Hiya Conchis, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
Tell us bit about where you are from and how you got into music?
I’m from Helsinki, Finland, but I grew up in the countryside. My parents signed me up for violin lessons when I was seven, and I began singing in the choir shortly after. There I learned the basics of music, but it wasn’t until my sister got a nylon guitar, which I hijacked, that practicing started to feel like fun. I started writing my own songs and soon found friends to form a band with. I sang in that band for many years before venturing out on my own.
What’s the live music scene like in Helsinki right now?
Helsinki has a surprisingly rich live music scene for a city of its size. There are a lot of talented Finnish artists creating original music, and I’ve discovered many great bands through local gigs. Sometimes I wish more international artists would include Finland on their tours rather than stopping in Sweden, but on the other hand, that has made me appreciate the local scene even more.
Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
One interesting Finnish band I like is Ruusut. Their music feels surprising and fresh—something I haven’t really heard before—and they’re all incredibly talented musicians.
Do you think it’s easy to become a victim of our surroundings sometimes?
I think we’re all shaped by our surroundings, but I don’t like the idea of being a victim of them. Life can throw things at you that are completely outside your control, but there’s still value in trying to create meaning, beauty, or connection despite that.
What are your ambitions for Conchis?
I’d like to continue making albums, trying to evolve as a musician, producer and songwriter as I go. I want to create conceptual worlds for the different albums. Since I’m an art director, I like to think about the visual aspects as well. I’m currently also writing a book as Conchis, which I hope will get published one day. I’m currently still ill with ME/CFS, so playing live shows isn’t possible at the moment, but I hope it one day will be.
Whats your favourite social media platform to use and why?
Instagram. I’m a visual person, so I like that that’s the main focus. And it’s less chaotic and hectic than TikTok. I just wish it would have better editing and linking features, among other things.
We believe it’s essential to have a presence on Facebook, Instagram and X to introduce yourself to all the different types of audiences out there, what are your thoughts on that?
As a relatively unknown artist, it’s definitely useful to be on those platforms so people can find you. But I kind of like the idea of music being the main thing to focus on, not social media. Some of the artists I admire, such as Lorn, have almost empty Instagram accounts, and maybe posts something once a year before deleting it a day after. That approach also appeals to me.
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
I think it’s a challenging time to be a smaller independent artist. On one hand, it’s never been easier to release music and reach listeners around the world. On the other hand, there’s an enormous amount of competition and content, which makes it difficult to stand out.
Labels have become increasingly cautious about who they sign, and many artists are expected to build an audience on their own before a label is willing to take a chance on them. Making an album still requires a significant investment of time and money, but the revenue from streaming rarely reflects that effort. Even promotion, which used to come from magazines and radio, often comes with a price tag now.
The system can feel unbalanced at times, with much of the financial risk falling on the artist. Despite that, people continue to make music because they love it, and I think that’s what keeps the industry moving forward.
Whats your thoughts on AI generated music?
I’m not a big fan. I’m interested in the people behind the music – their thoughts, life experiences and vision – doing it out of the love for music, not AI trying to help an artist earn as many streams as possible. I don’t see the point in doing it at all if it hasn’t come out of a need to express yourself musically.
Whats the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
That my need to create is so strong, that I will do it no matter the circumstances. During the creation of this album, for instance, I was so severely ill with ME/CFS, unable to walk even a meter, use any creative tools, listen to music, or even write anything down, so I composed it entirely in my mind – every beat, bass line, melody, chord progression and lyric imagined in silence. I even went as far as to picturing the exact sounds I would use for synths. When I got slightly better again, it was a quick process to get everything down on tape, since I had it all ready in my mind.
What’s currently in your ears and on rotation at the moment?
I always go back to the same artists: Thom Yorke, Lorn, Fever Ray, Clark, Rival Consoles. The album I listened to most last year was Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke’s collaboration Tall Tales.
What was your worst experience on stage? Any funny stories to share?
A few come to mind. One was the second gig I ever played, when I had a complete blackout as the song started. I didn’t know from what note or what lyrics I should sing. I was just blank. Eventually, I just pushed air out of my mouth as I was about to come in, and luckily it all came rushing back.
Another time was when our guitarist from my former band was supposed start a song. But he started playing in the wrong rhythm, from the wrong note, the wrong chords – something he just made up. The rest of us froze for a while, then went along, inventing lyrics and melodies as we went, jamming a whole new song. Somehow we made it to the end and nobody even noticed.
Got any funny stories from life on the road?
Our band once played at an event with a few other Finnish acts. It was in another town and we lodged at a school together, everyone sleeping in rooms next to each other. Two of the other band’s names were Anal Thunder and Kakka-hätä 77, which means “Needing to poop 77”. When we woke in the morning, it was to a horrific smell. Turned out someone had taken a dump in the middle of the floor in our room. Let’s just say those bands immediately became the prime suspects.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
As I mentioned earlier, my upcoming album Gravity was composed while I was severely ill with ME/CFS, during which I lived on the bathroom floor in silence and darkness for months. It’s a bit heavier than my debut album Chapters, which I think is natural, since it was composed during more difficult times. I wanted the album title to reflect both the force that pulls us towards the ground as well as the emotional weight we carry. I didn’t have much else to do there on the bathroom floor than to think, so I started entertaining myself by coming up with melodies and lyrics. The subjects came naturally and easily, and at some point it was hard keeping track of all the ideas. Since I couldn’t write anything down or use voice memos, I had to go through the songs every day in my mind so that I wouldn’t forget them. My head started to feel a bit crowded, but I somehow remembered them all.
What was the recording process like?
The recording process itself was very quick, since I had already imagined everything in my mind. I recorded everything at home – I always record vocals in my tiny walk-in closet, where the acoustics are best – and then later began working on the tracks with my producer Jonas Verwijnen.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Not really. It came out the way I envisioned it. But maybe I would delete one track so that the album would be a bit shorter. It was just hard to know which track to cut, so they all ended up on record.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
I’d like people to remember that progress isn’t always visible. We live in a culture that celebrates constant movement and achievement, but sometimes simply getting through the day is an accomplishment. Some of the most meaningful things I’ve created came from periods when it looked like nothing was happening at all.
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