Désirée Saarela & Triskel

Swedish native speakers constitute Finland’s culturally most significant minority. Much of Finland’s music has Finland-Swedish roots, the best-known case in point being Jean Sibelius. The strength of these roots can be heard in Finland-Swedish folk music, with its minuets, ballads and regional specialties – a tradition very different from that of Finnish-speaking Finns.

The list of nominees suggests that the best ethno albums derive their energy from a collision of musical nuclei. Archive meets EDM, smooth meets rough, Karelia meets the Balkans.