On September 19, the Nikšić Theater will host the Estonian duo PUULUUP, whose music combines the sound of traditional instruments with electronics and experimental vocals. Ramo Teder and Marko Veisson will perform in Montenegro for the first time, as part of the program Nikšić 2030 - European Capital of Culture and UNESCO City of Music.
At the center of their musical expression is the talharpa, a traditional Estonian stringed instrument. The duo augments its characteristic sound with loopers, electronic effects and vocal interventions, creating compositions that move between folk, electronic and experimental music.
Teder and Weisson's joint work is based on the research of the possibilities of this instrument in the contemporary musical environment. Their folklore heritage serves as a starting point for new sound forms, in which recognizable traditional tones intertwine with unexpected rhythms and production solutions. Because of this approach, PUULUUP is hard to pin down to just one genre.
A wider international audience got to know them in 2024, when they represented their country with the Estonian hip-hop group 5MIINUST at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. With the song "(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) magadi", they presented a fusion of hip-hop, electronics and traditional instruments, with an impressive stage performance.
The Eurovision appearance was preceded by years of concerts and festival appearances across Europe. During that period, the duo built a recognizable author's expression, exploring the ways in which musical heritage can be developed through contemporary production.
It is precisely this open attitude towards tradition that is an important part of their creativity. PUULUUP uses inherited sounds as a space for experimentation and new interpretation, while maintaining a connection with their origins. Their guest appearance thus builds on the Nikšić 2030 program direction, which encourages encounters between different cultures and connecting heritage with contemporary artistic practices.
The concert in Nikšić will bring the local audience their first live encounter with the duo that gives the traditional Estonian instrument a distinctive, contemporary sound.