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| Conchis by Marko Rantanen |
Five years in the making, Finnish artist Conchis unveils her debut album Chapters, a raw and emotive exploration of human psychology. Created while grappling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), the record’s vulnerability shines through in its stripped-back vocal approach and viscerally soothing electronic atmospheres. Inspired by John Fowles’ The Magus and tarot symbolism, Chapters intertwines elemental sounds with themes of light and dark, beauty and roughness. Here, Conchis shares the journey behind this striking debut.
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NT: Hello, Conchis! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. How are you feeling today?
C: My pleasure! I’m feeling pretty good today. I made some music, had coffee with my sister, and just took a little nap, so it’s been a nice and relaxing day overall.
NT: Finland’s environment seems to weave its way into so much art. How has it influenced your work? Are you based in the city or somewhere quieter?
C: I grew up in the countryside but now live in the city. Nature is a huge source of inspiration for me—it’s almost a necessity. Even though I’m in the city, I live close to a central park that’s basically a forest just a few hundred meters from my home. I try to spend as much time in nature as possible. I find I’m more creative in peaceful environments. Without too much external stimuli, I have to create my own entertainment—just like when I was a kid and had to come up with things to do in the countryside. Nature plays a significant role in this album. I sampled the four elements—earth, air, water, and fire — throughout the songs. For example, I recorded sounds from the forest, like stones clicking, gravel crunching, breaking twigs, and dry leaves. There are also a few songs that have strong nature themes.
NT: Your new album, Chapters, is the result of five years of hard work, and it’s clear every track is carefully crafted. What has this process taught you about patience—and how has your sound evolved over time?
C: I had almost finished the album in 2019, but then I fell ill with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). I had to put the entire project on hold for many years and thought I’d never be able to make music again. Thankfully, this spring, I started feeling better, recorded the vocals, and completed the album. I worried the songs might feel outdated, but music has a way of being timeless. My sound has become slightly more distorted and gritty since then, but my producer Jonas Verwijnen and I decided to keep the original versions without making many changes. When I couldn’t create anything due to my illness, I had to learn patience the hard way. Even small efforts could set me back for weeks or months, so it was always a case of one step forward, two steps back. I’ve always wanted things done immediately, so this taught me a huge lesson about patience and that things can be achieved although you do a little at a time.
NT: The album moves through a wide emotional range. “Floods” feels dark, while “Trouble” has a brighter tone. Were these contrasts intentional, and what do they reflect?
C: The contrasts weren’t planned—they came naturally. I decided early on not to censor myself and to write whatever felt authentic. I usually lean toward darker themes in my music, but I tend to balance them with lighter and more hopeful moments. Each song is deeply personal and reflects a specific feeling, situation, or thought I’ve experienced. That’s why I named the album Chapters—the songs feel like distinct chapters of my life.
NT: You managed chronic fatigue syndrome while producing Chapters, and I read you limited yourself to five vocal takes per song. How did that influence your performances, and what did you learn about your voice?
C: Because of my illness, I couldn’t sing for many years, and my voice was very rusty. When I started singing again, I struggled to hit certain notes and had to retrain my voice gently. When I started recording, I could only manage five takes at a time once a week, which amounted to about half an hour of singing. I had to accept that my voice wasn’t what it used to be and let go of perfectionism. I focused on capturing the right emotion rather than delivering a flawless technical performance. I hope this limitation added a sense of vulnerability and rawness to the album. I also learned that my voice needs regular practice to stay strong—but it will recover if you nurture it over time.
NT: The Magus and the tarot’s Magician card influenced this album. How do these themes appear in your music?
C: I chose the name Conchis from the book The Magus, so I wanted the music to reflect that connection. Initially, I considered manipulating sounds in the same way the character Conchis manipulates people in the story. However, I was drawn to the Magician card in tarot, which is closely tied to the character, and decided to incorporate the four elements the Magician commands—earth, water, air, and fire—into the music instead. These elements are sampled throughout the album. Some are more recognizable than others, but I like that they remain pretty subtle and don’t overpower the songs. I also thought of naming a track The Waiting Room, as a direct reference to a part of the book, but I never wrote it. Maybe it’ll find its way into a future album.
NT: Do you use tarot in your personal life, or was it more of a creative lens for you?
C: I use tarot occasionally, but I don’t take it too seriously. I’ve always been drawn to the mystical and symbolic, so I enjoy reading cards for fun—especially for friends’ birthdays or the New Year. I also wanted to design Conchis-themed tarot cards with a minimalist black-and-white aesthetic, like the rest of the visuals I’ve created for the project. It felt fitting since tarot is rooted in the same four elements I used on the album. It was a nice challenge to try to interpret the usually very rich and colorful tarot cards into the exact opposite.
NT: There are elemental sounds woven into Chapters. These, along with tarot, give the album a mystical feel. Is astrology part of your life too? What’s your sign, and does it match your personality?
C: I think astrology is fun, though I don’t take it too seriously. I’m a Taurus sun and Scorpio ascendant, and I think they fit me pretty well. I’m dependable, artistic, stubborn, and love beauty—classic Taurus traits. But I’m also drawn to the mystical and can be intense and introspective, which feels very Scorpio. They’re opposite signs, so it’s an interesting mix.
NT: If you could wake up with any new ability, what would it be?
C: Probably time travel. It would be fascinating to visit different eras—and maybe fix past mistakes. If it had to be a non-supernatural ability, I’d love to be able to play any instrument like a true virtuoso.
NT: Themes like loss and yearning are strong in Chapters. Did personal experiences shape these songs? Could you share one?
C: Most of the songs are based on personal experiences. For example, “Just Not There” came from a time when I was working as an art director while making an EP with my band. That combination led to a bad burnout. I’d experienced similar burnouts before and started to believe I wasn’t meant to make music, even though it’s my biggest passion. It was a hard realization. Later, when I stopped working due to my illness and focused solely on music at my own pace, I realized it was the combination of a stressful job and music that caused the burnouts—not the music itself. That was a wonderful relief.
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| Conchis by Marko Rantanen |
NT: How did collaborating with Joonas Hakava and Austin Finamore shape the album?
C: Joonas is a good friend, and I always turn to him for advice on my music. He played bass on “People (Chapters)” and “Trouble”, and while the basslines didn’t change much from the originals, his feedback on the album was very valuable. Austin Finamore, a friend of Joonas, was visiting Finland, and since he plays the cello, I saw it as a great opportunity to include live strings on the album. Recording with him was a fun experience, though the string arrangements stayed pretty close to my original vision.
NT: When writing, do lyrics lead the music, or does music reveal the words?
C: I used to start by writing the music, then singing gibberish over it and uncover words or phrases hidden within. I saw this as a way for my subconscious to express itself, letting the music and glimpses of words guide me toward what needed to be said. However, my illness forced me to change my process for the next albums. I couldn’t physically create or play music, record anything, or even listen to it. Instead, I began writing songs and lyrics entirely in my head, often starting with the lyrics that evolved from a single thought. Now, I use both approaches depending on the situation. When I have a strong emotion to express, I begin with the music, letting it shape the message. But if I have a clear idea or thought I want to explore, I start with the lyrics and build the music around them.
NT: What’s your most treasured possession?
C: Probably my computer because it holds so much of my work—and a big painting my sister has made.
NT: What do you hope listeners will take away from Chapters?
C: I’ve been thrilled to hear that people find my music hard to compare to anyone else’s. I hope listeners feel they’ve heard something unique. I also hope the album resonates with anyone who’s struggled and reminds them they’re not alone.
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Chapters by Choncis is out now on Kieku Records
Conchis on Instagram
Conchis on Bandcamp
Conchis on Spotify