Estonian accordionist and composer Tuulikki Bartosik is set to release an exploratory new album titled Playscapes that travels from Estonia to Sweden, from Finland to England and Japan. “There’s definitely the geographical element,” she agrees. “But it’s also about playing around with my thoughts and identity. People label me as Estonian, but I’ve actually spent over half my life in Sweden. From being young, I’ve travelled internationally. I think of myself as Baltoscandic. The whole world is my playscape.”
Playscapes marks a huge sonic change for Bartosik, exploring the use of pedals with her accordion, developing ambient colors and fascinating soundscapes. “They offer potential,” she explains. “As it was, the accordion didn’t satisfy my need for sounds, so I decided to try pedals. I studied for a year, learning how to use them and what they could do. I have a fascination for beats and death metal low bass, and I realized I could only do that with an accordion with help. It’s not so much about changing to something electronic as getting the full richness of the sound.”