In traditional Sámi music songs and joiks are important musical expressions of the Sámi people and Sámi languages. The Sámi also use a variety of musical instruments, some unique to the Sámi, some traditional Scandinavian, and some modern introductions.
A joik or yoik is a traditional form of song in Sámi music performed by the Sámi people of Sapmi in Northern Europe. A performer of joik is called a joikaaja, a joiker or jojkare. Originally, joik referred to only one of several Sami singing styles, but in English the word is often used to refer to all types of traditional Sami singing. As an art form, each joik is meant to reflect or evoke a person, animal, or place.
Mari Boine is a Norwegian Sámi singer. She combined a form of Sámi joik singing with rock. In 2008, she became a professor of musicology at Nesna University College.
Transjoik, originally named Frode Fjellheim Jazzjoik Ensemble, is a Norwegian band that plays Sámi music, often characterised as an ambient electronic, techno and trance band, but with a dose of yoiking, so it is often considered world music.
Ingor Antte Ailu Gaup, or in correct Sámi spelling: Iŋgor Ántte Áilu Gaup, artist-name Ailloš is a Sámi actor, composer, and folk musician. He is the brother of professor and politician Ole Henrik Magga and visual artist Josef Halse.
Iđut AS is a Norwegian publisher of books and music, based in Ikkaldas, Porsanger kommune, Finnmark, Norway.
Tanabreddens Ungdom was a Sámi band established in 1973 in Karasjok, Norway. The band is known for being the first band to popularize the yoik with the record release on the record company MAI 7402, 1974). Since yoiking had been banned in Norwegian schools to some extent, the release of their album garnered a lot of attention and the album sold more than 20,000 copies and even made it on the charts (Norsktoppen).
Brita Maret "Sofia" Jannok is a Swedish Sami artist, singer, songwriter and radio host. Several times, she has publicly taken a stance in social media against the establishment of mines on land used by Sami reindeer herders. Together with Mariela Idivuoma, she was hostess of the Liet-Lávlut music festival in 2006. She has also hosted the program "Mailbmi – small people great music" on Swedish Radio P2, and the Sámi children's program Unna Junná for Yle. Her music is inspired from diverse musical influences, like folk, pop, jazz and yoik. She sings mostly in Northern Sami, but also sings and writes lyrics in Swedish and English as well.
Niko-Mihkal Valkeapää is a Sami musician, joiker, teacher, actor and politician.
The Sámi Grand Prix, often abbreviated as SGP, is a Sámi yoik and song competition organized annually by the Sámi Music Festival organization, featuring participants from all corners of Sápmi. While the majority of its participants have been from the Norwegian side of Sápmi, Sámi from the Swedish, Finnish, and Russian sides have been increasingly participating in recent years too.
Ulla Pirttijärvi-Länsman is a Sami joik singer from the village of Angeli, Finland. She began her career with the music group Angelin Tytöt, but left soon after to pursue a solo career. She performs traditional joik music with Western arrangements of contemporary instruments.
Johan Sara Jr. born 1963 is a Sami musician and a central Sami composer, producer, teacher, arranger, actor and performer of contemporary music with roots in the Sami tradition.
Snorre Bjartmann Bjerck is a Norwegian jazz musician. He has played in bands like "First Set", Jon Balke, Batagraf, and the sami band Transjoik., and is otherwise known from recordings and performances with others like: Morten Harket, Sissel Kyrkjebø, Mari Boine, Nils Petter Molvær, Bjørn Eidsvåg, Sigvart Dagsland, Frode Alnæs, Eivind Aarset, Annbjørg Lien, Arve Henriksen, Nils-Olav Johansen, Tim Whelan Trans Global Underground, Karoline Krüger among others.
Inga Juuso was a Sami yoiker, singer and actress in the film The Kautokeino Rebellion. She was known from her own band performances, and recordings and collaborations with musicians like Steinar Raknes, Håkon Mjåset Johansen, and Jørn Øien.
Håvard Lund, is a Norwegian jazz musician and composer, known from a series of recordings and collaborations with musicians like Anja Garbarek, Vigleik Storaas, Steinar Raknes, Håkon Mjåset Johansen, Farmers Market, Frode Fjellheims Jazzjoik Ensemble, later to become Transjoik, Trygve Seim Ensemble and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.
Cantus is a Norwegian women's choir founded in 1986. It consists of around 30 amateur singers, and is based in Trondheim. Their director is Tove Ramlo-Ystad.
The Áillohaš Music Award is an annual Sámi music award created to commemorate Nils-Aslak Áillohaš Valkeapää's 50th birthday in 1993. The winner of the award is announced on Holy Saturday in conjunction with the Sámi Grand Prix during the Sámi Easter Festival. It is conferred by the municipality of Kautokeino and the Kautokeino Sámi Association. The winner receives a monetary prize of 20,000 Norwegian crowns, a diploma, a piece of artwork, and a two-week stay at Lásságámmi.
Domna Maksimovna Khomyuk is a Kildin Sámi zootechnician, author, translator, and musician. She is also active in the revitalization of the Kildin Sámi language and culture.
Marit Gaup Eira or Šelgon Joreha Máret is a Northern Sámi reindeer herder, singer, and yoiker. She has won the yoiking category of the Sámi Grand Prix three times: in 1993, 1997, and 2003. She has also placed third in the same category three times: 1996, 1998, and 2002.
Sara Marielle Gaup Beaska is a Sámi musician, singer, and yoiker originally from Kautokeino. She performs both traditional yoiks and modern yoiks.
