Norwegian and Swedish folk music trio MOJNA releases their new album Mareld

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In June 2024, MOJNA released their second album, Väntenätter, which was met with widespread acclaim. Norwegian broadcaster NRK awarded it the rare score of “6 out of 6,” and it was nominated for the Folkelarm Prize for Album of the Year. For his work on Väntenätter, Thomas Eriksson was awarded Composer of the Year at the 2025 Swedish Folk & World Music Gala.

The trio now returns with their third album, Mareld. In August 2024, Hardanger fiddler Helga Myhr was replaced by Tuva Færden, whose presence has brought new impulses and a renewed sound to the group.

All the music is once again composed by Thomas Eriksson, with contrapuntal interplay and space for improvisation as central elements. The music also draws inspiration from classical composers such as Johannes Brahms, particularly evident in the tracks Björnögon and Ide. The title track, Mareld, takes on a new dimension with a guitar effects pedal that emulates a reed organ.

Even more than before, the trio has arranged much of the music collaboratively, working to create a unifying thread throughout the album. Several tracks are interconnected, with recurring themes appearing in different forms across the record. The music is understated yet intense and intricate. The track Ishav—long a live favourite—had, according to the trio, never quite fit on their previous albums, but it finally finds its place on this third release.

“With Mareld, we wanted to create a more cohesive and unified album where the sound of each instrument can both stand on its own and blend into something larger. We hope listeners will notice the subtle contrapuntal details, the recurring motifs, and the playful improvisation that give each track its own character. The atmosphere during the recording was both focused and playful, and, as always, it was inspiring to hear how Tuva and Anna added new nuances that I hadn’t imagined during the composition phase,” says Thomas Eriksson.

MOJNA has previously performed on many stages and festivals, including Førdefestivalen and Rudolstadt Festival in Germany. In connection with the album release, the trio will perform at Kulturkirken Jakob in Oslo on October 13, and they are planning tours in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany in 2026.

Thomas Eriksson (guitar/composer) is a guitarist and composer focused on Nordic folk music. After graduating from the University of Music and Drama in Gothenburg in 2016, he has worked as a theatre musician in eleven productions at Västanå Teater, as well as a freelance musician on projects including MOJNA, GKN5, and Snøsong. In spring 2022, he composed music for the theatre productions Kven var Odin and Skarvespelet. In 2023/2024, his work included composition for the dance performance Tausand serving as music director at Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter for the production Ædnan.

Tuva Færden (Hardanger fiddle, vocals) is a leading Norwegian folk musician specializing in Hardanger fiddle. She also draws inspiration from other musical traditions, including South Indian music, which she has incorporated into both her fiddle playing and singing. In recent years, Tuva has distinguished herself through projects such as the duo Murakami/Færden and a commissioned work for the Førdefestival 2024. She has also played key roles in theatrical productions, including the lead in Solens Dotter at Västanå Musik och Teater in summer 2023.

Anna Malmström (clarinet/bass clarinet) is a folk musician who emerged from Sweden’s urban folk and world music scene. With Nordic folk music at her core, she also blends Eastern European melodies, jazzy solos, and poetic taksim-inspired improvisation rooted in Ottoman musical traditions. Her curiosity and wide-ranging tonal palette continually open up new possibilities for expression. Since 2014, she has toured with bands including Sallyswag, GKN5, Världens Band, Ale Möller’s Zenomania, and the Erik Dahl Ensemble, among others.