A Musical Gathering Amidst a Storm
Outside the doors of Nuuk’s Musikskole, children and parents mingle, creating a vibrant scene that stands in stark contrast to the fierce autumn storm howling beyond. Wind gusts reach up to 30 meters per second, but the excitement in the air is palpable.
As October’s first Friday unfolds, it marks not only the start of the Akisuanerit Festival 2025 but also a moment of anticipation for the band Sauwestari, who are preparing to headline the event. With their closing performance scheduled for Saturday, the band has convened in Nuuk for a final rehearsal session.
“It’s going to be fun; it’s going to be great—what more can I say?” exclaims drummer Jonas Lundsgaard Nilsson, summing up the collective excitement of the group.
Before diving into their evening practice, the band gears up for a dress rehearsal for the music school’s students brave enough to face the storm. As Jonas stands with Minik Hansen, the mastermind behind Sauwestari’s lyrics, they glance over a row of plastic chairs where the evening’s audience is settling in.
This will be Sauwestari’s second appearance at the Akisuanerit Festival. Minik is particularly eager, as Saturday’s performance will only be his second time experiencing the band live. “They travel a lot, and I don’t,” he says, reflecting on their dynamic schedule.
Their last appearance at the festival dates back to 2023, just a few months after the release of their debut album, Sauwestari. Since then, much has changed—not just for the band, but for the world and Greenland as well. As they look toward the future, Sauwestari plans to release new music soon.
On the evening KNR meets them, the band is rehearsing a new song, one intended as a surprise for their audience. “It’s part of our upcoming album, which we hope to release this summer,” Minik shares.
As the rehearsal begins, a few eager students start to play with bongos and claves, creating a lively atmosphere in the room. Sauwestari’s lead singer, Paaliit Berthelsen, and the backup choir stand ready at their microphones, while Jonas takes his position behind the drums.
“Ready?” he calls out, and the practice resumes with a collective energy that fills the room.
The Organic Evolution of Sauwestari
At the heart of Sauwestari’s journey lies Fabrizio Barzanti, the creative force who initiated this reggae project. Originally from Italy, he has spent significant time in Nuuk, balancing a career as a sound engineer before fully dedicating himself to music.
Fabrizio has a rich background in jazz, even performing in the Jim Milne Trio with Jonas. “I’ve always loved reggae,” he admits, and it was in tackling new creative challenges that he began to craft the melodies for what would become the band’s signature sound.
When he penned the songs that made up their first album, he never anticipated the level of success it would achieve. “I’m happy that people enjoy it, but that wasn’t my motivation for making music,” he explains.
His artistic drive ignited when he decided to give up cannabis in 2018. “I had been smoking for years, and in that moment, I began to compose music instead. It turned out to be reggae,” he recounts, revealing a pivotal shift in his life.
Within a month, Fabrizio had written and composed 15 songs but encountered a challenge: he needed someone to write the lyrics. A mutual friend connected him with Minik, who soon became an essential collaborator. As he sought musicians to flesh out the group, Fabrizio envisioned the sound he wanted—a blend of rhythm and harmony.
Jonas describes their formation as a natural progression. “There were many different musicians involved, so we like to think of ourselves as a core with plenty of ‘playmates’ coming in and out,” he explains.
Fabrizio initially met Jonas while working as a sound technician for a rock band that Jonas was part of—Small Time Giants. The two have since collaborated on various music projects, solidifying their partnership.
For a long time, Fabrizio had been eyeing Paaliit Berthelsen as the perfect vocalist. Finding a skilled bassist, however, proved more difficult. In the end, he took it upon himself to fill that role, despite having initially started out as the guitarist. “And then I fell in love with the bass,” Jonas remarks with a laugh.
Once the pieces came together, the recording of their album could finally begin. On May 26, 2023, Sauwestari was released, featuring 11 tracks.
From Local Stars to Global Players
The album was a tremendous success. Just four months after its release, Sauwestari performed at Inussivik during the Akisuanerit Festival 2023, sharing the lineup with renowned artists like Jens Kleist and Tessa.
“It was impressive to see 2,500 people singing along. And not just to the hits—they knew the entire album!” recalls trumpet player Jesper Blæsbjerg Thomasen, who flew from Denmark specifically for the performance. “That made a huge impression on me. The songs resonate with something deep in people,” he notes.
After the festival, Sauwestari received the coveted ‘Årets Pris’ at the Koda Awards 2024 in Sisimiut for their impactful debut. The judges praised their sound as “a successful musical landscape rooted in reggae rhythm, striking listeners with profound messages.”
Their journey has taken them to tour Northwest Greenland, including stops in Qeqertarsuaq, Ilulissat, and Maniitsoq, as well as international performances at events like Grønland i Tivoli in Copenhagen and the Riddu Riđđu Festival in Northern Norway.
There’s a consistent theme throughout their shows: they prioritize concerts aimed at children. This was also true during the Akisuanerit Festival 2023, where they performed a family concert before their evening show for adults—a pattern they’ll continue this year.
“Young people are our future, so it’s important to give them the tools and inspire them to dream about their lives,” Fabrizio emphasizes. “If we manage to touch just one or two young hearts, that makes it a success.”
Despite their accomplishments, the life of a musician in Greenland is fraught with challenges. “I’m a full-time musician, and it’s tough,” Fabrizio admits, adding that many still view music as more of a hobby than a viable career. “I don’t want to play in bars or be a jukebox. I want to perform my own music, and that makes things complicated,” he states.
The Duality of Reggae
As the rehearsal continues, children sway in their seats, mimicking the band’s rhythms. The final notes of “Sulisartoq” fill the air, a track that has amassed over 425,000 streams on Spotify, marking it as their most popular song.
Jonas strikes the last beat, and the audience erupts into applause.
The band’s artistic inspiration draws from the current state of the world—wars, chaos, and political challenges, including the situation in Palestine and Donald Trump’s policies. “We have messages we want to convey,” Jonas says earnestly. But beyond that, he insists, “It’s ultimately about the music itself. We enjoy creating unique sounds—I believe we can do both simultaneously.”
Fabrizio emphasizes that reggae is as much about protest as it is about love. “We strive to reflect that in our music. I’m not sure where the ideas come from; they just come to me,” he shares.
Typically, Fabrizio composes a song and provides Minik with key themes and words describing its essence. “From there, he has total freedom to write the lyrics based on the melody. I don’t interfere much,” he adds.
The next album promises to incorporate even more rap than its predecessor. “But it’ll still be a good mix,” Minik assures.
Pilutaq Lundblad, who also performs in the rap duo Toornat, complements Paaliit on stage during rap segments. Though he has over 20 years of rap experience, adapting to reggae’s flow required some adjustment. “In hip-hop, I tend to rap very tightly and quickly. Reggae is a different world,” he says.
He writes his own rap lyrics for Sauwestari and is actively crafting new texts for the upcoming album. “What’s the new song about?” we inquire. “Dance,” he replies with a grin.
Reflections on Change
Since Sauwestari’s last album release, the world has experienced a series of seismic changes. Just a week after their last festival performance, conflict erupted in Gaza. More recently, on January 20, Donald Trump began his second presidential term just over a month after reiterating his desire to gain control of Greenland.
Art plays a crucial role in navigating such complex discussions, especially those that can be difficult to approach politically. “Art can tackle tough conversations, some of which are hard to broach,” Jonas notes.
Fabrizio reflects on these pressing global issues, acknowledging the toll they take on humanity. “It’s undoubtedly a harsh world. We’ve lost a great deal of respect for one another,” he laments. “But it also pushes me to direct my lyrics toward something meaningful.”
Both Jonas and Fabrizio believe that music and art offer a sanctuary, a refuge when the world feels overwhelming. Yet, Fabrizio is concerned that many squander this opportunity by losing themselves in their phones. “The internet and social media amplify our darker tendencies and make us less intelligent,” he asserts.
“People should read more books, not just scroll through random content. They should explore fascinating films and documentaries—anything that can open their minds.”
With that, the fourth and final number for the music school students, “?anigaV,” unfolds. The keyboard swells, and Paaliit’s soft voice fills the room, while the choir sways in joyful harmony.
As Sauwestari prepares to unveil their new song at the Akisuanerit Festival, anticipation hangs in the air.
However, with a new album on the horizon, the stakes feel higher this time around. “After the first album’s success, there’s pressure to impress,” Jonas admits, reflecting the weight of expectation the team feels.
Fabrizio is eager to record. “Yeah-yeah-yeah. We’ve got all the songs. We’ve already been in the studio working on the drums,” he reveals, enthusiasm shining through.
His hopes for the album are high, though he acknowledges the unpredictable nature of creativity. “At the end of the day, I write for myself. Sure, I want to please my fans, but only to a point. The songs will come out as they are,” he concludes.