Mari Kalkun

My mother is born on the island of Kihnu, where the women still wear Estonian national skirts every day and also use cyclecars for moving around and my father in Southern region of Estonia, Võrumaa. People speak the dialect of võru there, which has a bit different sound and rhythm than Estonian. It seems equally important to me – keeping connection with the roots to know the origin of my power and looking around in the world to get a perspective.
Many of my song lyrics (e.g. „Üü tulõk") are written around World War II by võru poets, who are long gone now. In these songs there's a lot of the countryside and forest, urban life feeling from 1940s and 50s, that still dialogues me half a century later. Other lyrics are written by me or by Estonian poets, many of the songs being dedicated to my close friends or family.
Lots of material on „Üü tulõk" (meaning „The night is coming") is recorded at home – I like it when there's room for improvisation, sounds and remarks that are normally between songs & not saved. I don't believe in perfect music, I believe in personal music. For me, music has to be personal for the author to honestly speak with the listener.



P.S.
I work for a late night alternative music broadcast for Estonian radio please feel free to contact me about sending your songs.
The shows are archived http://klassikaraadio.ee/kuularhiiv?saade=81&kid=114