Alice Marie Jektevik and Petra Laiti, the duo behind the Sámi female DJ collective Article 3, live in a rural village in far north-east Norway, an area they admit is 'maybe the most impractical place if you want to be a successful DJ'. Yet their location in Sápmi—the traditional Sámi region spanning northern parts of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia—has proven central to their success, providing inspiration for their work.
Article 3, formed in 2018, blends joik (a traditional Sámi vocal style), beats and throat singing. The duo note a dramatic shift in Sámi DJ culture: where once there were only a handful of male DJs, now many female DJs have emerged, and there is a growing appetite for Indigenous-focused club nights. 'Outdoor raves in a forest or out in the snow in the winter darkness, as well as dark indoor club spaces during summer festivals,' Laiti describes their gigs.
The rise of Sámi DJ culture is driven by a newfound pride among younger Sámi people, Laiti says. 'People our parents' age were raised with shame and assimilation... that made people suppress their identities.' At their nights, young people in their 20s discuss traditional handicrafts and garments with aspiration and pride. 'You can really see... young people take pride in their identity and have a stronger sense of belonging,' she adds.
On Saturday, Article 3 will bring their night—featuring Sámi and global Indigenous music with live visuals—to Kirkenes, Norway, for the Barents Spektakel art festival. The theme this year is 'the border crossed us', marking the 200th anniversary of the northern border separating Finland, Russia and Norway. Laiti and Jektevik, from the Finnish and Norwegian sides of Sápmi respectively, are acutely aware of how borders complicate daily life for Sámi people, affecting arts funding and career choices. 'You could call it forced mobility,' Laiti says, as artists must strategise which nationality to build their career under for the best opportunities.
The duo's main aim is to promote a 'Sámi-safe, Indigenous-safe club space' where people can freely enjoy themselves. A well-known joik over a good beat creates an incredible feeling on the dancefloor, Laiti says. 'That usually gets people so overjoyed... It's one of the biggest sources of professional joy I've had, for sure.'
