HURJA HALLA
Photo: Karoliina Gavrilov
Hurja Halla is a Joensuu-based Finnish folk music band. Its music is composed by three multi-instrumentalists: Janne Ojajärvi, Liisa Haapanen and Eve Pietarineb. Band’s music could be described as Nordic folk music with a twist of experimental touch.
Hurja Halla’s debut album Riitti (self-released) was published in January 2022. The album has been played in different radio stations around the Europe (World Music Charts Europe #14 in April/2022).
”It is this variety of tone and mood, often within a single composition, that makes Riitti such an absorbing listening” (Songlines Magazine UK, June 2022 issue, 4/5 stars review.
”Hurja Halla’s music encourages a freedom, independence and release of one’s spirit.” (Roots Music Report, USA, 21.3.2022, 4/5 stars review)
Hurja Halla:
Liisa Haapanen: cello, human voice, jaw harp
Janne Ojajärvi: harmonicas, jaw harps, overtone flutes, human voice
Eve Pietarinen: percussions, human voice
RITVA NERO
Photo: Jani Snellman
Ritva Nero is a Finnish headbanging folk group formed in 2017. The music of the band could be described as Party Metal Folk. Lead instruments played in the band are Soprano Saxophone, Finnish Bagpipes and Nyckelharpa, complimented by a rock style Bass and metal music style Drums. Folk dance tunes are cleverly combined with the metal tradition of our time in a contemporary manner.
Santte Salonen – Soprano Saxophone
Emilia Lajunen – Nyckelharpa
Janne Ojajärvi – Harmonica, Overtone Flute, Jew’s Harp, Wooden horn
Heikki Kylkisalo – Uilleann Pipes
Jani Snellman – Bass
Patrik Fält – Drums
OJAJÄRVI BLOM OJAJÄRVI
Photo: Jimmy Träskelin
Ojajärvi Blom Ojajärvi is the first ever Finnish contemporary ensemble built around the traditional overtone flute. They mix their soundscapes in a soup bowl of unlikely instrument combinations, throwing in the ancient sound of overtone flutes, the modern yet grounded pulse of beatboxing, and the rich and earthy sound of the cittern.
”There are regular folk music bands that unprejudicedly combine modern and tradition. One of them is Ojajärvi-Blom-Ojajärvi, formed by three experienced musicians, who have released their debut album.” (Aki Yli-Salomäki, YLE)
The ensemble started from an experiment where melodies from the ancient Finnish overtone flute were combined with different musical moods. This overtone lab focuses on the ancient tonal world of overtone flutes and other flutes with no tone holes. Ignoring genre or other limitations, it lets the flute sounds shine through beautiful melodic ambiances or trance-like beats. The trio’s repertoire includes both traditional tunes and original compositions.
Janne Ojajärvi – willow flutes, bass willow flutes, vocals
Venla Ilona Blom – beatboxing, vocals
Joonas Ojajärvi – cittern, vocals
JANNE OJAJÄRVI SOLO
In his concert Janne jumps smoothly from the world of blues to soundscapes of natural overtones and ancient timbres. With him he carries a mass produced instrument – harmonica. The sound of this steel sandwich is companied with the voices of overtone flute, throat singing and beatboxing. In this concert industrial and pre-industrial soundscapes will meet and get all mixed up.
JANNE OJAJÄRVI 