Kautokeino artist Lávre draws inspiration from his Sami background. “The culture is being rediscovered thanks to young people with the courage to go on,” says Eirik Aune Hansen at the youth center in Alta.
/ 14/02/2020 / Kristian Dugstad
The celebration of the Sami National Day is coming to an end at the youth center Huset in Alta. A group of people are sitting on a sofa playing video games. On stage, a young man in a Sami jacket is packing up his guitar.
Lávre Johan Eira started his music career just a year ago, but has already made a mark.
– Music came to me by surprise. After living abroad for a year, I suddenly felt the need to write. It turned into music and after that I've kind of kept going.
Online, he describes himself as an “indigenous artist inspired by the tranquility of the tundra,” and he has clearly struck a nerve. Despite 2019 being just the beginning of his career, he has managed to play in both Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Norway.
Exactly one year ago, Lávre's music career began. Every year, Huset organizes the Gigant music camp for young artists and songwriters. Here he recorded his first released song. Beaivenieida.
– Gigant was an important experience for me. I brought with me a song that was a bit out of the blue. It was very exciting to work with producers in the studio, who could help me find a direction. Since then, I've been working on music.
From there, things have gone quickly for the 19-year-old from Kautokeino. Last week, he was nominated for the Young Artist of the Year award at the Sami Music Awards and participated in the songwriting camp Arctic Song Lab during Sami Music Week.
The Huset The goal is precisely to create an arena where young artists and songwriters can meet a music industry that is often out of reach.
– It's like a triangle. You have the tip at the top, the narrow field of professionals, and below is the broad level of amateurs. We want to position ourselves in the middle and make sure they meet. Then things happen! There will be bullets and gunpowder, says Eirik Aune Hansen, youth consultant at Huset.
February 6th and May 17th are two equal days here. The Sami culture is an important part of the identity of many and this is becoming more and more aware. There is therefore great interest when the Sami National Day is celebrated with a cultural evening.
The young people meet around the Sami language, Sami food and, not least, Sami music.
– Lately I have been more and more inspired by the Sami and traditional, and by the joik. I bring it into my ambient and dreamy soundscape, says Lávre.
He is not alone in looking to his own Sami culture and heritage. Eirik Aune Hansen at Huset believes this is a trend of the times.
– It's a very lucky combination of young people and determination. I think it's great that the culture is being rediscovered and renewed. It's much more accepted now to perform Sami music and mix it into today's pop, he says.
Artists such as KEiiNO, Biru Baby, Slincraze and ISÁK explore the Sami identity. Sometimes in prime time.
– ISÁK actually met here during Gigant at Huset. When Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen and Daniel Eriksen ended up in the same studio, it was done. I think they have helped break some barriers and that is important.
