Emil Karlsen

Emil Karlsen
Background information
Birth nameEmil Ráste Nikolavu Karlsen
Born1997 (age 26–27)
OriginStorfjord, Troms, Norway
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar

Emil Ráste Nikolavu Karlsen (born 1997) is a Norwegian Sámi singer, songwriter and musician from Storfjord, Troms. Karlsen was vocalist and guitarist in the pop-rock band Resirkulert[1] and has a solo career under the stage name Emil Kárlsen. He was elected as Riddu Riđđu Young Artist in 2019.[2]

Karlsen is Sea Sámi (or Costal Sámi) and grew up in Oteren in Storfjord municipality. In his youth, he learned to joik and released a joik for his father-in-law in 2018 which he also performed at the Nordlysfestivalen.[3] In 2021, he released the album Nágirvárri together with the artist Lávre.[4] Other Sami musicians such as Katarina Barruk, Ulla Pirttijärvi and Hildá Länsman also participated. In 2024, Kárlsen participated in Pan-ArcticVision in Nuuk, Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), and through a public vote received the price for ´The Song that gives the most feeling of Community and Togetherness´.[5]

Karlsen also made his acting debut in 2021, when he played Jussi in Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter's production of Koke Bjørn, based on the book by Mikael Niemi.[6][7] In 2023 he played the lead role in the piece Bjørnegegeren Ol-Tomså, also this one by Beaivváš.[8]

  1. ^ Pulk, Ronald (2018-10-20). "– Det er skummelt å joike offentlig" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  2. ^ "Samtale med Årets unge kunstner Emil Karlsen" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  3. ^ Pulk, Ronald (2018-10-20). "– Det er skummelt å joike offentlig" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  4. ^ NRK (2021-07-12), "«Nagirvárrái» skearru almmuhuvvo", NRK, retrieved 2022-02-11
  5. ^ Harvey, Matisse (2024-10-15). "'Eurovision for the North' brings together artists from across the Arctic". CBC. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  6. ^ Bjørnback, June Grønnvoll (2021-03-02). "Emil Karlsen har hovedrollen når Beaivváš setter opp Mikael Niemis «Koke bjørn»". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  7. ^ "Debuterer sammen med sin helt". Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2023-06-18.
  8. ^ "Ol-Tomså (2023)". Beaivváš Sámi Nášunalateáhter (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2023-06-18.