Voices that seemed to rise from the stone
There are moments in the festival season when a building feels as if it is holding its breath, waiting for something remarkable to begin. St Andrews in Grinton had that quiet sense of anticipation as the audience settled into the pews. Soft light rested on the stone, and the calm of the church created a gentle stillness before the first note was sung.
Systir were making their debut in the United Kingdom, and there was a natural curiosity in the room. Their name means sister in Icelandic, and the word suits them. Their music feels rooted in closeness, in shared breath and shared intention. When they began to sing, their voices rose with a clarity that felt both ancient and immediate, as though the space had been waiting for this sound.
The programme moved between original songs, re imagined works by the eleventh century abbess Hildegard of Bingen, and pieces by contemporary artists such as Janelle Monáe and Kate Bush. The shifts in style felt effortless, as if all these voices across time had always belonged in the same conversation. Systir carried each piece with a sense of purpose, weaving stories that felt timeless.
There were moments when the harmonies seemed to shimmer in the air, lingering in the arches long after the final note. The audience sat completely still, held by the sound, aware that they were experiencing something rare. Photographing the performance was a pleasure. The soft glow of the church lights and the focus on the singers created an atmosphere that invited quiet observation.
I was only able to stay for the first half, but even within that time it was clear that Systir were offering something special. Their presence, their connection, and the way their voices filled the space left a lasting impression. Stepping back out into the evening light, the sound of their singing stayed with me, echoing gently in the mind long after the doors closed.
Some performances linger not because of their scale, but because of their honesty. This was one of them.
To find out more about Systir and their work, visit their website at https://www.systir.ie
