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Sámi electronic music producer and sound artist

Sámi elektronalaš musihkkabuvttadeaddji ja jietnadáiddár

Markus Magga Thonhaugen

Markus Magga Thonhaugen on the shore in Bodø

Photo: Dan Mariner

Biography

He started out as a DJ in 2017 and now makes his own music, from ambient pieces to tracks for the club.

Markus Magga Thonhaugen lea dovddusin artistanama iDJa duohken.

Markus Magga Thonhaugen comes from Helgeland in northern Norway and lives in Bodø and Berlin. Joik and field recordings from Sápmi run through all of it, and so do two subjects he keeps returning to: the land and the Sámi language.

Son lea sámi elektronalaš musihkkabuvttadeaddji ja jietnadáiddár eret Helgelánddas Davvi-Norggas. Su musihkka lea huksejuvvon elektrovnnalaš buvttadeami, luđiid ja luonddu jietnabáddemiid vuođul. Stuorát oassi su barggus fátmmasta sámi identitehta, eanan vuoigatvuođaid ja mo dálkkádatrievdan váikkuha máilmmi eamiálbmotservodagaide ja eanadagaide.

iDJa speaking at ICIMOD in Kathmandu
Speaking at the Interpolar Dialogue 2025 conference, ICIMOD, Kathmandu. Photo: ICIMOD

He spent a decade at NRK, Norway’s state broadcaster, as a journalist and strategist covering climate, before studying electronic music at Catalyst Institute in Berlin. There he made Artificial Relation To Nature, an eight-channel spatial sound performance that premiered at the Spatial Sound Festival in 2023 with the Danish act Koviljka.

He also has a master’s in documentary film production from Lillehammer University College (now Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences) and an MBA from Nord University, and he is studying Northern Sámi. In 2024 he reached the semifinals of Norway’s Got Talent together with the South Sámi artist Ramona Linnea.

Maŋŋá go heittii NRK:s, gos son barggai journalistan ja dálkkádat strategan, de son studerii elektrovnnalaš musihka Catalyst instituhtas Berlinas. Sus lea MBA Nord universitehtas ja master dokumentárafilbmabuvttadeamis Allaskuvllas Lillehammeris (dál Høgskolen i Innlandet). Dál son lohká davvisámegiela.

Musihkkavideo Techno Áhčči (2023) nominerejuvvui Norgga oanehisfilbma festivála Gullstolen bálkkašupmái. Klubbas EP (2024) oaččui 8/10 FAZEmag nammasaš magasiinnas go Betrayal siŋgel oaččui 9/10 ja olles siidu dan seammá magasiinnas. Ambient EP Šuvva (2025) oaččui 9/10 ja golbma artihkkala seammá magasiinnas. 2024:s beasai son Norgga Taleanttaid gilvui ovttas lullisámi Ramona Linneain.

iDJa performing at the release concert for Šuvva in a greenhouse in Bodø
Release concert for Šuvva in a greenhouse, Bodø, June 2025. Photo: Adrian Svendsen Bensvik

His music often starts with a recording made outside. He records with hydrophones and contact microphones, in rivers, rain and wind, from Sápmi to the monsoon in Nepal. In the studio he cuts, stretches and layers the recordings, and on stage he plays them live with electronic rhythms and live joik.

“A field recording captures a small moment. For me, it also carries everything around that moment: the walk, the weather, the lack of sleep and what I was thinking when I pressed record.”

From his note A voice memo from Sálltoduottar

Son lea maid čuojahan Harpa konsearta- ja operaviesus Reykjaviikas Islánddas, Fylkingen dáiddadálus Stockholmmas, Europäischer Kulturen dálus Berlinas, Oslo konseartaviesus, ICIMOD dutkan instituhtas Kathmanduas Nepalas, Ijahis Idja doaluin Anáris, Riddu Riđđu festiválas, Márkomeannu festiválas, Prague Pride doaluin Prahas ja nu ain viidáseappot.

Dál son lea áigeguovdil 60 minuhta guhkes audiovisuála čájálmasain Gaskačázis ovttas govvadáiddáriin Eili Bråstadain.

Notes

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