When I started playing the ukulele sometime in the early 90s, the world looked different. This was before digital photos, Facebook, and viral clips. At that time, there were no preconceived notions about what a ukulele "should" be.
Let's make a comparison. If someone walks into a room today with a ukulele in hand, the surroundings react immediately. Often with a smile and an assumption that a party is imminent. Sometimes with a sneer and the thought that here comes a "wannabe musician" with a toy. But there will always be a reaction.
Now imagine the same person walking in with a clarinet. The reaction will probably be little to none at all. Many might not even know what kind of instrument it is.
When I started playing, the ukulele had roughly the same status as the clarinet. It was a utility instrument, nothing more or less. I played folk music for dancing and I played songs. The joy was there, absolutely, but it was a byproduct of the music – not the instrument's entire raison d'être.
When the Ukulele Became a Toy
Sometime around the great ukulele boom in Sweden and the Nordic countries in the early 2000s, something happened. Suddenly, quantities of cheap, unplayable, and pastel-colored ukuleles were being sold on every street corner. A whole generation learned that the ukulele was not a serious instrument, but at best a fun gadget.
I remember how difficult I found it to deal with this. The attitude spread to the communities where I played. It actually went so far that in certain contexts, I chose to bring a guitar or a bass instead – simply because I knew I would then be received with more respect. I couldn't stand the sneer.
The Balancing Act: Playfulness Is Not the Same as a Toy
Today, 20 years later, the pendulum has slowly begun to swing back. For better or worse. I hope and believe that Nordisk Ukulele has been a contributor here.
But my relationship with the instrument is still paradoxical. On the one hand, with the stubbornness of a fool, I maintain that a ukulele is not a toy. It requires craftsmanship, proper strings, and a professional setup to have a worthy voice.
But – and this is important – there is an inherent playfulness in the ukulele that we must not lose.
The fact is, I try to transfer this playfulness to everything I do. When I play guitar or bass, or when I select instruments for the shop, I look for that spark. We musicians often tend to become far too serious as soon as the instrument gets bigger or more expensive. We get stuck in technique, prestige, and the "right" way of doing things.
Why Nordisk Ukulele Exists
My vision for Nordisk Ukulele is to balance and inspire. I want to give the ukulele the seriousness it deserves as an instrument, but at the same time, I want to give the guitar, the bass – and indeed life in general – that dose of playfulness that the ukulele carries.
Music – and life in general – should not be taken entirely seriously all the time. We need playfulness to be able to breathe. But for play to be rewarding, we also need tools that actually work.
Because when you have an instrument that works and is in tune, whether it's a relatively inexpensive ukulele or an expensive guitar, you no longer have to fight the technique. Then you can start to play and truly have fun.
