When I first composed "I am Nomad," the song was very much a testament to my Inuit heritage and the profound journey our ancestors took over 20,000 years ago. They traveled from what is now Russia - crossing the Bering Strait - onward to Alaska, and eventually, some of them, including my own lineage, made their way to Greenland. This long, perilous migration inspires much of the imagery behind the melody, transforming it into a cinematic dreamscape that speaks of survival, triumph, and the human spirit.
Origins of the Composition
The melody for "I am Nomad" was first created during a time when I could still play the piano with ease. Unfortunately, I lost much of my piano-playing ability after a parasitic infection in the late 1980s, which coincidentally happened around the time I was auditioning for the band Pretty Maids. Despite the setback, I continued my musical journey using different tools. Recently, I turned to EZkeys 2 software to help replicate the chords and voicings of the original piece, ensuring I could capture the song’s essence just as I had first conceived it.
A Tribute to Inuit Resilience
The main theme of "I am Nomad" is the resilience and courage of the Inuit who made that treacherous journey millennia ago. It is no small feat to survive and thrive in such harsh environments. My ancestors, as some family stories go, joined a later migration that reached Greenland around 500-1,000 years ago, while others arrived approximately 1,000 years earlier from Canada. In my dreams, I often relive the dangers of those times. There is an inexplicable familiarity with places I have never physically visited, and I sometimes wonder if these memories are preserved in our genes or carried on frequencies beyond our understanding.
Embracing Fears - and the Bears
A recurring element in these dreams is the presence of bears. I have always had a deep-seated fear of them, yet I once found myself on a bear hunt in Alaska without any intention to kill. Strangely enough, the bears seemed to sense this - they left us alone, almost as if they understood we meant them no harm. This idea of mutual respect and connection with nature also weaves its way into the music of "I am Nomad," especially through the use of the Inuit drum and the inclusion of original vocal techniques reminiscent of our traditional songs.
Instrumentation and Collaboration
Originally, the melody was played solely on the piano. However, after losing my childhood friend and renowned musician Peter Leibhardt, I felt drawn to replace certain piano lines with an acoustic guitar. This decision was both emotional and practical - the piano parts were already quite demanding, and the guitar lent a warm, human touch that felt right for honoring Peter’s memory. Additionally, I used strings from Crow Hill companies' "The Vault" series to create the layered, atmospheric backdrop. Together, the drum, acoustic guitar, and carefully arranged orchestration aim to paint a sonic picture of our ancestors’ journey and the fragile beauty of the Arctic landscapes they crossed.
From Music to Coding - A Life in Two Worlds
Following my abrupt departure from the music scene due to my hand injury, I transitioned into a career as a hardcore coder. My work spanned a range of fields and even involved projects for the Swedish military, among other organizations worldwide. Yet, music never truly left my heart. Now at 62, revisiting "I am Nomad" feels like stepping back into a part of myself that was left behind but never lost.
Reflections on the Journey
Today, as I continue to dream of distant tundras, formidable mountain passes, and the sounds of wolves echoing across frozen landscapes, I feel more certain than ever that "I am Nomad" is more than just a song. It is a musical time capsule that carries the spirit of our Arctic odyssey, the persistent will of our ancestors, and the profound mystery of cultural memory. Whether you are Inuit or from a completely different background, I hope that listening to "I am Nomad" offers a momentary glimpse into the grandeur, danger, and triumph that shaped not only my forebears but also the person I have become. After decades spent apart from piano, it has been a true blessing to revisit this composition and share a piece of our rich, enduring legacy.
This song is dedicated to my childhood friend, Anders Samuelsen, whom we sadly lost to the sea in a boat accident - loved and never forgotten.