Arctic Winds During Iceland Airwaves

Katarina Barruk – Swedish side of Sápmi.  With her powerful and unique voice, Katarina Barruk is among Sàpmi's most popular artists. She makes atmospheric pop music, which combines joik, Ume Sámi texts, and elements of improvisation. On stage, she creates a space of vulnerability and strength that captivates the audience.

Niilas – Norwegian part of Sápmi. With an ear for details, Peder Niilas Tårnesvik has made his mark on the electronic music stage. His advanced soundscape includes both the melancholic and the encouraging. In this, he experiments with genres, expressions, and various sound sources – and includes pieces of his Sàmi background. Together, a glittering creation of sound.

Emil Kárlsen – Norwegian part of Sápmi. Emil Kárlsen writes music in Northern Sàmi and offers an innovative and dreamy soundscape. In this, he assembles melodic vocals, poetic lyrics, classical strings, and a mix of pop, country, and jazz. Kárlsen is also the recent winner of the Sámi Parliament in Norway's language promotion award for his efforts to learn and make the Sàmi language visible in the public sphere.

Nuija – Nuuk, Grønland. Nuija is a musical collaboration between Greenland, Denmark, and Iceland. The band plays indie rock with Greenlandic lyrics. Together, the members – Nick Ørbæk, Magnus Billmann, Lona Plato, Najannguaq Qvist, Valgeir Vernharoqòsson, and Kasper Roland – create a complex soundscape. The fragile and the powerful meet in a fateful melody. Nuija's «Takutillara» was voted the most Arctic song at late summer's Pan-ArcticVision in Vadsø. Greenland was also voted to host next year's Pan-ArcticVision.

Andachan – Sisimiut, Grønland. With innovative and energetic music, Andachan is an up-and-coming talent on the Greenlandic music scene. He combines Greenlandic with electronic beats and creates an inspiring fusion of international resonance.

Sound of the Damned – Nuuk, Grønland. Sound of the Damned combines death metal with elements of metalcore. "We grew up with music in our ears, and now, instead of just listening to others, we have started to create our own sound. We are trying to headbang our way to glory, join us in our madness!" urges the band. Songwriter Pani Enequist offers deep and honest words. On vocals, guitar, and drums are four, according to their own words, high-spirited guys: Sebastian Enequist, Allarneq Tuka Nielsen Lyberth, Herman Josefsen, and Josva Møller.

Tarrak – Nuuk, Greenland. Josef Tarrak-Petrussen, aka Tarrak ('shadow'), raps in Greenlandic. His latest album is autobiographical and depicts his upbringing while addressing socio-political themes relevant in today's Greenlandic society. With his music, Tarrak is a central voice among young Greenlanders who seek to define a modern and independent Greenlandic identity.

Elisapie – Nunavik, Canada. The Inuit singer and songwriter Elisapie Isaac mixes the languages Inuktitut, English, and French – and the genres of folk, rock, and pop. Within this universe, she explores the breadth and depth of modern indigenous culture. "As Inuits, we are not afraid to mix things up. We have a very eclectic culture; not one that holds us back, but rather a culture that is in transition," says Elisapie.

Silla – Nunavut, Canada. The duo Silla, consisting of Charlotte Qamaniq and Cynthia Pitsiulak, combines traditional and contemporary Inuit throat singing. They perform songs that have been sung by Inuit women for generations – and at the same time offer new, improvisational sound styles. Previously, Silla has made music together with the DJ Rise Ashen.

The Trade-offs – Nunavut, Canada. This duo offers Arctic soul music – with the deep, brooding voice of Josh Qaumariaq against an evocative musical backdrop created by Jeff Maurice. In the soundscape, lyrics in Inuktitut and English are woven together with blues and rock around universal themes such as light and darkness, closeness, and isolation.