Returning to Musical Authenticity—a Feature Episode with Vaiko Eplik

(In English/inglise keeles)

Listen here or on your favourtie podcast platform

What does Vaiko Eplik mean when he compares the farming his parents did with what he now does as a musician? When you hear him talk about writing and recording music, one thing is clear—he nurtures and grows his songs personally, and cares about owning the music himself.

 Making music with the Estonian language is also especially meaningful. In this feature episode of EstoCast, hear his reasons why.

Also hear about:

 -his performance in the Eurovision Song Contest

 -what it means to be an “asjaarmastaja”

 -how he discovered the ingenuity of music recorded by diaspora Estonians.

 -and much more!

While you’re listening, we’ve slipped in some samples of his music for your enjoyment.

Content mentioned in this episode includes:

 -Photos from TC50+2 party at Toronto’s Axis Club: https://eestielu.com/fotod-tc50-2-pidu-axis-club-is-koos-lexsoul-dance-machine-the-shuffle-demons-ja-vaiko-eplikikuga/ 

 -Vaiko’s visit to Ehatare: https://eestielu.com/et/ehatares-kulas-vaiko-eplik/ 

 -Vaiko’s favourite väliseesti song, “Kajakad” by René Ufer and Lilian Treiberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvpxSJjIt4c&ab_channel=ContainYrBrain 

 -Grand Analog’s “Mutations”, the hip hop song that samples “Kajakad”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95n05opKGm0&ab_channel=GrandAnalog 

 -Vaiko’s old band Ruffus/Claire’s Birthday performing at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foK_HYuVCPY 

 -“Dzhässitapp”, from Vaiko’s 2011 album V ehk tants klavessiini ümber: https://open.spotify.com/track/63swKpZOOFoepbV2QFTBJB?si=6ada312c490f40f9 

 -Nalivka, the berry liqueur Vaiko makes: https://internationalmenu.com/black-currants-and-gooseberry-nalivka-homemade-liqueur/ 

 -R. Stevie Moor, Vaiko Eplik’s hero: http://www.rsteviemoore.com/home.html 

 -“Nelgid”,  Vaiko’s take on bossa nova from his 2014 album Nelgid: https://open.spotify.com/track/6rDBXVxQTQGyUOsH1oXvF7?si=df8ba48c98b14a81 

 –Code Brown, the 2022 album from Vaiko’s son, under the name Borm Bubu: https://bormbubu.bandcamp.com/album/code-brown 

 –Sel suvekuul, Joyguns’ album of cover songs from 2022: https://open.spotify.com/album/1UcqQvc0R9QH0bHksY9npr 

 -Vaiko’s 2014 album Nõgesed, featuring songs “Mõtetes mõrudais” and “Lauludest ja muust” included in this podcast: https://open.spotify.com/album/4VQ33ZdCPecICbCKk0Gs4E