Ahead of the 8pm concert, join Songlines Editor-in-Chief Simon Broughton for a 30 min pre-concert talk with Norwegian Saami Yoiker, Marja Mortensson.

Marja Mortensson, a young South Saami yoiker and singer from Svahken Sïjte reindeer herding district, in Hedmark County (Norway), has a remarkable voice. For this special Songlines Encounters performance, Marja will be joined by jazz tubist Daniel Herskedal, who arranged and orchestrated the Norwegian Grammy Award winner’s latest album ‘Raajroe – The Reindeer Caravan’.

Born into a reindeer herding family, Marja’s life, as well as her music, are both firmly rooted in the South Saami way of life. Her songs centre different aspects of her indigenous Saami identity, e.g. the closeness and importance of the environment, as well as both her love for reindeer husbandry and her commitment to the protection and revitalisation of the South Saami language.

In Sept 2021, the Norwegian Grammy Award winner released her latest album Raajroe – The Reindeer Caravan. The album has been beautifully arranged and orchestrated by Daniel Herskedal, who is featured on the album as well, alongside Jakop Janssønn and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra KORK. The album is a fitting tribute to the oral tradition of the Indigenous Saami people.

Yoiking, being an oft-silenced tradition drawing upon centuries old melodies, has finally met its musical counterpart in the sound of the orchestra. Once again, Marja Mortensson has given the South Saami yoiking tradition a new, fresh dimension to discover.