The True North Podcast by Nordic Artists of New York

Max Johnsson on queer Shakespeare, Off-Off-Broadway and making theatre in NYC

In this episode we get into a hilarious yet insightful conversation with Swedish actor and theater maker Maximilian Johnsson right on the brink of his newest production, A Man Called Paris - an Off-Off-Broadway queer parody of Romeo and Juliet. Max shared his journey from a drama school in Stockholm to the stages of New York, how he became New York's Swedish go-to Shakespeare connoisseur, his views on competition in the creative field, and much more. You can find Max on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/maximilian.johnsson/ and his production company Kulturkanonen/The Cannon at https://www.instagram.com/kultur.kanonen/ For more information about A Man Called Paris as well as tickets for the August 8th and 9th showing at Under St. Marks, see and follow https://www.instagram.com/amancalledparis/ EPISODE MUSIC: The True North Podcast Theme "Voices from the North" is composed by Finnish singer-songwriter and composer Eeppi Ursin. You can find her music on eeppiursin.com or your favourite music streaming platform. MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: BAM's Hamlet https://www.bam.org/hamlet Astrid Lindgren's world in Sweden https://astridlindgrensvarld.se/en/ Max's favourite spots in NYC: The Back Room https://www.backroomnyc.com/ Monarch Rooftop https://www.monarchrooftop.com/ Learn more about us at Nordic Artists of New York and join the community at nordicartistsofnewyork.com

Mia Williams on travel, poetry and claiming your artistry

Finnish Mia Williams worked as an engineer most of her life, before quitting her job and claiming her artistry as a writer and poet. Now a published author of two travel memoirs and a collection of poems, she sits down with us to discuss how her journeys through Canada and Africa turned into books, the quiet luxuries of nature, and her most recent project, the newly published Broken Tree Poems. You can find Mia and her earlier works via https://authorpage.me/mia-williams EPISODE MUSIC: The True North Podcast Theme "Voices from the North" is composed by Finnish singer-songwriter and composer Eeppi Ursin. You can find her music on eeppiursin.com or your favourite music streaming platform. MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: Mia's earlier books "Poems of Life", "Two Goats and Five Chickens", "Roadtrip Through Canada to Alaska" Georgia Blues Musician Jontavius Willis https://jontaviouswillis.com/ Learn more about us at Nordic Artists of New York and join the community at nordicartistsofnewyork.com

Elsa Nilsson on art, social justice and the in-betweens

In this episode we get to sit down with Swedish flutist and composer Elsa Nilsson on the cusp of the release of "Liminal", her new album with Band of Pulses, releasing on June 12 via Adhy��ropa Records. In her newest work Elsa explores the in-betweens - those transitional or initial stages of a process - in light of both our personal lives, and in the larger cultural and political conversation. We also discuss the place of both art, and Nordic immigrants, in conversations about social justice, and dive deep into the artistic community of New York City. "Liminal" is out June 12th, with an Album Release show at Bar Bayeux (Brooklyn) on July 22nd. Find this, and Elsa's earlier work on elsanilssonmusic.com or your favourite music platform. EPISODE MUSIC: Teaser clip: "Andetag" from "Liminal" by Elsa Nilsson & Band of Pulses The True North Podcast Theme "Voices from the North" is composed by Finnish singer-songwriter and composer Eeppi Ursin. You can find her music on eeppiursin.com or your favourite music streaming platform. MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: Thr "Atlas of Sound" series: https://www.elsanilssonmusic.com/release Book recommendation: "Blues People: Negro Music in White America" is a non-fiction book focusing on the Afro-American music, published in 1963 by Amiri Baraka, who published it under the pen name LeRoi Jones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_People Swedish Midsummer, NYC: https://bpca.ny.gov/news/events/special-events/swedish-midsummer-festival/ Estonian Midsummer, Long Island, NY: https://www.estonianhouseny.org/midsummer Learn more about us at Nordic Artists of New York and join the community at nordicartistsofnewyork.com

Sari Nordman on battling climate change one knot at a time

In this episode we have the pleasure of talking to Finnish multi-disciplinary artist Sari Nordman about her colourful career in the arts, transitioning from dance into visual arts and handicraft, and how her environmental, community driven projects "Tower" and "Anxiety" battle climate change one conversation and one knot at a time. You can find Sari's work at https://sarinordman.com/ and visit her open studios during her Governor's Island LMCC Residency on Saturdays June 20th, July 25th, August 22nd and September 26th, 12-5pm. MUSIC: The True North Podcast Theme "Voices from the North" is composed by Finnish singer-songwriter and composer Eeppi Ursin. You can find her music on eeppiursin.com or your favourite music streaming platform. MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: Sari's podcast "Tower - Bridging Voices On Climate Change" https://sarinordman.com/bridging-voices-on-climate-change/ Swedish Midsummer, NYC: https://bpca.ny.gov/news/events/special-events/swedish-midsummer-festival/ Estonian Midsummer, Long Island, NY: https://www.estonianhouseny.org/midsummer Learn more about us at Nordic Artists of New York and join the community at nordicartistsofnewyork.com

Arta J��kabsone on bringing Latvian folk to New York

How does Latvian folk blend in with the New York jazz scene? In this episode Arta J��kabsone, Latvian Music Awards "New Artist of the Year 2022" and Montreux Shure Jazz Voice winner takes us on a whimsical journey of music, heritage and leaps of faith, from a small Latvian town to New York City, and reveals how and why she ended up reimagining Latvian folklore for her newest album, "Dziesmu Kamoli���� - Garland of Songs". MUSIC: Teaser clip: Arta J��kabsone: Dziesmu Kamoli���� The True North Podcast Theme "Voices from the North" is composed by Finnish singer-songwriter and composer Eeppi Ursin. You can find her music on eeppiursin.com or your favourite music streaming platform. SHOWNOTES: Find Arta's music on https://artajekabsone.com/ and all major music platforms. Mentioned in the episode: The Jazz Gallery - https://jazzgallery.org Swedish Midsummer, NYC: https://bpca.ny.gov/news/events/special-events/swedish-midsummer-festival/ Estonian Midsummer, Long Island, NY: https://www.estonianhouseny.org/midsummer Learn more about us at Nordic Artists of New York and join the community at nordicartistsofnewyork.com