July 15, 2025
Heads or Tails Listening Post 389. Uusikuu’s sixth album has a pastoral title, but the group’s picnic basket has a false bottom, out of which emerges a cornucopia of song and delight. Led by Finnish singer-composers Laura Ryhänen and Mikko Kuisma, the ensemble also...
March 31, 2022
Zither and Yon Listening Post 341. Like a grand journey to distant lands, Barbora Xu’s debut album Olin Ennen (I Was) explores affinities and contrasts: In her delicate-resonant voice, the Czech-born artist sings ancient Finnish and Chinese poems, for which she...
October 28, 2021
Pluck Listening Post 324. Abbreviated version of Marjo Smolander’s biography: Born in the smallest village in Finland’s North Karelia region, she made the Sahara her second home and had to pull strings to get where she is today. Expanded story: It was in her fortunate...
July 7, 2020
Women, Water and Song Listening Post 260. Global and local are like yin and yang for the duo Zäpämmät. Though partners Marjo Smolander and Pauliina Kauppila are both deeply rooted in Finnish folk tradition and have degrees from Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy, Smolander...
October 23, 2017
Cold Wind, Warm Voice Listening Post 121. Our idea of northern latitudes is shaped by stories like The Call of the Wild and Dr. Zhivago—tales that focus on outlanders who venture into the cold for exploration or refuge. One benefit of world music and literature is...
