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Hutsul Warrior Song for Ukraine • with Nikolaj, Marian, Martin & Michal

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Hutsul Warrior Song for Ukraine • with Nikolaj, Marian, Martin & Michal

While in the Czech Republic a few months after Russia invaded Ukraine, a group of musicians from different cultures within the Carpathian Mountains (Valach from the Czech side and Hutsul from the Ukrainian) came together to play a Hutsul warrior song for Ukraine.

Covid Mashup • with Antti Järvelä, Esko Järvelä & Maija Pokela

Covid Mashup • with Antti Järvelä, Esko Järvelä & Maija Pokela

Here’s a Finnish/American musical mashup of traditional tunes from my final Otherlands collaboration of this first year. Lockdowns hit hard around the world while I was in Finland and the gigging landscape changed in a big way. Testing the waters with Antti Järvelä (guitar), Esko Järvelä (fiddle), and Maija Pokela (kantele, voice).

Love Song From Kauhava • with Maija Pokela & Antti Järvelä

Love Song From Kauhava • with Maija Pokela & Antti Järvelä

After a couple weeks in Kaustinen, I hit the country roads and headed southwest to Härmä. There I spent the afternoon with a great vocalist and kantele player, Maija Pokela, and guitarist Antti Järvelä on a rare happy love song from the region.

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Kaustinen area, Finland (Spring)

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As we entered our second month of coronavirus lockdown near Kaustinen, Finland, the days became brighter and signs of spring were around. Hikes continued, folks started to cautiously meet and make music, and I started to take the odd country road just to see where it may lead.

 

Finnish Cabin & Fiddle House • with Esko Järvelä [OTHERLANDS: Finland]

Finnish Cabin & Fiddle House • with Esko Järvelä [OTHERLANDS: Finland]

Winter turned to spring as coronavirus took over and we hunkered down in cabin in the small town of Kaustinen, Finland. It’s a place known for its strong fiddling tradition, and Esko Järvelä helped show me the ways.

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Kaustinen area, Finland (Snow)

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We jumped a continent and a few climates when departing India to Finland in March 2020. Two days later, the borders closed due to coronavirus and we would call a cozy cabin in Kaustinen our home for the next two months. For the first half, winter was winding down, but not before experiencing our first snows in 5 years. The world was shutting down around us, but thankfully we could still get out and hike.