"Jouhikko is the first solo album by folk musician Lassi Logrén (b. 1975). Jouhikko is the Finnish name for a bowed lyre, which is a string instrument with history dating back to the Middle Ages. In different languages similar instruments are called by other names such as hiiu kannel, strykelyre, stråkharpa, tagelharpa and talharpa. All the songs on the album are written, produced, and arranged by Logrén.
On the album Logrén plays 3-stringed jouhikkos with twisted horsehair strings made by Master Luthier Rauno Nieminen. Three different sizes of jouhikkos with 10 different tunings and various musical modes take the listener on a new and unique musical journey. The common denominator of the songs is Logrén's gentle and beautifully gliding swing.
Logrén has been playing the jouhikko since he was 12 years old. ”On this album I’m not only presenting my own music and musicianship, but also the jouhikko as a little-known instrument. It has a magical earthy sound with the constantly playing drone string. I‘m interested in seeing how solo instrumental music can touch the contemporary listener.”
Most of the melodies on the album consist of only five or six notes. This stylistic device is usually used in Finno-Ugric runo singing and in 5-string kantele music. Stylistically, the compositions on the album are dance music based on different European traditional music genres.
Logrén also plays the fiddle in Finnish band Värttinä, collaborating for example with the BBC Concert Orchestra. With Värttinä, Logrén's compositions included also the West End musical The Lord of The Rings. The Jouhikko album is part of Logrén's doctoral studies at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered in May–June 2023 by Jock Loveband at Urban Sound Studios in Oslo."