Mari Kalkun's music has a timeless quality, creating an unhurried sense of time and space. Rooted in ancient Estonian and Võru traditions, her compositions blend kannel, piano and electronics to touch listeners' spirits deeply, even when the language is unfamiliar. Her new album "Stories of Stonia" (Real World Records) was named Estonia's Golden Record 2024 and reached number one on the Transglobal World Music Chart. The album, which earned a place on Songlines' Best New Albums shortlist and coverage from the Financial Times, BBC and The Guardian, has been performed across 20 countries. "The motivation for this album is my curiosity to explore ancient traditions and discover what my ancestors thought and sang, finding how it resonates in our era of skyscrapers, steel and metal," says Mari, describing how she recontextualises old stories for contemporary audiences.
Mari KalkunEE
Artist