About us
ABOUT US
MAIJA KAUHANEN & JOHANNES GEWORKIAN HELLMAN
Two of the Nordic countries’ most praised and active folk musicians of the new generation join forces. Maija Kauhanen (Finland) and Johannes Geworkian Hellman (Sweden) are each internationally known as artists with strong personal expression and as virtuoso innovators of their respective instruments worldwide. With original compositions, in the borderland of Nordic Folk, pop & film music – the duo bring their ancient instruments into the 21st century creating a timeless and unique sound painting. Adding the powerful voice of Maija Kauhanen they tell musical stories with original lyrics as well as wordless singing.
”The mighty kantele valkyrie Maija Kauhanen, and the soulful hurdy-gurdy magician Johannes Geworkian Hellman, fly on their two ancient instruments towards the future, up into the starry sky, and straight into the heart.”
– Esmeralda Moberg, Swedish National Radio P2
Maija and Johannes met during their studies in 2014, when Maija came as an exchange student to the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. After a first jam session together they both felt that there was a special musical connection between them and their instruments. Later Johannes came as an exchange student to the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and started to make music again and the duo was born.
Living on the two different sides of the ocean, the years went by and both of them individually built their international careers with other bands and as soloists. They started to play concerts together and nurtured the wish to make an album one day. In 2024 they recorded their first album together as a celebration of their ten years of musical friendship and collaboration. The album “Migrating” is released on the Swedish independent label Gammalthea (2025).
About the album ”Migrating” (2025):
The theme of the album is inspired by migrating birds – “birds of passage” – who regularly during their lives travel from one place to another. Their sense of navigation is a result of combining their different senses to find the right way. When the time comes to return home, they are somehow able to find the way. For us, music and art is a way to describe and portray our observations. When we are playing, we are travelling – trying to combine our senses to find a common direction. The music gives us the possibility to migrate to other places, both imaginary and those from our memories.
– Maija & Johannes
MAIJA KAUHANEN
&
JOHANNES GEWORKIAN HELLMAN
Two of the Nordic countries’ most praised and active folk musicians of the new generation join forces. Maija Kauhanen (Finland) and Johannes Geworkian Hellman (Sweden) are each internationally known as artists with strong personal expression and as virtuoso innovators of their respective instruments worldwide. With original compositions, in the borderland of Nordic Folk, pop & film music – the duo bring their ancient instruments into the 21st century creating a timeless and unique sound painting. Adding the powerful voice of Maija Kauhanen they tell musical stories with original lyrics as well as wordless singing.
”The mighty kantele valkyrie Maija Kauhanen, and the soulful hurdy-gurdy magician Johannes Geworkian Hellman, fly on their two ancient instruments towards the future, up into the starry sky, and straight into the heart.”
– Esmeralda Moberg, Swedish National Radio P2
Maija and Johannes met during their studies in 2014, when Maija came as an exchange student to the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. After a first jam session together they both felt that there was a special musical connection between them and their instruments. Later Johannes came as an exchange student to the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and started to make music again and the duo was born.
Living on the two different sides of the ocean, the years went by and both of them individually built their international careers with other bands and as soloists. They started to play concerts together and nurtured the wish to make an album one day. In 2024 they recorded their first album together as a celebration of their ten years of musical friendship and collaboration. The album “Migrating” is released on the Swedish independent label Gammalthea (2025).
About the album ”Migrating” (2025):
The theme of the album is inspired by migrating birds – “birds of passage” – who regularly during their lives travel from one place to another. Their sense of navigation is a result of combining their different senses to find the right way. When the time comes to return home, they are somehow able to find the way. For us, music and art is a way to describe and portray our observations. When we are playing, we are travelling – trying to combine our senses to find a common direction. The music gives us the possibility to migrate to other places, both imaginary and those from our memories.
– Maija & Johannes
