Emil Kárlsen was born and raised in the multilingual community of Omasvuotna/Omasvunon/Storfjord near the borders between Norway, Sweden and Finland. Having grown up in a heavily Norwegianized part of the coastal Sámi community, he has been a notable voice of reclaiming language and revitalizing the Sámi culture, mostly through his own music combined with the traditions of yoiking. He infuses his artistic practices with his family’s story and the history of his region
In Nordic Sound #71, Emil sits down with Jameson to talk about his earliest childhood memories with music, and the experiences that ultimately led to his choosing to become a musician. He talks about the meaning and inspiration behind Nannámii before we get into a deeper discussion on the significance of music for Sámi self determination and cultural sovereignty. Of particular interest is the discussion around futurity, or the relationship between past, present, and future through tradition, and especially regarding Emil's work with wax cylinder recordings of Joik as part of his creative process, collaborating across the veil.