travelling to cheer for us, so I feel like this song is our way to give love back, and thank everyone for all the support we received. You are all in our hearts! 

We will be forever thankful for this, and never forget! It was a surreal experience for both of us, and we feel so lucky to have been able to experience this! I don´t even know how to put it into words!

💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚 

LISTEN HERE - LYTT HER - GULDAL DÀS

Here is our song on Eurovision 2017. I hope you like it! :D
Dá lea min lálla Melodi Grand Prix:as! Savan ahte liikot nu olu dasa ahte jienastat munno! 
Her er sangen vår på Melodi Grand Prix 2017. Håper dere liker så mye at dere stemmer masse på oss!

iTunes: http://bit.ly/FirstStepInFaithiTunes
Spotify: http://bit.ly/FirstStepInFaithSpotify
Tidal: http://bit.ly/FirstStepInFaithTidal
Deezer: http://bit.ly/FirstStepInFaithDeezer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elinandthewoods/
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ElinandthewoodsInstagram
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ElinAndTheWoodsTwitter

NEW BAND! ELIN & THE WOODS - ELECTROJOIK

Last year in august I met Robin Mortensen Lynch and we wrote a song together called "First Step in Faith - Oadjebasvuhtii". Robin has produced a few songs on Eurovision, so we dcecided to send the song there. Alot of people write we every year and encourage me to participate in Eurovision, so I decided..why not try? And wouldnt you believe! We are one of the 10 finalists! And there where over 1036 demos sent, so it´s hard to belive we where elected!

This means our first ever gig will be at Norwegian Eurovision 11th of march 2017!

We called the band "Elin & The Woods" and you can read about us here:

www.elinanthewoods.com 
www.facebook.com/elinandthewoods
Instagram and snapchat: elinandthewoods!

Follow us around, and be sure to vote on us if you live in Norway!

Håper du vil stemme på oss på Melodi Grand Prix!! 
Savan ahte mu jienastat Melodi Grand Prixas!! 

REBORN INTO NATURE

Photo June Bjørnback

The cover for my album "Eamiritni - Rimeborn" have pictures of me naked in the forrest. Yes, it is true. I am naked.
When I talked to my photographer June Bjørnback about this the first time I was very specific about what I wanted. I wanted to be naked - but not in a objectifying manner, not being sexualised in any way. I didnt want any of my female parts to show, because I wanted the picture to be as neutral as possible. And still I didnt want it to look like I was covering up something, it should look like natural. I wanted it to look natural, beutiful, fairy-taleish, almost creature-like and mysterious... I did not want a male photographer to do this, simply because I was afraid he would not understand my mission of the pictures, and I would feel more comfortable with a female photographer.... June was totally in on it, she totally understood me - so we went for it!

I never doubted that these where the right pictures to have on my cover, because it is my inside reflected on the outside in a way. I felt that I had gone back to my roots. To my culture, but also that my life was shifting and I was becoming a different person when I was working on this album. I felt a new beginning in every area of my life, actually - like a rebirth.  Thats why I wanted the word "born" in my album title. Rimeborn - as in reborn in/with rime. And all of us are born naked

I felt I had returned back to nature when I moved back home to the north of norway. I felt like I was reborn into nature, that I can be myself and show myself - who I truly am when I am in nature. Nature never pretends to be anything else then what it is. In society we are always trying to be better or different in different ways, often dreaming of being something else then what we are...  Clothes are one way we actually can do that.  The minute you put clothes on you are giving others a percetption of what you are, or what you want to be. Clothes are so powerful this way, it shows you identity so strongly. By being naked - without clothes and makueup and all that - I wanted to show myself that I am what I am, and I can go in whatever direction from now. I will go wherever feels natural for me to move forward to. 
For me these pictures are the symbol of a new beginnig. The newborn me. I was reborn into nature, and I want to keep growing here.

A RELEASE CONCERT IN THE FOREST

For Eamiritni -Rimeborn  album I actually had 2 releases. One in Europe last november (when I was touring Germany) and one in the Nordic countires in february.
The release in Norway was up to myself to plan, but things didn´t seem to fall into place. Nothing seemed to feel right when I was looking for venues and places to have my release-concert.

After a while I really had to sit down and think about this "Why didn´t anything feel right, and why do I have so much difficulity making decisions?"

So then I figured. What would FEEL right to do for the release. Without thinking of HOW or WHERE but what is it that would FEEL like the right thing to do.

ÁHKKU - MY GRANDMOTHER

Our grandmother Inga died in 2013. It is hard to explain what she meant for me. She was a person who held our family together, cause her home (Ravnastua / Gárdin) was a meeting place for the family and also tourists. She was a remarkable person. I don´t think anyone who met her could ever forget her. She always had the most memorable comments to things. My aunts had an idea to write a book about her, and it would be a great book to have!

My grandmother lived until she was 93, so she had a long life which she loved. She lived in Gárdin over 50 years of her life - and received a silveraward from the king for running this mountain house. She gave birth to 9 children, my mother included, and she was married to her cousin Julius - who unfortunately died when I was just a child. He died because of a heart failure while he was in the mountains and went to rest beside his tractor. She didnt want anyone else but him, so she lived alone for the rest of her life. 30 years approximatly she lived as a widow.   
To tell you about her is a task too big to even start, so I will stick to telling you about the song.

WHAT IS JOIK?

Yoiking is the sami traditional way of using the voice. When I tried to find information about it to share with you, I saw that wikepedia has alot of updated info on this! Here you go:


A joik (also spelled yoik), luohti, vuolle, leu'dd, or juoiggus is a traditional Sami form of song.
Originally, joik referred to only one of several Sami singing styles, but in English the word is often used to refer to all types of traditional Sami singing.
As joik originats from the Sami culture which is not a text based culture, there are no references to how and where joik originated. In the oral tradition legend tells that it was the faires and elfs of the arctic land that gave yoiks to the Sámi People. Just Quigstad who recorded the Sami oral tradition has documented that in several works.^[1] According to music researchers, joik is one of the longest living music traditions in Europe, and is the folk music of the Sami people.^[2]
The sound of joik is comparable to the traditional chanting of some Native American cultures,^[3] but non-verbal singing as such is by no means limited to these cultures.
With the Christianization of the Sami, joiking was condemned as sinful. The Norwegianization assimilation policy and the church and ecclesiastical movement's views on joiking as sin have played important roles in the devaluation. In the 1950s, it was forbidden to use joiking in school in Sami areas, and one of the reasons that joiking was controversial may be its association with noaidi and pre-Christian mythology rituals. Meanwhile, joiking was strongly rooted in culture and tradition was maintained. Today joiking is still alive and is also used as a source of inspiration and an element in contemporary Sami music.

 

A SAMI CHRISTMAS SONG!

Photo Geir Anders Hætta Berg.

Tomorrow I will release a christmas song in Sami language. Terje Andre Tovik Wollmann has written the melody, and I have written the lyrics for the song. The song is about the sami myhtological creature "Stállu".

About a year ago I met Terje at a concert in Oslo. I had not seen him for many many years. I only knew him because he is the ex-boyfriend of a girl I used to live with in Bergen.
I told him I was an artist, and he told me had started working as a music-producer, so we just figuered why not try and do something together. We kept in touch, and I told him that I had wanted to do a christmas song for may years, but never got around to it, and he was immidiately into the idea of making a christmas song together, and so we did!

The reason why I wanted to make a christmas song is that when I was a child I remember christmas as a very positive time of the year. I used to cuddle up with my duvet in a chair in front of the telly and watch Disney - cartoons, and other programs. It was dark season, so it was constantly dark outside, so we lit candles and spent alot of time togehter with my family inside playing games, making christmas decorations, bakery and toys and gifts of course.

#WESPEAKEARTH

A few months ago my dear collegue Sara Marielle Gaup (traditional yoiker in the band Àdjagas and Àrvvas) told me about her plan for the COP21 in Paris 12th of december 2016. This is a meeting with top leaders of the world where they will discuss the global warming and climate changes in the world.

She told me she had made a yoik, and she hoped that people from all over the world would yoik this yoik on the streets of Paris during this important meeting about our earth. She was going to ask sami artist and other to make their own version of the yoik, make a video and put it on youtube. She also asked if I would want to come to Paris and participate on this event.
I have thought about me going there since the day se asked, and I still want to go, but unfortunately my shcedule does not allow it. I am hoping my shcedule for next year leaves more blanks in it, so I will be able to do more things on impulse. Especially if it is for such an importnat cause as this!

I immidiately knew that I wanted to contribute to this. Because we are talking about our world, and there is nothing more important than our earth!  

HIRAS :: DEMURE

Waiting for my single to ble released!

LYNXIE

As you know my latest single is called "Lynxie" - and it is my cat! (Listen to it here)
In sami tradition it´s normal to yoik your pet, relatives, animals, nature and everything, so why not make a song to my cat, cause I love her!

I was sitting on the sofa at home with a guitar - which I rarely do nowadays, and Lynxie was sitting on the other sofa sleeping. I really love her, just looking at her makes me calm and happy. So I just played something on the guitar and started yoiking her... And that was the start of this song. The refrain is actually the part I yoiked to Lynxie that day on the sofa. So it is a yoik to my cat.

I decided to write her lyrics, to let it show what Lynxie means to me and what I have learned from her. I many times wish I have her life. She is just relaxing half of the day, and then she goes to eat and drink, and goes outside to play and enjoy. And the expressions on her when she cuddles - it´s like there are no worries in the world, and life is a joy... I definately learned to enjoy life more, to take time to relax, and do fun and things that make me happy. And to claim my own territory, be more stubborn, and don´t let others decide what I should do.

And it helps that she is the most beutiful cat in the world. I wanted her because he looks like a Lynx. She is of the american breed Main Coon - one of the biggest cats in the world. But she is actually not that big. around 5,5 kilos. We will see if she grows bigger...

INGA JUUSO - OUR QUEEN OF YOIK!

We call Inga Juuso the queen of yoiking. She died too young, almost 70 years only. She has done so much for Sami music and won alot of prizes. Sápmi will not be the same without her. Our inspiration and "mother."

 

 

FIRST GIG IN GERMANY!

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Oh yeah! My first ever concert in Germany went soo well! There where lots of people showed up for it, and it the concert went so well. I love the Germany audience, and have waited so loong for this! :D

It was at the Play Nordic Festival in Berlin. The event was called "Riddu Riđđu Festival in Berlin" and was a cooperation of the Nordic embassies, Folkelarm and Riddu Riđđu. This event was very sucessful with a very intrested audience. The event was a presentation of the two Festivals and a concert with me.

Taking off! Wings given as a gift from Mexico to Berlin.

I had such a great time in Berlin! We went shopping, and we went to a legendary pub also! I really like Berlin! I have been there a few times for dance workshops, butt his time was different! :D

Now I am just looking forwad to my tour in November!

PERFORMANCE AT PÆSKATUN WITH JOHAN SARA JR.

Johan Sara and me in the cottage before the performance.
 Johan Sara with space-suit for the occasion. 

I left the party after the TV-show debut at about 12 so I would have time to sleep before I had to rush back to the Airport and catch the early flight to Oslo and then Tromsø and Alta, to be back in Alta in time for the performance Johan Sara jr. and me had been preparing for Pæskatun during the Borealis vinterfestival and Finnmarksløpet. Eirik Tandberg and Trond Strifeldt held a lecture about the atars and astrofysics or something like that, and after the lecure Johan Sara and me would have a performance outdoors on the snowstage after the lecture. It was very windy and cold before our performance, and we were starting to think that we had to do the performance inside, but mystically the weather changed to better during our performance before the snow started again, and the wind started blowing again. Johan said this always happens, its like the weather knows when to be nice to him on outdoor performances. Very good! The performance was very strange for me. It was not very much singing in my behalf, like I usually do. Johan wanted me to improvise with sounds and noises, and I tried my best, but its very new to me do to that sort of thing, so it was challenging.

LIVE TV DEBUT ON NATIONAL TV

I´m being al nervuos in the dressing room just before my second appearance. 

Yes! I didn´t not make a fool out of myself on national TV! That is a great thing to know! If anything had gone wrong I would have felt terrible, but everything went great! If you did not have the chance to see it on TV you can watch it here:

http://tv.nrk.no/serie/hovedscenen-tv/mkmf60000213/08-03-2013

I am about 45:00 into the show.

What a unforgettable night that was! So many important and famous people gathered in one place! It was a bit of a crazy night for me, and when I greeted the King of Norway, it all got a little overwhelming for me!

Well, as you maybe know, this show was put on to celbrate the 100 years of womens right to vote, so it was a huge thing, and alot of people where involved in it. The prime minitster of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg opened the show with a speach about wimen in his life. I got to meet and greet alot of politicians and artists while I was there: Gro Harlem Brundtland, Ingrid Bjørnov, Kari Slåttsveen, Noora Noor, Tuva Syversen, Eir Inderhaug, Inga Marthe Thorkildsen, Aili Kestitalo of course, Kirsti Kolle Grøndahl, Wenche Myhre, Anne Grethe Paus, Kaci Kullman Five and many more!

A MILESTONE REACHED!

This week has been a lifechanging week for me. Strong words maybe, but it feels like it.
When they first called me before christmas to ask if I would join this huge event on the 8th of march -a live concert full of Norwegian celebrities on wimens rights day- I didnt believe it at first. It just seemed to good to be true. I didn´t dare to tell anyone because I was afraid they would laugh and say it was a joke or that I had misunderstood. But Nora Ibsen called me, and asked if I wanted to sing and joik and be a part of a HUGE TV-production for NRK1!

This is the biggest milestone in my life. Not only my carriere as a singer, but in my life. I have been working towards and dreamt about this all my life! I have a symphonyorchestra from Kristiansand and Stavanger with dirigent Halldis Rønning. She kicks ass! That orchestra kicks ass! I mean, this is a lifetime experience!  Not every artist gets the chance to do what I am about to do now! I have deep gratitude to Anne Røthing at NRK who actually got me in this show!

Go! Polmak!

Petter, meg og Einar foran Karlebotn skole

Da har man vært på Finnmarks-kjøretur igjen! Synes det alltid er like fint å få sett litt av hjemfylket mitt, og høsten er ikke det verste man har. Masse fine farger, og alltid masse fint å se på.

Forlatt lærerværelse

Petter Carlsen, Einar Leinonen og jeg kom fra Alta til Tana/Nesseby for å holde kurs i band, komponering og scene-trening. Kursene ble holdt på Karlebotn Skole, en nedlagt skole som nå står tom. Men vi syntes det var kjempestas å ha kurs der fordi, den SÅ virkelig forlatt ut, litt creepy, men stemingsfullt. Da jeg kom dit huska jeg tydelig at denne skolen nok var mitt første ordentlige møte med havet. Den ligger rett ved fjæra. Vi var på klassetur til denne skolen da jeg gikk på barneskolen. Da husker jeg vi var på eksursjon i fjæra og lærte alt om flo og fjære og tang ogsånnt. Sånne ting vi ikke har i Karasjok.

Alle klasserommene var utstyrt med spanskrør.

Nå sies det jo at det spøker der, og det tviler jeg ikke på. Jeg syntes skolen virka kjempeskummel allerede den gangen vi var der på skoletur, og nå så den enda skumlere ut, og det var mange som hadde historier å fortelle om skolen. Bla Magnus Vuolab som var kommet for å holde joike-kurs.

Magnus Vuolab og Inkeri Laitinen

Denne skolen er også The Blacksheeps sitt første øvingslokale.

The Blacksheeps sitt gamle øvingslokale

Mens vi holdt kurs så var det masse til ting som foregikk i Tana og Nesseby. Ut i Kulturen og Levende Lokalsamfunn var overskriftene. Det vil si masse konserter hele dagen overalt. Med Niko Valkeapaa, og landsdelsmusikere, kor og alt mulig. Jeg fikk ikke med meg halvparten, men jeg ska love deg det var ikke lite!

Niko skal ha Masterclass på Karlebotn skole

Så dro vi på konsert i Nesseby Kirke. Vindfullt utenfor kirka.

Inne var det fint!

Stemning i Polmak. Konsert-telt er satt opp.

På lørdag toppet det hele seg med Go! Polmak der alle kursdeltakerne fikk presentere det de hadde gjort de siste dagene. Imponerede ting! Alle på kurset hadde fått til kjempemye på den korte tiden de hadde, det var bare superarti å se! Gleder meg å se mere til dem i fremtiden!

Niko har release-konsert for sin andre CD iår! Produktiv fyr! 

Her e Petter Carlsen oppvarming for Trine Rein lørdag kveld. Skjønner ikke kordan han klarer å være så bra!

 

Jeg har vært i Alveland! I have been in Alveland (Elf-land)

Sist lørdag var det verdens første mytologifestival i Lundarhegni Naturpark. Temaet denne ganger var "Alveland" og jeg var headliner for første gang i mitt liv tror jeg. Kjempestas! Parken var så fin! Jeg skjønner godt at det blir kalt for Alveland og at alvene liker seg der! :D Odd -Erling Simensen og jeg spilte duokonsert på en utescene. Desverre regnet det innimellom, men folk koste seg, og vi fikk tak over scenen. Superkoselig scene mellom to berg.

Odd-Erling og jeg

Bilde av meg på plakaten

Gården sett fra festivalområdet

Alvebekken kansje?

Veien fra gården til festivalområdet

Bål for matlaging

Øving på pil og bue

Backstage

                                       

Gården vi overnattet og som festivalen var på.

Salg av kunst og håndverk

Teater om alver

Lundarhegni Amfi

Kattungene på låven