REST YOUR STRONG HANDS. Well, that's the combination title track we'd give Laska's two new singles: "Strong Hands" and "Rest." These Chippewa Valley natives now residing in Minneapolis have been working hard amid pandemic times to create new music. (Submitted photos.)

The haunting melodies of a trio of songwriters continue to radiate throughout the Midwest.

Laska, a folk/indie group originally hailing from the Chippewa Valley and now residing in Minneapolis, have been busy creating during the coronavirus pandemic. The Morton sisters – Hannah Mae, Bex, and Mookie – have recently released the triumphant singles “Strong Hands” and “Rest,” two tracks laden with earthy instrumentation and emotion-evoking melodies.

“Strong Hands” features an acoustic guitar-driven flurry of layered vocals and a message of female empowerment wrought with societal awareness and potency. A fitting companion to “Strong Hands,” “Rest,” which features gorgeous strings and piano, is bound to compel the listener into a state of emotionally dreary sonic bliss.

The trio, along with Evan Middlesworth (producer/guitar), Keegan Burckhard (percussion), and Robbie Weisshaar (bass guitar) pride themselves on their sincere performances, which dissolve barriers between performer and audience, but they have been unable to perform live in more than a year due to the global pandemic.

The remainder of 2021 looks to be just as productive for Laska, with more music and (hopefully) a string of live performances well on the way.

You can hear Laska’s music now at laska1.bandcamp.com.