Berlin-based Finnish artist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Jonsjooel has released Voices Of A First Day, a contemplative new EP that weaves together folk, jazz, and electronica into a vivid, immersive soundscape. This EP follows his singles “Goodbye Ah” and “Somewhere Else Than Here,” continuing his journey of introspective and nature-inspired storytelling. Each track on Voices Of A First Day invites listeners to reflect on the profound connections between humanity and the natural world. Inspired by Robert Lawlor’s book Voices of the First Day, which details the sustainable relationship Australia’s aboriginal population has maintained with the earth for thousands of years, Jonsjooel’s EP aims to echo this harmonious perspective through music.
Voices Of A First Day originally began as a collection of B-sides from Jonsjooel’s future album. However, these tracks quickly evolved into a stand-alone project with its own unique significance. “This EP is a homage to Lawlor’s book, which has greatly inspired me in both life and music,” Jonsjooel explains. “The music on this EP reflects my ideas and feelings about the unseen world, reaching beyond the limits of human perception.”
This release follows Jonsjooel’s debut album, Lullabies for Younger Self, which dropped in October 2023. The album, a tender dedication to his late grandmother, explored themes of self-care, compassion, and forgiveness, providing listeners with a musical space for reflection and solace. Voices Of A First Day extends these themes, seeking to inspire listeners to nurture themselves and respect the natural world.
The EP’s highlight track, “So Many Ways,” embodies Jonsjooel’s contemplative approach. Balancing delicate restraint with a deep, cinematic tension, the song reflects on time, consequences, and lost chances. Jonsjooel’s voice narrates these themes, drawing listeners into his reflections. “So Many Ways feels divided both in tuning and lyrics, almost on the brink of collapse,” Jonsjooel says. “I want listeners to find their own meaning in the song.”
Adding to its cultural resonance, “So Many Ways” will feature in the environmental documentary Echoes of the Rainforest, directed by Dael Sassoon. The film, funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, will explore the impact of deforestation and environmental conservation.
Crafted with a deep jazz background, Jonsjooel wrote, recorded, and produced the EP himself, with mixing by Totte Rautiainen and mastering by Milan Adamik at Masterworks. Each of the five tracks on Voices Of A First Day offers a distinctive look into Jonsjooel’s creative mind, weaving complex emotional layers that push boundaries and invite contemplation.
