The third single from Kárlsen’s upcoming album is his first collaboration with Ivar Beddari – the powerful work of art “Mátki – Matka – Mäʹtǩǩ – Ferden”. The title means “The Long Journey” in four languages: Northern Sámi, Finnish/Kven, Eastern/Skolt Sámi, and Norwegian, with all four languages sung in a call-and-response storytelling duet. Following the release is a beautiful music video with Emil and Ivar, that can be watched on YouTube.

The song is an homage to both artists’ multicultural backgrounds and thus also a geographical journey through their ancestors’ wandering routes. Starting with Ivar’s grandmother wandering from Karelia toward the northwest, each chorus contains a traditional location yoik that takes us further north and west through the Tornio/Durdnos Valley to the coast on the Norwegian side, before continuing northeast to the final destination of Várjjat/Varenki/Varanger Fjord. Emil explains:

– As today’s streaming platforms have limited options and favor only one language, there was never an option for us to give this song a title in just one language. It has been so inspiring to work with Ivar and to find and use the many historical references and traditional yoiks. Everything is conveyed through a driving soundscape based on traditional folk instruments such as the kantele and jaw harp, allowing the adventurous spirit of the song to emerge through both storytelling and sound.

LISTEN TO THE SINGLE HERE

Emil Kárlsen was born and raised in the multilingual community of Omasvuotna/Omasvunon/Storfjord near the borders between Norway, Sweden and Finland. He infuses his artistic practices with his family’s story and the history of his region.  

Ivar Beddari is, like Emil, a borderless soul, hailing from an area where Norway, Finland, and Russia have drawn their national borders. He is a renowned actor, performer, playwright, and artist with Finnish and Sámi heritage.

The long awaited debutalbum from Emil Kárlsen will be out in April – pre-sale has started now!

LIVE DATES

03/04 – Påskefestivalen, Kautokeino
19/04 – The Norwegian Operahouse, Oslo (RELEASECONCERT)
30/04 – Sinus, Bodø
02/05 – Kulturhuset, Tromsø
04/07 – Alperocken, Øksfjord
24/07 – Markomeannu, Evenskjær

Emil Kárlsen:

Songwriter, actor, yoiker, and producer Emil Ráste Karlsen—better known under his artist name Emil Kárlsen—is an indigenous multi-instrumentalist born in 1997, originally from the coastal Northern Sámi community of Omasvuotna/Storfjord. Combining traditional Sámi yoiks with melodic pop songwriting and a strong band foundation, Emil’s music offers a deeply rooted sound that bridges generations and cultures.

At the core of Emil’s artistry lies a powerful intent: to build connections between people, places, and time. After a decade of performing in Norwegian with his award-winning band Resirkulert, Emil made the deliberate choice to write in his mother tongue, Northern Sámi, and to revive the tradition of juoiggan (yoiking) in the coastal Sámi areas—a form of resistance and reclamation of identity through sound.

Emil is also a celebrated actor with the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš and stars in the acclaimed Disney+ TV series To Cook a Bear. Yet, it is on stage as a musician that Emil feels most at home. Whether performing solo, with his band, or backed by a full orchestra, Emil Kárlsen delivers emotionally charged, magnetic performances that leave a lasting impact. Every concert is a living expression of his culture and charisma—never quite the same, and always unforgettable. Through music and art, Emil Kárlsen expresses gratitude that his culture not only survives but thrives.