Naarattu laulu
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Niillas Holmberg - Vocals, recital and poems
Pauli Lyytinen - Saxophone, kalimba, percussion and live electronics
Lada Suomenrinne - Photography and cover art
Joonas Saikkonen - Mix
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The long-awaited colaborative album Naarattu laulu by the Sámi poet-musician Niillas Holmberg and saxophonist-composer Pauli Lyytinen was released on October 24, 2025 via Eclipse Music. The album is available on streaming platforms, CD and vinyl LP. The vinyl edition includes a 12-page poetry booklet featuring Holmberg’s poetry and photography by Lada Suomenrinne.
Naarattu laulu is a deeply evocative sonic work that fuses yoik, spoken word, saxophone, percussion and live electronics into a mythic and poetic soundscape. More than a traditional album, it is an artistic act of invocation—a ritual that retrieves something timeless from beneath the surface. -
Listen and buy at Band Camp
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Published in 2025 by Eclipse Music.
Luođik
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Jalvvi Niillas Holmberg - Producing, yoik, edit, layout
Pekka Aikio - Techinical producing, recording, edit, mix
Lada Suomenrinne - Photography
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Luođik is a yoik-soundscape album recorded on a Deatnu river boat. Jalvvi Niillas Holmberg rows the boat while reminiscing his ancestors and their relatives through luohti - yoik.
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Order here.
Listen on streaming services.
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Published in 2024 by DAT.
Guorga
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Niillas Holmberg - vocals and poetry
Jakop Janssønn - drums, percussions, synth, bass
Kristian Olstad - guitar and electronics
Herborg Rundberg - piano
Eirik Fjelde - piano and rhodes
Jo Fougner Skaansar - bass
Svein Schultz - bass
Marja Mortensson - vocals
Marius Neset - saxophone
Daniel Herskedal - tuba and basstrumpet
Eirik Johannesen - trombone
Magnus Wiik - mandoline
Oddrun Lilja Jonsdottir - guitar
Roger Ludvigsen - guitar
Eira Sjaalstad Huse, Kajsa Balto, Eline Åsbakk, Jakop Janssønn and Jo Fougner Skaansar - choir
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Yoik poetry is here. Guorga comprises Niillas Holmberg and Jakop Janssønn, in search of the lyrics and curves of a forgotten yoik. They are joined by some of the best musicians in Sápmi and Norway. Guorga plays cross-genre music forging a unique picture through song and poetry.
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Published in 2021 by DAT
Ylva
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Niillas Holmberg - vocals and poetry
Antero Priha - trumpet
Asko Keränen - iPhone and stuff
Stefan Kvarnström - synthesizer and percussions
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YLVA is four musicians from three nations with musical backgrounds completely different from each other: With Sámi yoik and jazz trumpet combined with various dancy atmospheres, Ylva brought something completely new and unique to the fields of electronic and indigenous music.
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Listen on Spotify
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Ylva was published in May 2016 by Bone Voyage Recordings.
Luođik
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Namgar Lhasaranova - vocals
Niillas Holmberg - vocals
Ole Jørn Myklebust - trumpet, xaphoon, vocals
Fredrik Ellingsen - guitar, electronics
Kjetil Dalland - bass
Jakop Janssønn - drums, percussions
Evgeny Zolotarev - chanza
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Nordic Namgar is fronted by the vocalists Namgar Lhasaranova from Buryatia, Russia (north of Mongolia) and Niillas Holmberg from Sápmi. Nordic Namgar started in 2013 as the Riddu Riđđu festival commisioned a piece by Ole Jørn Myklebust, an accomplished jazz and world musician.
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Listen on Spotify
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Live in Riddu Riđđu was released in 2014 by Finito Bacalao.
Luođik
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Niillas Holmberg - Vocals, guitar
Roope Mäenpää - Cello, piano
Jussi Isokoski - Drums
Linda Fredriksson - Soprano saxophone
Teho Majamäki - Percussions
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Niillas Holmberg & Roope Mäenpää duo was active during 2007-2019. The combination of Niillas’ singer & songwriter style and Roope’s classical background was known for touching melodies, poetic North Sámi lyrics and unique live experiences.
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Listen on Spotify
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Assimilašuvdna Blues was published in 2014 by Tuupa Records. Debut album Manin guottán girjji fárus was published in 2011, sold-out and unavailable online.
Ohcejohka - Saxophone, Joik and Birds
Saxophonist Pauli Lyytinen travels to Sápmi, to Ohcejohka (Utsjoki), the northernmost municipality of Finland and the European Union, to visit his friend, writer–musician Niillas Holmberg. The two artists go rowing in the river, improvise under the Sámi bridge, and make music with birds. Along the way, with researcher Karoliina Lummaa, they confront questions of understanding: do the birds understand them—or do they understand the birds? And does it even matter?
Sound design and field recording: Suvi Tuuli Kataja and Jussi Liukkonen
Script consultant: Elli Salo
Background research: Roosa Stenroos
Music: Niillas Holmberg and Pauli Lyytinen
Poem (in Northern Sámi and English translation): Niillas Holmberg
Production manager: Pinja Korhonen
First broadcast 2nd November 2025, BBC Radio 3
Produced by Suvi Tuuli Kataja
Juovssaheaddji - Tilbakeføreren - The Rematriator
Juovssaheaddji, a multi-diciplinary performance, explores the deep connection between spirituality and land rights. The performance delves into the inseparable link between Sámi spirituality and the connection to the land. Here, historical references are connected with modern land rights issues, and the story is told through complex artistic expressions – with music, dance, joik and poetry. The performance takes place on different levels in reality and time. With inspiration from actual historical events, the performance draws lines that show that a 350-year-old trial is also relevant today. The play deals with the trial of Juovssaheaddji, who is accused of trying to retrieve stolen property using the drum. As the narrative unfolds through time and space, it becomes clear that what has been stolen is the land itself.
Music by Jakop Janssønn, text and yoik by Niillas Holmberg, choreography and dance by Biret Haarla Pieski and Gáddjá Haarla Pieski, scenography by Outi Pieski.
Luovus - Symphony for Yoik and Chamber Orchestra
Roope Mäenpää’s first symphony Luovus is a highpoint of the collaboration between him and Niillas Holmberg. The symphony includes Niillas’ poem “Luovus”. The symphony was commissioned by the Lapland Chamber Orchestra and premiered in 2022 as John Storgårds as the conductor. International debut took place in Ottawa in 2023 when Storgårds conducted Niillas and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.