I am thrilled that Eadnán Bákti (To Woman) has dropped from Mari Boine’s new album Amame, a collaboration with the fantastic Norwegian jazz pianist Bugge Wusselhoft. There is alchemy between the two: her exploratory, expressive, tremulous vocals weave through his tender lyricism like a light embrace. Like a silk shawl around your shoulders, or lakewater warm from a month of midnight sun.

While it isn’t necessary to understand them to enjoy the song, the Sámi lyrics by poet Kerttu Vuolab are both lamentation and tribute: they speak to the experiences of women under patriarchy and to the enduring, divine feminine that abides within and around all of us. The album’s lyrics in English are my small contribution to the album. Rarely a direct translation, I hope they are suggestive, like that Zen saying: “Not the moon, but a finger pointing to the moon.”

Here is where you can pre-order Amame, which will be released on September 29, 2023. Not sure it matters, but I receive no financial benefit from your purchase. In fact, I have something to give away.

Ticket Give-Away

Because of a foot injury, I am unable to jump the pond and join Mari and Wardruna for Nordic Night at the Borgholm Castle on July 8th. It will be their first performance together since they brought down the stars (and a full moon) at Red Rocks in October of 2019. This show promises to be just as epic.

I have two tickets to give away. Send me a message pronto if you can use one or both. (And tell me how you will share your experience. Cuz it’s relationships, relationships, all the way down!)

Eadnán Bákti / To Woman