Áššu – Sami Yoik

Áššu means “glow” in Northern Sami  language– it is not just a name, but a clear signal of what awaits, a musical encounter where ancient yoiks are carried forward by a glow that has never faded. The trio consists of Ulla Pirttijärvi, one of the most prominent Sami voices of our time, together with two innovative musicians: Kenneth Ekornes on percussion and Olav Torget on guitar and ngoni.

The music in Áššu rests on traditional yoiks and newly written compositions by Ulla Pirttijärvi-Länsman. The music and arrangements reflect a musical axis from the Arctic Circle via Brazil to West Africa, where Kenneth’s background in Brazilian rhythms and Olav’s anchoring in West African traditions take the yoik to new dimensions. The result is a living fabric of rhythms, sounds and stories.

Áššu was already internationally acclaimed with her debut album, which was awarded the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and highlighted in the British Songlines. The new album “Luohteniegut” was released in February 2025.