Selected DJ-gigs worth mentioning
In his quest to modernize sámi music, DJ iDJa is combining joik and sámi language with house and techno influences.
He has produced multiple singles and one album, with one of his tracks placing 2nd as «Track of the year» at NRK Sápmi. Recently, he’s also gained experience as a movie producer, with his art video «Techno Áhčči» being nominated for the Golden Chair at the national Short Film Festival in Grimstad, Norway. It has later been shown at film festivals around the world.
DJ iDJa has played on all bigger venues in Sápmi, ranging from a full Báktehárji in Guovdageainnu with 600 people - to a small tent on the plains of the Márkomeannu festival with 50 people. His passion for electronic music on one hand - and sámi joik and language on the other, comes togehter in his DJ-sets.
Check out this Sámi disco mix he performed at the Riddu Riđđu festival:
To see a highlight-video of the different places DJ iDJa has played, watch this video on TikTok.
Performance at Museum Europäischer Kulturen, Berlin (2024)
DJ iDJa performed at the Museum Europäischer Kulturen in Berlin on September 14, 2024, delivering a two-part performance. The first half featured ambient compositions using field recordings from Sápmi, while the second half consisted of electronic dance music incorporating joik elements. The set concluded with the premiere of "Ária," his collaboration with Adrian Angelico. The performance was part of the museum's exhibition "Áimmuin. Re-Connecting Sámi Heritage" during the 20th European Cultural Days: Sápmi 2024.
Ijahis Idja (2024)
iDJa performed at Ijahis Idja festival in Inari, Finland in August 2024, marking his first main stage DJ set at a major Sámi festival. Playing alongside DJ Ailo after Mari Boine's performance, the set featured a visual show and represented a milestone in his career. This performance completed his journey through all major Sámi festivals, evolving from club tent performances to main stage recognition, and demonstrating the growing acceptance of electronic music within Sámi cultural spaces.
The first Sámi rave (2024)
iDJa performed at the first Sámi rave in July 2024, held at a dedicated electronic music stage called "Vuopmi" during the Márkomeannu festival. Playing energetic club music that combines joik with electronic production, this historic event marked the first time a major Sámi festival created space for underground electronic music in its 25-year history. Playing alongside DJ KO, iDJa delivered energetic club music that combines joik with electronic production.
Gigs during Tartu 2024
In January and June 2024, iDJa was invited to do an DJ-set in regards to Tartu 2024. The first gig happened at an outdoor stage in Võru, Estonia, and marked the grand opening of the culture year. For the 2nd one, which took place in Tartu, iDJa did a DJ-set for 600 people at The Estonian National Museum, following a grand performance of the Paris Philharmonic Choir.
Tartu was Estonia's European Capital of Culture 2024, hosting 1000+ cultural events across Southern Estonia. The program focused on "Arts of Survival" - sharing knowledge and skills for a better future, while aiming to boost both tourism and long-term regional development. iDJa played DJ-sets featuring his own ambient and house tracks.
5 hour DJ-gig at «Agenda Nord-Norge»
Agenda Nord-Norge is an annual conference that brings together leaders, experts, and stakeholders from various sectors and regions in Northern Norway. The conference aims to discuss the current challenges and opportunities facing the region, such as climate change, energy transition, health crisis, and social development. The conference also provides a platform for networking, learning, and innovation. In 2023, the conference was held in Bodø - the capital of Nordland county. DJ iDJa was here invited to do a special 5-hour set to contribute to the atmosphere, as the participants gathered for socializing on Wednesday the 9th of November. Being the longest set DJ iDJa has ever played, he took the crowd on a musical journey, combining Sámi music with his passion for deep house, techno and ambient. «I’m reminded of the power of gatherings like this to unite decision-makers and influencers. It’s a opportunity to orchestrate a symphony of ideas addressing our time’s most critical challenges, in particular the climate crisis. Let’s amplify the conversation and tune into the rhythm of positive change», the artist wrote on Instagram prior to his DJ-set.
DJ-gig at Berlinische Galerie and the grand opening of “Edvard Munch. Magic of the North” (2023)
In September, DJ iDJa was invited to do a special DJ-set in regards to the opening of a Munch exhibition in Berlin, which was put together by Berlinische Galerie in collaboration with the MUNCH Museum in Oslo. In this DJ-set, DJ iDJa combined some of his own field recordings from Sápmi with poems in the northern Sámi tongue - as well as a selection of electronic music stretching from ambient to deep house and slow techno. A recording of the set was published on Mixcloud, and you can stream it here. You can also see a small video-recap below:
DJ-gig at festival in Prague, 2023
In the summer of 2023, DJ iDJa was invited to do a DJ-set in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. With over 60,000 participants in the parade, Prague Pride is a big event in the city - with multiple events happening each day for an entire week. DJ iDJa played on the main outdoor stage on the very opening night of the entire Pride week, and introduced joik and Sámi electronica to several hundred in the audience - who had turned up to dance and celebrate, despite somewhat unstable weather conditions.
DJ-gig at Márkomeannu (2023)
In the end of July, DJ iDJa played two gigs at the Márkomeannu festival in northern Norway. Here he premiered new songs he’s working on together with other Sámi artists, and the songs received great response from the audience. You can see at re-cap of the gig below:
DJ-gig at Oslo Concert Hall (2023)
DJ iDJa joined forces with DJ Ailo to celebrate the Sámi National Day. On Saturday Feb 4th, two days before the big day, they performed a DJ-set together at the Oslo Concert Hall. DJ iDJa went on to perform a second DJ-set on the day itself as well (Feb 6th) at a venue at down-town Oslo, which was filled to its core.
DJ-gig with DJ Ailo at Riddu Riđđu (2022)
The Riddu Riđđu festival is a yearly music- and culturefestival in Olmmáivággi in Gáivuona municipality in Northern Norway. In 2022, DJ iDJa went on stage together with DJ Ailo for a special b2b DJ-set in «Club Lávvu». As the name suggest, this was a special club tent in the festival area. The tent was completly full, with many being refused entry due to the limited capacity.
Photo by Mads Suhr Pettersen.
Video summary:
Concert at the Guovdageainnu Easter Festival (2022)
One of DJ iDJas biggest gigs, was the one he had at the Easter Festival in Guovdageainnu in 2022. On easter eve, he performed together with other Sámi artists for a sold-out venue - counting around 600 attendees. The same night, he was also one of the judges for the song competition «Sámi Grand Prix», which featured artists from all over Sápmi - and which was aired on national TV.
Photo by Mads Suhr Pettersen.
Video summary:
Concert at main stage Riddu Riđđu (2021)
DJ iDJa has performed at the Riddu Riđđu festival two times - both in the club tent, as well as on the main stage itself. In the covid year 2021, the festival was runned with strong restrictions. Still - DJ iDJa got to perform together with southern sámi talents and vocalists ÅVLA and Ramona Linnea on the main stage, with one of their songs even being broadcasted on the national TV-show «Festivalsommer».
A recording of the song which was aired on TV is availible below (with permission from NRK).
Concert at Røros Pride (2021)
For the first ever edition of Pride in the southern sámi village Røros, DJ iDJa and ÅVLA did a collaboration by doing a concert together at the market square. Røros Pride became a huge success, with hundreds attending the parade.
Festspillene Helgeland (2021)
Festspillene Helgeland is a one of the biggest festivals in Northern Norway. In 2021, DJ iDJa went on stage to perform songs from his upcoming album release «Gieriesvoete» together with southern sámi talent ÅVLA and Ramona Linnea.
Here’s a recording of the performance of the song «Aarvoes» from that festival, featuring ÅVLA on vocals:
Concert at Riksscenen (2020)
The Norwegian Hub for Traditional Music and Dance, Riksscenen, is a venue in Oslo, Norway. Riksscenen curates all kind of events serving all kinds of music - including Sámi. In January of 2020, shortly before the covid pandemic lock down society, DJ iDJa went on stage here together with southern sámi talent ÅVLA. The concert marked the first one where the talents exclusively played their own music.
Márkomeannu (2019)
The Márkomeannu Festival is a festival that is organized at the border of Tjeldsund municipality in Troms and Finnmark and Evenes municipality in Nordland at the end of July each year. Here, they also have a «club tent» where DJ iDJa performed in 2019. The concert also marked the release of his debut single «Ráhkusvuohta».
Here’s a visual DJ-mix of the music he played in the opening:
Video summary: