Mari Boine

Mari Boine is a groundbreaking Sámi artist from Norway whose music pulses with the heartbeat of her Indigenous heritage. Born in 1956 in the village of Gámehisnjárga, she grew up immersed in the joik tradition—a vibrant form of Sámi vocal storytelling—but faced pressure to suppress her cultural roots in her youth. Her music rebelliously fuses these ancestral sounds with modern jazz, rock, and electronic elements, creating what she cheekily calls "Northern Indigenous club music." Through tracks like "Mu eadni" ("My Mother") and "Lean dás," she weaves Sámi language poetry with hypnotic rhythms, championing Indigenous rights and environmental stewardship while giving ancient traditions a contemporary voice.

A cultural ambassador and activist, Boine has spent decades breaking barriers—she once turned down an invitation to perform at the 1994 Winter Olympics over concerns about tokenism, only to later perform at the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize concert. Her recent releases like "Álva" and participation in Norway's "Hver Gang Vi Møtes" show her enduring relevance, blending spiritual joiks with global influences while keeping the struggles and resilience of the Sámi people center stage. Whether she's electrifying festival crowds or crafting intimate ballads, Boine's music remains a powerful bridge between ancestral wisdom and modern realities.

Genres

Pop

Experimental

Ambient

Folk

Rock

Jazz

Electronic

World

New Age

Indigenous

Latest Release

Alva

Mari Boine

Album - 13 Tracks - Released September 6, 2024