Markus Johnsen Thonhaugen / iDJa

iDJa. Foto: Steve Nilsen

iDJa, also known as Markus Johnsen Thonhaugen, is a Sámi electronic artist and producer from Helgeland in Northern Norway. His music combines club music, ambient soundscapes, joik, Sámi language, field recordings and experimental sound design. Drawing on nature, Sámi culture and his time in Berlin's electronic music scene, iDJa creates work that moves between dancefloor energy and slower, more reflective listening spaces.

Among his projects are the club-oriented EP Klubbas, the ambient EP Šuvva, as well as several singles and albums. His work often explores themes such as identity, nature, land rights, and climate change. He has performed on stages and at festivals in Sápmi, Berlin, Prague, Kathmandu, and Stockholm, and has been featured in German electronic music media such as FAZEmag, Tonspion, and Musikblog. FAZEmag gave Klubbas 8/10 and Šuvva 9/10. In 2024, he reached the semifinals of Norway's Got Talent together with Ramona Linnea.

He has studied Electronic Music Production & Performance at Catalyst Institute in Berlin and holds an MBA in Strategy and Leadership from Nord University in Bodø. He is studying North Sámi in his spare time and has a professional background in journalism and communication.