Single release: How ancient yoiks will bend in the 2020s

Ánnámáret Luohteilbmi, the new band of Sámi musician Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman, performs traditional luohti (Northern Sámi yoik) in ethno-electro arrangements. The band's debut album "Luođit" will be released on 6 February 2025 on the occasion of the Sámi National Day, and the single "Sálmmo Duomis" will be released on 10 January 2025.

The single Sálmmo Duomis, released on Friday 10.1.2025, is the luohti of Tuomas Näkkäläjärvi (b. 1877). Tuomas was the half-brother of Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman's great-grandfather and he emigrated to America in the early 1900s when Sámi were recruited to teach reindeer husbandry to Alaskan natives. Tuomas, or later Thomas Nakela, later moved from Alaska to Canada and his later life is no longer known. In this old luohti, Ánnámáret yoiks Tuomas while recalling his story, and wistfully wants to know what was ultimately Tuomas' fate in the big world.

Ánnámáret’s yoiksound, reminiscent of ancient times, and the modern sound created by the Ánnámáret Luohteilbmi band combine to create an entity in which the old songs have been given a new interpretation in this time.

"The Luođit album reminds us of the importance of the luohti tradition. It is very important to cherish these values in this time without fearing that the tradition will change. On the album, the old luohtis have changed their appearance. In the spirit of rematriation, it is natural." Ánnámáret explains the idea behind the album.

The song is produced by Sami Zimmermann (keyboards, wind instruments and programming) and arranged together with the band members Janne Lappalainen (string instruments) and Sara Puljula (percussion and double bass). Luođit also features a guest appearance by yoiker Petrabiret Magga-Vars.

Sálmmo Duomis: Sálmmo Duomis: Composition and lyrics trad and arrangement by the ensemble

Single promo link: https://orcd.co/annamaretsalmmo

Ánnámáret Luohteilbmi band:

Ánnámáret aka Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman (yoik)

Sami Zimmermann (production, keyboards, winds and programming)

Janne Lappalainen (string instruments)

Sara Puljula (percussion and double bass)

Links:

Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman's newly published article reflecting on the Luohteilbmi concert (in Finnish): https://etnomusikologia.journal.fi/article/view/143676

Luohteilbmi Concert (Recording of the first part of Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman's artistic doctoral thesis):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdVeNDdlsI8&t=192s

The album has been funded by the Sámi Parliament and the Sámi Council.

More information:

Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman

anna@annamaret.fi

+358(0)40 540 5985