Tolyqyn

Mesmerizing plucked memories 

A name like Tolyqyn initially conjures up icy images of sledge dogs and blinding snowdrifts, but their repetitive and mesmerizing plucked melodies take you to warmer places, like the Mississippi Delta or the Gambia River Basin. Yet it’s not a blues guitar or African kora you’re hearing, but the viola of Roland Satterwhite.

Brand-new band

This Canadian viola player and singer was a guest at Music Meeting Festival in 2019, with the Dutch North Sea String Quartet. Now he’s back with a brand-new band, formed in his current hometown of Berlin. The dexterous trio effortlessly moves between thriving griot music, skinny delta blues and gritty rock, without overlooking spontaneous experiment. One moment you find yourself in the middle of a catchy pop song, the next you’re diving into the world of free impro.

In guitarist Tal Arditi and drummer Rafat Muhammad, Satterwhite found not only equally enlightened spirits, but also two instrumental heavyweights to accompany him.

Discover more!

Get to know Tolygyn by checking out their Music Meeting Concert, the Music Meeting Talks interview with Roland Satterwhite following the concert and by reading the article 'Introducing Roland Satterwhite.'