Kiigelaul (Trad. Kanepi)

Solstice is the third and final album in my trilogy, following Liminal and Equinox. It marks the end of a year-long journey of remastering and rerecording music I’ve written, played, and lived with over the past fifteen years—and, in many ways, the closing of a much longer chapter of my life. This album gathers tunes that have shaped me deeply. Traditional melodies passed down through generations sit beside contemporary folk by composers and violinists who have inspired me endlessly—Harald Haugaard, Hanneke Cassel, and Frigg among them. Alongside these are original pieces like Winter’s Embrace, Quiet Equilibrium, and Evenfall, written in moments of stillness, reflection, and quiet resolve. Some pieces reach far back into memory. Kiigelaul recalls early days arranging music at the Moisekatsi Elohelü festival (now Mooste Folk), moments that helped form my musical voice. Minoorne Labajalg, one of the rare Estonian traditional tunes in a minor key, has stayed with me since childhood—ever since I first picked up the violin. Each track carries a fragment of time, place, and feeling I wasn’t ready to let go of until now. Solstice is both a culmination and a farewell. With this release, I’m choosing to step back from writing, recording, and performing music—for a while, perhaps a long while—to focus on rest, balance, and well-being. I wanted to share everything I still had saved before closing this door, and to finish this journey with honesty, care, and intention. Thank you for listening, for walking alongside me through these seasons, and for giving these pieces a place to land. 🌌❄️