Vajas, a Sámi-Norwegian band from Norway, featured Kristin Mellem on violin and vocals, Nils Johansen on guitars and synthesizers, and Ánde Somby on vocals and yoik. Mellem was a classically trained composer and violinist known for her diverse musical projects; Somby was a traditional yoiker who had been performing since the late 1970s and held a Ph.D. in Law; Johansen was a multi-instrumentalist and member of the Norwegian pop/indie duo Bel Canto. The group debuted at Nana Urfolkdager 2003 and have since toured internationally. In October 2006, Vajas released their first album, Sacred Stone. The band's song "Sparrow of the Wind" gained minor online popularity in 2009 when it inspired a trend of remakes and lip-syncing videos.
