Having already established herself as one of the more innovative names on the rise right now, Finnish artist Conchis is now looking to cement her dynamic legacy to date with the release of her hotly-tipped debut album 'Chapters'.
Featuring the previously shared gems 'Trouble' and 'Cray Cray', this new eleven-track collection continues that broad and immersive aesthetic she has been crafting for herself. Brimming with vibrant textures and alluring soundscapes throughout, 'Chapters' certainly makes a serious impression on the new music scene today.
So with the new album available to stream now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The guitar. When I was 14, my sister got a guitar, and when I tried playing it, I was struck by how much better it sounded compared to the violin I’d been playing for years. It was a real aha moment—I realised I could create my own songs with it.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
As a kid, I was into melodic pop—bands like A-ha, The Beach Boys, Nick Kershaw, and Bryan Adams. In my teenage years, I moved on to grunge, then got into bands like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, before diving into a serious shoegaze phase.
What was the first album you remember owning?
It was probably a Bryan Adams album, maybe Reckless or something like that.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Thom Yorke’s Harrowdown Hill.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I usually just try to live life—reading a lot, listening to loads of new music, and looking at art—to gather new impulses and experiences, so I have something fresh to write about. Lyrics often come to me when I reflect on life, situations, and people in general, while the music typically emerges through experimenting with chords, riffs, sounds, or beats.
However, when I fell ill with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), my songwriting shifted from experimenting with instruments and chords to composing entirely in my head. ME/CFS can be an incredibly debilitating illness, and for many years, I wasn’t able to open my computer to physically make music, record voice memos, or even write down lyrics. Instead, I began composing and memorizing entire albums in my head. It was a new way for me to compose, but it worked—I wrote my next two albums that way.
As for rituals, I mute my phone, make myself some coffee, and focus on getting into the right mood. I like to be as undisturbed as possible. And if it’s in the evening, it’s nice to light a candle to set the mood.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I always go back to Thom Yorke, Radiohead and Atoms For Peace. Lorn is another artist I never get tired of.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Maybe Fever Ray.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
It’s the feeling I get when I’m working on something—like music is a friend that understands me. It almost feels like a sacred relationship. Another great moment is when a song I’m working on clicks, and I just know it’s going to be good.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Either technical issues, or when something I had in my head doesn’t work once it’s recorded. Or when I just can’t capture the right feeling in the vocal takes.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
It must have been from my producer, Jonas Verwijnen: that I’m not a machine and shouldn’t beat myself up if the vocal takes aren’t perfect. What I hear as flaws might come across as vulnerability to others. That advice was especially helpful when I had to limit myself to five vocal takes per song because of ME/CFS.
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Conchis' debut album 'Chapters' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.