Yelping and Yodeling with Satteli

“Satteli are a Swiss yodel duo; sisters Louise and Helen Curtis-Streich.  They perform beautifully, haunting Swiss natur yodel and lyrical alpine songs.” Satteli web page.

We are delighted to have the wonderful Satteli performing for us at the Holmfirth Antifolk Festival this year.  And if you haven’t come across their unique yelping and yodeling you really are in for a treat.  I caught up with Louise Curtis, one half of Satteli, to ask a few questions about the duo.

Martin: When did you start Satteli and why?

Louise: Satteli was formed in 2009 after years of singing together in various groups we decided to honour our Swiss origins.  We grew up with strong musical influences from both sides of the family, and also studied music at Huddersfield and Leeds University.

Martin: You went down brilliantly at our little festival last year, what are you planning for this year?

Louise: We will be performing Swiss folk songs old and new from the Bernese Oberland and other German speaking parts of Switzerland, with a healthy dose of yelping and yodeling.

Martin: As well as some of your own songs?

Louise: Definitely, we also have an EP to be released in June 2015 and we’ll be performing some pieces from that.

Martin: Where would you like to take your music in the future?

Louise: As well as reinvigorating old yodel songs we will continue to develop our own songs.  We love exploring the free sounds the voice can make not just with yodeling ,but yelping and jutzli.  Maybe also a cross of jodel styles from around the world...perhaps a collaboration with those who embrace belting and clarity of tone.

Martin: And you also have a film coming out?

Louise: Yes, a short film called Yorkshire Yodellers is being produced by Cosmic Onion Productions and can be seen at the forthcoming Holmfirth Film Festival.

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You can catch Satteli on Saturday evening at Hot Banana Music, Holmfirth (starts at 7.00pm) or Sunday afternoon in the Box Office (around 4pm).

The Final Poster!

WTF is Antifolk?

People have asked me about the meaning of ‘Antifolk’ - particularly in the run up to our local Antifolk Festival which I am helping to organise.  I am no expert on this matter, but here’s what I think.

Non-elitist

There is no musical snobbery in Antifolk.  Antifolk does not judge musicians on how well they play their instruments, or whether they conform to a particular pattern of playing.  Rules are there to be broken.

Open minded

Antifolk embraces all forms of music that come from the hearts and minds of the people.  It has an open mind to experimentation, creativity and collaboration so that new sounds can be created.  The Antifolk festival will feature everything from modular synth banks to yodelling, some of it you might like, some of it you might hate, the point is it won’t be anodyne, middle of the road or safe by any stretch of the imagination.

Local music

The Holmfirth Antifolk Festival features many local musicians who are unlikely to ever play the wider folk festival.  That is why it is a fringe festival, invented to support and encourage local talent at all stages. 

Drinking music

Antifolk is about enjoying life, music and having a good time amongst like minded people.  Large amounts of alcohol are likely to be consumed and there will be some swearing.

Age of ageism

The Holmfirth Antifolk Festival brings together musicians and performers of all ages ranging from 18 to upwards of sixty plus.  We live in an age of ageism, and the music industry is as riddled with ageism as any other.  Antifolk has no interest in your age, only what you bring to the party.

The Holmfirth Antifolk Festival is a fringe festival that takes place on the same weekend of the wider Holmfirth Festival of Folk (9 and 10 May 2015).  Saturday is 7.00pm until late at Hot Banana Music Shop in the heart of Holmfirth, and Sunday is 1.00pm until 5.00pm at The Box Office (The Picturedrome) in Holmfirth.