Sami joiker and singer Marja Mortensson was born March 5, 1995. She grew up in the Svahken Sïjte reindeer herding region in Norway. Marja’s early life was marked by her reindeer-herding family and music grounded in South Sami traditions.
Marja Mortensson’s songs reflect her indigenous Sami identity, the importance of the natural environment, along with her love for reindeer husbandry and her dedication to the protection and revitalization of the South Sami language.
She was named “Young Artist of the Year” at the international indigenous festival Riddu Riđđu in 2014, which gave her the extraordinary opportunity to perform in Taiwan, Siberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Marja has studied and mastered the joik tradition for several years and has collaborated with acclaimed Sami musician Frode Fjellheim.
In early 2017, Marja released her well-received debut album ‘Aarehgïjre’ (Early Spring). A year later Marja released her second album ‘Mojhtestasse‘ (Cultural Heirlooms), a recording that highlights her vocal work and features Daniel Herskedal on tuba and bass trumpet; and Jakop Janssønn on percussion.
In 2019 she won a Spellemann (the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammy Award) in the folk music category for Mojhtestasse. That same year she released the album ‘Lååje‘ (Dawn) with Daniel Herskedal.
[headline photo: Marja Mortenson by Jarle Hagen]
Discography:
Aarehgïjre (Vuelie, 2017)
Mojhtestasse (Vuelie, 2018)
Lååje, with Daniel Herskedal (Vuelie, 2019)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.