Estonian Music & Art News - Week 5, October 2025

With only a few exceptions, every performance and every album release that gets people’s attention is guided by the industry’s standards, while everything else is left in the underground, rarely getting a good spotlight. Üle Heli (Estonian for “Above Sound”) sound art and music festival is an exceptional platform that allows performers to share music and art created “outside of the box” and encourages experimental music to be created and performed.

When I sat down with Estonian composer and intermedia artist Kristjan Kannukene, I knew this conversation would be something special. Kristjan is not only the head of HetkFest, a young but already vital festival for improvised arts in Estonia, but also a musician whose work bridges sound installations, improvisation, and academic research. Currently pursuing his doctoral studies on the symbiosis of viola and voice, he has been exploring ways to merge different sound worlds in

As one of the most celebrated Estonian composrs, Arvo Pärt turns 90 on 11 September 2025. His life’s work stretches over turbulent political eras, spiritual searching, radical stylistic change, and global acclaim. In this blog post we explore Pärt’s lifetime achievements, his place in Estonian and world music, and the many events marking this milestone birthday.

Folk music carries a special significance in Estonian culture, especially since the Ärkamisaeg (the National Awakening) - and it continues to evolve to this day. One of such contributions to the Estonian heritage is the album “ma olen maa peal v66ras” by 6hunesseq.

Releasing a Digital Album feels at first like a promise: a chance for an independent musician to reach listeners anywhere in the world. No labels, no gatekeepers—just upload, distribute, and wait for the music to travel. That was the dream the streaming services and digital distributors sold us. But once you step into that world, another reality surfaces. Yes, your music can reach global ears, but so can everyone else’s. And when every musician has the same promise, the prom

Estonia, despite its small population of just over 1.3 million, holds a significant place in the world of classical music. Over the past century, Estonian composers have contributed works of striking originality, blending Baltic folk traditions with contemporary trends. From the early 20th century’s national romanticism to today’s digitally distributed works, Estonia’s music scene has continually evolved, embracing new creative and technological possibilities.

Among the new generation of Estonian composers, Tõnu Kõrvits has emerged as one of the most poetic and emotionally resonant musical voices of his homeland. Drawing from a rich cultural heritage, his music blends contemporary classical language with folk motifs, dreamlike textures, and a sense of quiet introspection. Known for his deeply atmospheric soundscapes and evocative orchestrations, Kõrvits is not only a prominent composer in Estonia but also increasingly recognized on

Estonian Music & Art News - Week 5, January 2025

Estonian Music & Art News - Week 4, January 2025

I've often been asked by Estonians why I chose to relocate to their country. While my decision involved many factors, one stands out above t

Estonian Music & Art News - Week 1, December 2024