Professional Finnish Folk Music
Freija has been making music in its own folk-inspired style with a distinctive sound since 2005. The band’s appeal lies in its fresh, swinging and airy approach to folk songs, popular tunes and original compositions.
Comprised of professional folk musicians, Freija has received recognition for its work, winning both the Etno-Emma Award and Folk Album of the Year in 2011 with the album SydänJuurilla. Their 2015 album Liki was also voted the best folk music recording of the year. Freija contributed to the album Piilometsän portti, which was awarded Children’s Album of the Year 2022. Freija creates its deeply rooted music for both adult and young audiences. For many families with children, the band has become familiar through the album Kiekkumaralla and appearances on Pikku Kakkonen, Finland’s popular TV show for children.
Maija Karhinen-Ilo: lead vocals, accordions, recorders, kantele
Arto Anttila: bass, vocals
Matti Laitinen: guitars, mandolins, vocals
Lassi Logrén: fiddle, jouhikko, nyckelharpa, vocals
Feel The Folk Song
by Tove Djupsjöbacka
”What’s a folk song? Freija’s answer is broad enough to include both songs in Kalevala metre and evergreens, and both fit the band very well.”
The folk music quartet Freija celebrated ten years together last year and has clearly found its niche. There are surprisingly few bands out there exploring the field of newer folk songs in Finnish, some of them well known, some of them totally unknown. What’s a folk song?
Freija’s answer is broad enough to include both songs in Kalevala metre and evergreens, and both fit the band very well. Maija Karhinen-Ilo has one of the subtlest and most beautiful voices in the field, being nicely present in the song without any unnecessary vocal acrobatics. Arto Anttila (bass), Matti Laitinen (guitar) and Lassi Logrén (fiddle etc.) complete the whole with strong instrumental skills as well as great harmony singing.
They all have a personal playing style on their instrument, Logrén for example specialising in very tight, rhythmic riffs. Laitinen uses his special guitar tuning to provide an intense and broad sound.
An elegant and well-balanced recording, though there are not as many arrangement treats as on their last, fantastic CD SydänJuurilla (2011).
Liki – Very Near (2015)
Contact: freija (at) freija.fi
Photos here.