Their music was an integral part of that connection and a vehicle they rode into other worlds and states of mind. I'm not familiar with the others. I love the keyed fiddle, Hurdy Gurdy and other Scandinavian traditional instruments and these groups have done great things in adding modern sounds to this haunting old music. I love the singer in Garmarna. What we do is somewhat different, harder edged, but yes, I feel a bond and a network forming among musicians worldwide who are experimenting with these new genres.
Any smart person can put together intellectually engaging music.
The trick is to give it soul and still challenge the mind. The art of creating mood and texture is a mysterious thing and to be done right requires equal parts luck and planning. In the last years as a solo composer. I've learned to trust my instincts and go with what sounds good rather than what might be more clever or complicated. Gradually over the last 20 years I've learned I think, how to weave a tale, draw people in, take them on a ride and bring them back in one piece while still keeping them guessing.