Áššu – Luoteniegut (Nordic Notes / CPL-Musicgroup, 2025)
Áššu, the trio led by veteran Finnish Sámi singer Ulla Pirttijärvi, intertwines traditional joik with contemporary sounds on Luohtenlegut. The group’s name, meaning “embers,” evokes the enduring emotional and cultural warmth at the heart of their sound.
Many tracks on the album emerged from Pirttijärvi’s dreams, taking shape as captivating joiks inspired by animals, natural forces, and personal connections. Based in the Sámi village of Angeli in northern Finland, her music reflects a deep bond with the landscape and its inhabitants. Reindeer herding, a key aspect of daily life in the region, informs both the lyrical content and spiritual tone of the album.
Through dreamlike imagery and subtle humor, Luohtenlegut captures a living tradition where people, animals, and the elements remain inseparable, both in memory and in music.
Buy Luohtenlegut.
Author: Tyler Bennet
