The Northern Voices is celebrating a milestone that once felt like a distant dream: our one-year anniversary as the premier digital platform for Nordic and Baltic culture in North America. Launched in mid-2024 with a bold mission to give Nordic and Baltic creatives “a louder voice in the American cultural landscape, one story at a time”, we have since grown into a thriving community with over 13,000 active users in our first year.

Next week, New York City will unveil Ernst Jaakson Way—a newly named section of East 34th Street honoring the legendary Estonian diplomat who kept his nation’s independence alive through half a century of Soviet occupation. The dedication, coinciding with Jaakson’s 120th birthday, celebrates not only the world’s longest-serving diplomat but also a man who turned a modest consulate office in Rockefeller Center into a beacon of freedom for Estonians worldwide.

In the summer of 1944, a young Estonian patriot named Endel Vaher fled his war-torn homeland with little more than faith and determination. Decades later – now known as Father Vello Salo – he would be revered as a quiet hero among Estonians abroad for keeping their culture and hope alive through the darkest years. From battlefields in Europe to classrooms in Toronto, and from Vatican City to remote Canadian forests, Salo’s life became a remarkable odyssey of service to his scattered nation.

In The Northern Voices, we often highlight artists who bridge their Nordic heritage with bold creativity, and Finnish songstress Camilla Bäckman exemplifies that spirit. Born in Helsinki and now making waves in the United States, Bäckman has carved an extraordinary path from classical violinist to multifaceted performer. She was a standout on The Voice of Finland and even became the first Finnish singer to join Cirque du Soleil’s ranks, before blossoming as a singer-songwriter with her own original music.

Kicks Off Tomorrow with U.S. Premieres, Oscar Contenders & Baltic Filmmakers

Estonia is celebrating a historic achievement in the Eurovision world: Gert Kark, a veteran television producer from Tallinn, has been appointed as the Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest – one of the highest roles in contest organization. This marks the first time an Estonian (and indeed, a Baltic native) will help lead the production of Europe’s biggest music event at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) level.

Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium resounded with a proud moment in Estonian music history on October 23, 2025. In a sold-out concert that marked the Estonian Festival Orchestra’s North American debut, conductor Paavo Järvi led his ensemble in an all–Arvo Pärt program – a high-profile tribute to the beloved Estonian composer’s 90th birthday. Learn more about the composer, listen to the live recording and get first impressions below.

In a world filled with tanks and troops, Iceland stands out for its complete lack of a standing military. This North Atlantic nation – a founding member of NATO – has no army, navy, or air force of its own. How does a country thrive without soldiers? The answer lies in Iceland’s unique history, strategic decisions, and a culture that prizes peace. From its early independence choices to modern-day defense agreements, Iceland has charted a peaceful path that trades battalions for alliances and coast guards.

As Russia intensifies its hybrid pressure on Europe, Estonia and Latvia—two of NATO’s smallest members—find themselves once again on the front line of history. Decades after regaining independence from Soviet rule, both nations are confronting a new wave of influence from Moscow, targeting their sizable Russian-speaking populations through propaganda, cyberattacks, and political manipulation. In response, Tallinn and Riga are tightening language laws, curbing Kremlin-linked organizations, and reinforcing social unity as a matter of national survival. For Estonians and Latvians abroad, especially in North America, these developments are more than headlines—they’re reminders of why their parents fled, and why safeguarding their homelands remains a shared mission across oceans.

When most of Europe’s thrones fell to revolution, the crowns of the North quietly endured. While the monarchies of France, Germany, and Russia crumbled, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway redefined royalty itself—transforming kings from rulers into national symbols. Their Nordic neighbors took different paths: Finland’s brief monarchy faded before it began, Iceland voted its king away, and the Baltic states built republics from scratch.

On an autumn evening in October 2000, a sleek modern building at 58 Park Avenue in Manhattan buzzed with celebration. Heads of state and royalty from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden gathered alongside New York dignitaries for the inauguration of Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America.

Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen has been cast in the lead role of Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson’s upcoming sequel to The Passion of the Christ, a film titled The Resurrection of the Christ. This landmark casting marks one of the most high-profile international roles ever undertaken by a Finnish actor, elevating Ohtonen from relative obscurity outside his home country to the face of a major Hollywood production.

In the heart of Estonia’s capital stands Hotel Viru, a Brutalist high-rise that once embodied a peculiar duality of the Cold War era. Opened in 1972 as Tallinn’s first “skyscraper,” the Viru was a bold Soviet attempt to showcase modernity and welcome foreign visitors – all while serving as a clandestine nest of KGB surveillance. During the Soviet decades, virtually every foreign tourist in Estonia laid their head in this 23-story hotel, oblivious to the fact that even the ashtrays might be listening.

Demi Lovato’s power ballad “Skyscraper” became an international anthem of resilience in 2011 – a song that millions of fans found strength in during dark times. Yet, few realize that behind this American hit stands an Estonian creative force: singer-songwriter Kerli Kõiv.

In September 2019, viewers of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon were treated to an unlikely musical mashup. Puerto Rican rap star Residente brought fellow Boricua artist Bad Bunny on stage to debut their new reggaeton single “Bellacoso” – but the performance opened with the lilting melody of “Ievan Polkka,” a 1930s Finnish folk song. As Fallon enthusiastically introduced the act, the show’s cameras panned to a quartet of Nordic singers delivering the famous Finnish polka refrain a cappella.