Puuluup

Puuluup was formed in 2014 by two talharpa enthusiasts Ramo Teder and Marko Veisson. 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 already. Marko Veisson has a background in anthropology and his fieldwork in Northern Ghana as well as his love for West-African music have definitely influenced Puuluup’s style.

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 20th century. Puuluup directs the vibrations of Talharpa’s horsehair strings through effect blocks and looper, uses alternative bowing and drumming techniques and sounds. The mellow sighs of 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. As the band states: “We draw inspiration from Vormsi nights, trams in November, junkies in love, criminals from Odessa and Antonio Vivaldi”. As a side dish, when giving live concerts they also offer choreographic flittering which emerged on its own during the numerous days these two man spent in the rehearsal rooms.

Because of their unique approach to this traditional instrument Puuluup received several music awards in Estonia including the best Band, the best Ensemble, for the best Album. Their popularity in Estonia and abroad is rapidly growing. The band performed in Canada, USA, China, Chile, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Macedonia, Hungary, Slovenia, Ukraine, Taiwan among others.

Lineup:
Ramo Teder – talharpa, vocal, looper and effects pedals
Marko Veisson – talharpa, vocal, effects pedal board

Puuluup about themselves:
Two men in midlife crisis who have decided to start living rock & roll lifestyle with the help of their instruments talharpas.

What inspires them:
All kinds of random sources of inspiration are similarly important for their music – unexpected excerpts from Polish TV series, old Estonian punk, klezmer, African gospel, Sahel music, hip-hop, Antonio Vivaldi even R&B, even windmills and wires forgotten in the car…

Who inspires them:
Buena Vista Social Club – they make them feel still rather young and give hope that they have a long career ahead.

Their performance:
The lyrics are to set the mood. Mostly they are rather abstract and are open to different interpretations. Puuluup always wear black suits on the stage which may mean that they are taking themselves very seriously.