Biography

Emil Kárlsen, from Omasvuotna in the far north of Norway, writes music and sings in the indigenous northern Sámi language, but with a sound you may not have heard from the Sámi homeland before: a modern indie sound colored by both classical strings and whirling sonic universes, with touches that may call to mind alternative country or jazz, as if in a dream, weaving in catchy pop melodies and poetic lyrics that explore that dreamworld. Kárlsen is already an accomplished musician, songwriter, producer, and artist, with credits that include 10 years (!) as the somgrwriter and frontman of the Tromsø-based indie rock band Resirkulert. In 2019 he was named Young Artist of the Year at the Riddu Riđđu music festival, which inspired him to dive even deeper into the sámi joik tradition that had always been important to him as a young Sámi growing up along the arctic coast. An idea began to form for a Sámi language album, which has now come to fruition as Kárlsen’s solo record debut, Nágirvárrái.