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The years ending and I can already feel a lot of t The years ending and I can already feel a lot of the uncertainty that will happen. Visas will need to be solved again and I’m just “praying” to not go through the same path as before and to have better luck for what is out of my hands. In the mean time I’ll try my best to be present and loving for what’s happening now, which is still healing, growing, and being so happy to play this instrument and being surrounded continuously by the best people. 

This was one of our tasks to come up with a harmony riff over a tune of our choice. “Travare”

#nyckelharpa #folkmusic #fiddle #violin
”Inga Rikedomar” with an improvised oktavharpa ove ”Inga Rikedomar” with an improvised oktavharpa overdub.
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#fiddle #nyckelharpa #music
I spend so much of my time doing everything I coul I spend so much of my time doing everything I could want to do. It’s hard to ask for much more, but I think I could be deserving to ask for the dream of being able to see more people I love more often. 

It’s been almost 3 months back and I feel so relieved but under the surface are tremors of panic about how to make this last. Most days they’re managed.

I’ve been having so much joy with the Oktavharpa so here’s an improvisation that’s sure to become a new composition.
Shit’s fucked out there, but here’s an update. A Shit’s fucked out there, but here’s an update.

A year to the date from leaving Sweden, I was finally able to come back. Sparing a lot of details, this past year was one of the hardest so far. 

But! I am here and after a year of stagnation and it feels amazing to be back and moving again towards so many life goals. Playing nyckelharpa, Learning to build nyckelharpor, Orchestra rehearsal, Swedish lessons, Flamenco dance lessons, Teaching, Swimming, Singing, Composing, and Drinking my volume in coffee, I couldn’t be much more than everything that I want right now.

It does feel like a breath in between the next time I’ll be fighting governments for the right to just be in a place. I’ve gained a lot of scars and I’m tired of moving, but it is worth this and learning to heal is worth it.

I also don’t think I would have survived without so much help from so many people. I won’t have the right way to express that level of gratitude other than trying to show up with that love that you all deserve and that is so necessary right now. 

So thank you and I love you!
Learning a few things. Learning a few things.
Instagram post 17899952778206948 Instagram post 17899952778206948
Ask me about that one time I played fiddle and nyc Ask me about that one time I played fiddle and nyckelharpa for a Swedish Netflix movie.
Now it’s the first movie I have watched in Swedish with only Swedish subtitles. “Off Track 2”
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#fiddle #sweden #nyckelharpa #violin #midsummer #svenska #svenskafilmer
I’ve been joking with friends that if I should eve I’ve been joking with friends that if I should ever be compelled to write a book that it would be entitled “DENIED +(insert of how it does get better)”.

Once again, I’ve lost the fight against the government and will be returning to the US and I’ll start the process to find the pathways that take me back away again and hopeful towards a dream of stability outside the US. 

I’ll let you imagine or ask me about what my thoughts have been like, especially now and over the last 8 months of limbo in Spain or the last 2 years of being in Spain and Sweden.

I’m definitely continuing to look for avenues towards residencies and at the very least I’m grateful to now be able to open up my scope for other opportunities again. 

Still though, I have things left all over the world that I can’t yet collect and be “whole” and I’ll be longing to have the freedom again to collect those things and hopefully find that path that settles me in a place that I actually want to be in. 

For the sweet side of this moment, is that I also have a lot lovely people to see and the first place is to NYC. 

And so it continues with a lot of grieving, healing, and finding some new loving moments.

Thanks to everyone that has been following and asking about what’s been happening and being my support system. I would not be as functional as I am able to be without you.
Vulnerable and a bit messy post ahead. I worked on Vulnerable and a bit messy post ahead. I worked on this song and video in 2019-2020 as my first masters project before it all got much more complicated by Covid. 5 years later it still hasn’t had its proper time to be heard and it’s a great comparison to what I’ve experienced as a person just trying to live in the world. 

5 years of trying to make my life into what I want it to be. Some days it feels so close and others incredibly far away. Today is the later. It’s been 3 months currently of Visa Hell 2, 2024 and it looks like it’s going to be Visa Hell 2, 24-25. From slow bureaucratic processings and unresponsive “helpers”, my daily life is largely impacted by people I will never see or speak to. 

It throws every system that I have for handling stress and challenges their foundations and I’m not sure when it’s going to relieve itself and what I’ll end up finding on the other side. 

I am doing the best that I can to take care of myself, but it’s a huge task. I keep busy trying still to learn Spanish, Swedish, swim, teach, and practice a bit, but it’s the in-between and the waiting that feels like a gigantic pit. 

It would be this moment that I do say that I have a lot of gratitude for all the people that are checking in on me and sending me their best wishes, love, and support. I think now, as I’m learning to use this time to be more assertive that I ask for any resources for navigating job industries in Sweden or remotely for the ability to continue to go towards independence here. Any leads, thoughts or advice is all welcome. 

This piece was composed as a multi-part movement that hasn’t been recorded yet. @lalitkumarganesh as my musical partner playing tabla, the creative genius @chakrams_aarti as producer, and @beanboibass as the best engineer. @fanamusica filmed the video during some weeks of post quarantine freedom in 2020. 

It’s titled, “Mutability”, the ability to change from one place, one form, to another.
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted an improvi It’s been a long time since I’ve posted an improvisation, but I finally got my pedal board running again with all its old wires and it needing lots of TLC for sitting unused for so long. 1 take and no edits. I’m calling it “Mold” after a stressful dream I had last night. The painting is from 2019.
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#fiddle #violin #improvisation #music #abstract
Of the many crazy things I found myself doing this Of the many crazy things I found myself doing this year, the craziest is taking Flamenco classes. This whole year has been working with the theme of fear and breaking down walls. Despite every motion I take to walk to where I want to go and play my instrument, I have “learned” to be uncomfortable in my own body and with the way I see myself. So here’s my first dance performance and a lot of work towards tearing down the walls that hold us back. 
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#flamenco #dance #spain #sweden #folkmusic #violin
Getting close to the current end of my time in Swe Getting close to the current end of my time in Sweden. Last Friday I was able to present alongside my Fulbright colleagues at the US Ambassador’s Residence about what has transpired over the last 10 months. The best summary includes how I wanted this year to be all about facing vulnerability and learning more about myself and how I relate to others through music. I’d love to talk every detail endlessly about what I’ve found. So talk to me about it and let’s learn and play some polskas together. 
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#music #fulbright #sweden #folkmusic #violin #jazz #berklee #nyckelharpa #kmh #fiddle
Some proof that I’ve been practicing. It’s only be Some proof that I’ve been practicing. It’s only been 4 months since switching instruments from my 4-row nyckelharpa to the 3-row. I think it’s going well! 
“Akademipolska” av Eric Sahlström 
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#nyckelharpa #sweden #fiddle #folkmusic #folk #fulbright #violin
An appreciation post for two people and musicians An appreciation post for two people and musicians that have been monumental in my life recently. There were a lot of hardships that followed the quarantines and curfews in Spain and especially relating to my masters project and my studies. One of the best silver linings was the ability for me to take online lessons with @bruce_molsky. Those lessons gave me a lot of comfort when there was no clear vision about what was coming next. It was in these lessons that he introduced me to the music of @ellikafrisell and put me on the eventual path towards having her as my teacher this year. I’m especially grateful not only for the pieces and techniques but more to the philosophies and openness you both have shared with me and others and for all the inspiration for many years to come. 
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#folkmusic #fiddle #swedishfolkmusic #fulbright #berklee #violin #nyckelharpa
Happy World Nyckelharpa Day! You all knew this wa Happy World Nyckelharpa Day!

You all knew this was coming. From the moment I moved, it was in the back your minds. Well, it happened. I’d like to welcome my new nyckelharpa built by @matswester_riksspelman. It’s an incredibly beautiful instrument in both sound and creation and I’m very excited to grow with it over many coming years. 

I’d like to also extend a big appreciation to the other nyckelharpists at the Royal College of Music, @pickleharpa, @arvidfurmark, @rasmus.hemstrom for all their help this year as it almost rounds out and especially to @olovnyckelharpa for sharing and teaching me so much about this instrument. Here’s to many more years of love with this instrument and with you all. 

#nyckelharpa #worldnyckelharpaday #sweden #folkmusic #fiddle #nordman #fulbright
Celebrating one year since I moved again from the Celebrating one year since I moved again from the US. It’s the still the lack of a stable home that I miss the most, but I’ve met incredible people and have had amazing opportunities. Most days I still worry about how long this can last, but I also remember how hard I fought to be here in the first place and trust that I will continue to figure it out.

I’m very much looking forward to what the next year will bring.

#spain #sweden #galicia #stockholm #music #violin
4th performance in Sweden, but this was the first 4th performance in Sweden, but this was the first time playing a solo Polska to an audience that knows what to listen for! I’m really happy with this performance and with everything I’m doing in Sweden. Starting my 4th month here, I can see and hear big differences and I’m excited to move forward.

Lots of gratitude to the @kmhfolk department and all my classmates for their incredible musicality and spirits. 

Tune: Polska från Rättvik efter Börjes Olle 

#fiddle #violin #polska #kmhstockholm #fulbright #fulbrightsweden
Three years ago, after the quarantine, my classmat Three years ago, after the quarantine, my classmates that had remained in the Spain took a trip to Moraira where I watched this sunrise for the first time and reevaluated everything in my life. What is the purpose of my ambition? What is really valuable? In that moment, nothing was more important than being present with the sun and with the people I was with.

The 6 months I’ve been in Galicia was worth all the fighting and sacrifices to be here.

These images show some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met and in 6 months I’ve lived so many of my dreams with their support and friendship. My mind is races thinking about every single person that I have gratitude towards.

Some not photographed:
@sanmiguel.fraser 
@alfonso.franco.50 
@mariajorgeb 
@cordesdelmon 
@ssaraferrii 
@laurazusein 
@comassetto 
Everyone involved in my music therapy Masters and all the students and faculty of @galiciafiddle and @crisoldecuerda.

In 6 months you have given me a community and a home here in Galicia and Spain. 

Until I return next year! 
Te quiero todo. Nos veremos pronto.
“Sistema Nervioso” . . After months of waiting I “Sistema Nervioso”
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After months of waiting I finally have my effects running again. 1 take of nyckelharpa and a premade loop.
I think I unlocked some new core life moments this I think I unlocked some new core life moments this week teaching at the @encordassfiddlefest. The community, the music, the place…every little aspect of it was incredible and I’m so elated to have made new friends here. You’re all incredibly kind and welcoming and then you’re amazing musicians. Thank you to @alfonso.franco.50 for having me and to my fellow teachers and musicians @cowboyhasid, @veravanheeringen and all the Flatville Aces, @neillusion, @mariajorgeb, and more. And a special thank you to the students who inspire me in return to go and practice more Galician music so the next time I see you all, I’ll call a tune! 

#galiciafiddle #fiddle #folk #violin #spain #nyckelharpa #fiddlecamp #galicia #sansimon
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