(Sapmi, Norway)
Progressive Sami Joik & Modern Strings
With his band V A S S V I K the circumpolar soundpoet Torgeir Vassvik provides you with a fresh
kick from the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Whether you listen to him in Norway, Canada, Japan or
Malaysia, you get mesmerized by his new vision of animistic Joik, the vocal art of the Sami
indigenous people of Northern Europe.
With magical energy the Nordic vocalist, musician and composer Torgeir Vassvik takes a unique
approach to the archaic, trancelike Joik of his people, the Coastal Sami. The Oslo based soundscape
artist stems from Gamvik in the Northernmost tip of the European mainland. His voice, like a
mirror of the landscape, is a rare, raw jewel with facets full of beauty. Joik has inspired the Sami
musician since childhood. But he also grew up with the mandolin music of his father and played in
several Indie Rock groups. Undertaking cool sound experiments he updates animistic vocal
tradition and percussion rituals for the 21st century.
As a great live performer and one of the most innovative Sami musicians these days Torgeir Vassvik
allies with congenial colleagues like the Kjorstad Brothers, young Norwegian violinists from
Gudbrandsdalen. Together they open their hearts for different genres – Jazz, Folk, Classical and
New Music included - and spread a fresh Arctic sound experience at festivals and venues around the
world.
V A S S V I K - a new dimension of Arctic Avantgarde Sami Joik!
Torgeir Vassvik – voice, guitar, framedrum
Hans P. Kjorstad – violin
Rasmus Kjorstad – violin
Audun Strype – sounddesign
vassvik.com
V A S S V I K Communication
Babette Michel Vassvik and Torgeir Vassvik
+49 176 45 77 67 01 and +47 478 58 647
mail@babette-michel.de and torgeirvassvik@gmail.com