Young artist of the year

Marja Helena Fjellheim Mortensson is the young artist of the year. She has just completed upper high school specialising in music and has already received Hedmark county’s cultural award. She has played for the Norwegian king, the Sami parliament and now she is about to play for the Riddu audience!

Marja started writing her own songs already in high school. Bringin forth a message through music gives her more than just talking. Her songs are about closeness to nature, predators issues, the fight for the reindeer herding and Sami language. ‘I write songs about the challenges that are in the reindeer herding, sometimes to calm myself through music’ says an open hearted Mortensson. Despite her young age she has extensive experience in reindeer herding. Festival leader Kirsti Lervoll says that the young artist of the year is very talented. ‘She plays and joiks so beautifully that you are dragged into the music’ says Lervoll.