Beats and throat singing: Sami DJs tap into growing pride in Indigenous identity

"We both live in maybe the most impractical place if you want to be a successful DJ, laughs Alice Marie Jektevik, one half of Article 3, a Sami female DJ collective. Jektevik, 36, and her collaborator, Petra Laiti, 30, reside in a rural village in the far north-east of Norway. But living in Sapmi the region across northern parts of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia traditionally lived in by Sami people has proven to be central to their success, providing the inspiration for much of their work."

"Like much of their generation, Jektevik says they live in a mixture of old and new. We want that traditional knowledge that we never got and we want that connection, but we also live in a world where you go and be hyper-modern or travel around a lot and DJ for money. Article 3 mixes blend joik a traditional Sami vocal style beats and throat singing."

Alice Marie Jektevik and Petra Laiti form Article 3, a Sami female DJ duo based in a rural village in north-east Norway. Living in Sapmi provides inspiration from fishing, hunting and traditional handicrafts as well as modern DJ culture. Their sets blend joik, throat singing and electronic beats, creating a holistic fusion of old and new. Sami DJ culture has grown from a few male DJs to many female performers and Indigenous-focused club nights. Performance spaces include outdoor raves in forests or snowbound darkness and dark indoor club spaces during summer festivals. The duo balances traditional knowledge with contemporary touring and paid gigs.

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