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She is currently the only professional kanklės player based in the United States, deftly weaving its harp-like tones into jazz, pop, and even electronic arrangements. On April 22, 2025, Smirnova will take the stage at TRUE NORTH, bringing her genre-defying sound to an event devoted to Nordic and Baltic arts and culture.
Career Highlights and Style
Smirnova’s music is a vibrant tapestry of influences. Firmly rooted in Lithuanian folk tradition, she interlaces ancient melodies with contemporary jazz harmonies and avant-garde experimentation. Her sultry, wide-ranging vocals can glide from a traditional chant to a modern scatting riff, sometimes even imitating bird calls – a signature flourish that adds an otherworldly atmosphere to her performances. Smirnova has released four albums of original music, each showcasing a different facet of her creativity. Her debut A Hunger Artist (2017) drew inspiration from Franz Kafka’s short story, while her second album Joan of Arc was written as a cinematic soundtrack for the 1928 silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc. In 2022, she released Bird Language, a stunning blend of Baltic folk and jazz that incorporates nature sounds alongside string quartet and saxophone arrangements, earning praise for its mystique and inventiveness. Most recently, Smirnova produced Kanklės in New York (2023), an album and accompanying sheet music book featuring 14 original pieces for kanklės, solo and with voice – further solidifying her role as a modern champion of this traditional instrument. Classically trained on the kanklės, she earned a BA in jazz vocals in Lithuania and a degree in contemporary composition from Berklee College of Music. Beyond performing, she is active in her community as a mentor and a voting member of the Recording Academy, underscoring her commitment to keeping folk music relevant in the modern world.
TRUE NORTH Connection
As part of TRUE NORTH’s lineup, Simona Smirnova will offer a live experience of her cross-cultural soundscapes. Often described as a “global kanklės virtuoso,” she brings both authenticity and innovation to the event. Audiences can expect Smirnova to appear on stage with her kanklės – an elegant, wooden instrument analogous to a harp or dulcimer – and transport the room with songs that travel from delicate folkloric whispers to bold jazz improvisations. In past shows, she’s been known to loop her instrument’s gentle strums, layer vocal harmonies, and even incorporate a theremin for added texture. Such eclectic talents make her set one of the most anticipated of the evening. At TRUE NORTH, which prides itself on showcasing the breadth of Nordic and Baltic art, Smirnova’s performance embodies that mission: she bridges old and new, local and global. Whether she’s performing a Lithuanian sutartinė (traditional chant) over a modern groove or a jazz standard infused with Baltic soul, her segment will underline the event’s celebration of cultural heritage and creative experimentation.
Simona Smirnova’s appearance at TRUE NORTH is a must-see for fans of world music and jazz alike. It’s a chance to witness an artist who “effervescently represents diversity and passion for the arts,” enchanting listeners with every pluck of a string. TRUE NORTH will take place on April 22, 2025 (Earth Day) at New York’s Estonian House, uniting talents from across Northern Europe in an immersive evening of performance. To hear Smirnova’s kanklės live and be part of this cultural celebration, visit Nordic Artists of New York online for tickets and information.
