From the Caribbean Sea, our Musical Road to Womex sets sail for the Baltic Sea to showcase a truly one-of-a-kind duo. Few acts dare to blend the almost extinct talharpa from Vormsi Island with a loop station, and even fewer perform it in a neo-zombie-post-folk style, infusing their sets with collective dances and comedic sketches that playfully tease subjects like cross-country skiing, agriculture, and wind turbines.
Enter Puuluup, a duo born in Estonia in 2014, and they do precisely that and much more. Comprising Ramo Teder, a multi-instrumentalist and pioneering master of looping, and Marko Veisson, influenced by West-African music and anthropology, they create unique compositions inspired by diverse musical traditions, from Finnish jouhikko to Sahel’s blues, and more. They’ve earned multiple awards in Estonia for their innovative approach to the talharpa and have performed internationally from Canada to China, amassing a cult following for their distinctive style.”
Could you briefly introduce your music to someone new at Womex and share the key influences and origins of your unique sound?
We play traditional talharpas from Vormsi island, Estonia. And we wear traditional black suits. Everything else is a little less traditional: our music may have a dancing beat, flirt with hip-hop and reggae, resemble a dark film soundtrack and spy around in the chambers of ancient talharpa players. All kinds of random sources of inspiration are similarly important – heroes from Polish TV series, wind turbines, old Estonian punk and sweetbread from Vormsi island. And the uncomfortable feeling that your neighbour’s dog might try to bite you while you take out the trash.
Could you share a personal anecdote or experience that significantly impacted your musical journey and the evolution of your sound?
Ramo was told by his flute teacher, that he has a tongue of a Neanderthal and thus is physically incapable of becoming a good flute player. That is why he made a career change and became a talharpa virtuoso. But the evolution of our sound is influenced mainly by the trams in November, Antonio Vivaldi and sports – cross country skiing is especially inspiring for us.
In a world full of diverse musical genres, styles, and traditions, how do you believe your music stands out and brings something fresh and exciting to the audience’s ears?
We created our own music style – neo zombie post folk. And as the sole representatives of that style we definitely have an advantage to stand out.
As Womex is not only a Worldwide Music Expo but also a lively global music funfair, are there any showcases you’re looking forward to attending and enjoying or artists participating that you would like to meet during those five days?
Of course! We’ll put on our sportswear and plan to run through as many showcases as possible! Definitely plan to check 79rs Gang, Elsan Ghasimi and many, many others.
This edition of Womex will take place in A Coruña. Have you ever been there, and is there anything specific you’re looking forward to doing, visiting, eating, and/or drinking in the Spanish city?
We are 100% focused on Womex and we try to avoid being enchanted by the probably many fantastic features of A Coruña. No tourism this time, just very, very, very serious work and maybe one beer.
Womex is a unique opportunity to share and showcase your music with new people and inform them about your upcoming projects. Could you reveal some of your plans for the future?
We plan to win the Eurovision song contest as soon as possible.
If you had to draft an invitation card for our readers to join you at Womex and enjoy your showcase, what would you write in it?
Puuluup is most praised for their live shows, which are enriched with elements of absurdly lovely choreography and dry humour.
- Puuluup will be performing at the Parrote Stage on Saturday 28th October from 11.15PM -
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0cgl5R4oh08by4NW2bSdiz