Puuluup

Puuluup, the Estonian neo-zombie-post-folk duo, will grace the stage of Hidden Hall in Fremont! Puuluup was formed in 2014 by two talharpa enthusiasts, Ramo Teder and Marko Veisson. They play their own compositions on talharpas – a traditional bowed lyre, popular in Northern Europe since the early Middle Ages and played on Western Estonian islands until the beginning of the 20th century. Puuluup directs the vibrations of the talharpa’s horsehair strings through effect blocks and looper, uses alternative bowing, drumming techniques, and sounds. The mellow sighs of the talharpa are paired with electronically amplified echoes, knocks, creaks, and crackles, while still maintaining the instrument’s natural sound. They play with music as they play with words, sometimes creating their own language. Puuluup states: “We draw inspiration from Vormsi nights, trams in November, junkies in love, criminals from Odessa and Antonio Vivaldi." Ramo Teder is a multi-instrumentalist and has been known for his long solo project Pastacas. He is also a looping pioneer in Estonia and has mastered these skills for twenty years. Marko Veisson has a background in anthropology; his fieldwork in Northern Ghana, as well as his love for West African music, have influenced Puuluup’s style.