VÄRTTINÄ

When, in 1983, in the small town of Rääkkylä, in northern Karelia, sisters Sari and Mari Kaasinen founded a youth band inspired by the ancient songs of their region, no one could have imagined that they would be creating one of the most important groups in the history of European folk music. Today, Värttinä is not only a symbol of Finnish traditional music but also a band that has redefined the way we think about folklore – boldly, modernly, and without compromise.

Their musical inspirations lie deep in Karelia – a region on the border between Finland and Russia, where ancient runic songs, female polyphonic singing, and the oral tradition of transmitting history originate. It is the vocals that have become Värttinä’s hallmark. The distinctive, powerful harmonies of the three vocalists sound both raw and incredibly precise, conveying something primal yet utterly contemporary. Accompanied by violin, accordion, kantele (the Finnish national instrument, a type of zither with a trapezoidal body), flutes, guitar, and drums, they create the band’s unique, exceptional sound.

The breakthrough came with the album Oi Dai in 1991. It was then that Värttinä moved beyond being a Finnish phenomenon and began to conquer the global stage. Subsequent albums and tours cemented their position as one of the most important world music bands of the 1990s, and their work began to be regarded as a model for a modern approach to tradition. The band also co-wrote the music for the musical version of The Lord of the Rings in Toronto and London, demonstrating that their musical language is equally at home outside of folk contexts.

After more than forty years, Värttinä still sounds fresh. Their 2025 album, Kyly, their fourteenth studio album, was warmly received by critics and listeners alike, confirming that this band operates not through sentimentality, but through true artistic energy. Their concerts are intense, full of rhythm and emotion. Värttinä demonstrates that traditional music doesn’t have to be calm or predictable. It can be bold, tense, and utterly contemporary—all while still telling stories from centuries ago.