Cosmologies by Marjo Smolander
In the album “Cosmologies” Marjo collaborates with different artists from different countries. West Africa is strongly presented. The album was recorded in living rooms and standard recording studios across four different countries, Finland, Senegal, Denmark and Mali. The driving force behind the album was the exploration of musical communication between artists from different cultures and how emotions and stories were transmitted to people who have different cosmologies. The musical traditions of the different cultures represented in the album are presented in an inspiring and fluent way. Music is not just music. It talks. It comforts. And it nurtures.
One of the main themes of the album is motherhood “Many of the songs have been inspired by parenting - growing up with it and the associated contradiction and guilt about my own inadequacy” Smolander opens the album’s theme.
The album is a diary, a statement and a portfolio all at the same time. Rough and honest stories combined with surprising and beautiful arrangements bringing you inside Smolander’s musical cosmology.
Tracklist
| 1. | Ténéré | 4:58 |
| 2. | Kukkani (My Flowers) | 5:22 |
| 3. | Mitä minä? (Anger) | 4:23 |
| 4. | Myöhästytään elämästä (Late for life) | 6:14 |
| 5. | Tiedätkö papa? (Do you know, papa?) | 6:17 |
| 6. | Toivo (Hope) | 3:42 |
| 7. | Mamba Kuri | 4:56 |
| 8. | Kéémaanu Senegal (The mystery of Senegal) | 4:01 |
| 9. | Sirkkala | 4:37 |
Credits
Marjo Smolander -- Finnish concert kantele, vocals, compositions and lyrics.
Eliza Boye Mouritsen (Denmark) -- violin and vocals (3,9) and percussions (3)
Ahmed ag Kaedy (Mali) -- guitar and vocals (1)
Mikko Hassinen (Finland) -- percussions (4,5)
Dawda Jobarteh (Gambia/Denmark) -- kora (2,6)
Macodou Samb (Senegal) -- bongo (8)
Jenni Hanikka (Finland/Denmark) -- bass, alto and sopranino recorders and vocals (3,9) and diz (9)
Yatma Thiam (Senegal) -- sabar (7,8), tama and tassou (7)
Babacar Faye (Senegal/Finland) -- sabar and tama (8)
Produced by Marjo Smolander
Recorded by Abach Coulibaly / Abass Studio Mali February 2019 (track 1), Arto Nevalainen and Mikko Räihälä / Studio Taajuusvarjostin Finland September 2019, March 2020 and May-August 2020 (tracks 1,3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9), Adama Diagne / LSDRECORDS Senegal December 2019 (tracks 7 and 8), Dawda Jobarteh January 2020 (tracks 2 and 6) and Antti Koukonen June 2020 (tracks 3 and 9).
Pre mixed and edited by Dawda Jobarteh and Mikkel Nordsø tracks 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8
Final mixed by Mikko H.Haapoja / Haapoja Studios
Mastered by Taito Hoffrén / Ääniä
Designed by Karoliina Halsti-Ndiaye
Photos by Ville Lehvonen
License
All rights reserved.
Finnish artist Marjo Smolander comes from Rääkkylä, a tiny village in Northern Karelia.
She plays a traditional Finnish instrument called Kantele. Marjo has regularly visited West Africa and as a result her musical style has evolved into certainly unique.
Marjo is also known from the duo Zäpämmät and Finnish-Senegalese Sunuy xale team.