Solju is a band where mother Ulla Pirttijärvi and daughter Hildá Länsman create a dialogue between traditional and modern Sámi culture, while intertwining connections to a diverse range of pop and global music.
In Solju’s music, the Northern Sámi joiks and songs playfully merge, weaving enchanting soundscapes. Ulla and Hildá, the front figures of Solju, proudly showcase their roots and the nuanced and invigorating expressive power that stems from joiking. Lively, earthy, vibrant, unique, yet also ethereal and evocative are words used by the artists themselves to characterize their music.
The compositions depict the everyday experiences of young Sámi women in contemporary times, as well as narratives inspired by traditional Sámi ways of life, stories, and worldview. In Solju’s music, one can sense the tangible warmth and intimacy of a campfire’s glow, as well as the resilience and perseverance shaped and demanded by the Arctic nature.
Solju’s debut album, “Ođđa Áigodat,” was released in 2018 under the Bafe’s Factory label. In 2019, the album won the “Best International Indigenous Release” category at the Canadian Indigenous Music Awards.
Their latest album, “Uvjamuohta” (Powder Snow), was released in 2022 (Bafe’s Factory) and it won the International Indigenous Artist/Group Recording of the Year 2023 by Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards in Canada.
Musicians
Ulla Pirttijärvi, joik vocals
Hildá Länsman, vocals and joik
Merve Abdurrahmani, piano
Joao Luis, percussions
Repkat Parhat, guitar
