Sakia – Exclusive Interview
Since its founding in 2015, SAKIA has managed to win the hearts of many. We decided to talk with the band members.
Sakia is a Finnish indie-rock band from Jalasjärvi, formed in 2005. The lineup consists of Matti Perälä (vocals), Juho Mäntylä (keyboards), Timo Mäkelä (guitar), Mikko Kivistö (guitar), Ville Rantamäki (bass) and Petri Haakana (drums). The band originally went by the name The Maytoes until drummer Petri Haakana came up with the name Sakia. Their first single under the new name, "God Forsaken Land", was recorded in late 2014 at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki with Swedish producer Jonas Olsson. The second single, "Parallel Universe", was released in December 2016 and made it to the Finland Viral 50 playlist on Spotify. In 2017, the band released the single "New Silence". We spoke with the band about their music, creative
How did you come up with the idea of creating the band?
Juho (keys) and Mikko (guitar) were the founding fathers of Sakia since around 2004 they started doing music together. Back then the music had more electro vibe to it. Both Juho and Mikko had been members of different bands in Jalasjärvi earlier in life so they invited their old band members to join this new band. Thus, Sakia was created from the “remains” of two bands. Ha...
Your music is changing with the time. Your latest single "New Silence" sounds very darkly, like a rock-ballad. What does influence your music and the mood in general?
Often times when a song is first created, there is already a concept of the story of the lyrics too. The story might actually influence the ambience of the song the most. Sometimes there isn’t any story yet at that point and then the harmony later on inspires the story for the lyrics.
With New Silence and our next release “Black Clouds” we were actually inspired by particular songs. This is rare for us. These were songs by names like Bon Iver, The Weeknd and Depeche Mode. We did pre-production by ourselves for the first time.
Do you have any rituals that you conduct before going on stage, for example, to overcome fear or to feel unity? Do you have a fear of performing on stage?
Excellent question. I guess we joke around quite a lot to smoothen the atmosphere. Also right before going on stage we raise our hands from floor up high and yell “SAKIA!”. Just a stupid thing we are used to do.
Last summer we got a little serious before our Aukusti festival gig because Timo (guitar) almost choked on a pill and water backstage. Luckily there we still six guys on stage when we went on with the gig and we actually had a good laugh about it.
Juho (keys) and Mikko (guitar) were the founding fathers of Sakia since around 2004 they started doing music together. Back then the music had more electro vibe to it. Both Juho and Mikko had been members of different bands in Jalasjärvi earlier in life so they invited their old band members to join this new band. Thus, Sakia was created from the “remains” of two bands. Ha...
Your music is changing with the time. Your latest single "New Silence" sounds very darkly, like a rock-ballad. What does influence your music and the mood in general?
Often times when a song is first created, there is already a concept of the story of the lyrics too. The story might actually influence the ambience of the song the most. Sometimes there isn’t any story yet at that point and then the harmony later on inspires the story for the lyrics.
With New Silence and our next release “Black Clouds” we were actually inspired by particular songs. This is rare for us. These were songs by names like Bon Iver, The Weeknd and Depeche Mode. We did pre-production by ourselves for the first time.
Do you have any rituals that you conduct before going on stage, for example, to overcome fear or to feel unity? Do you have a fear of performing on stage?
Excellent question. I guess we joke around quite a lot to smoothen the atmosphere. Also right before going on stage we raise our hands from floor up high and yell “SAKIA!”. Just a stupid thing we are used to do.
Last summer we got a little serious before our Aukusti festival gig because Timo (guitar) almost choked on a pill and water backstage. Luckily there we still six guys on stage when we went on with the gig and we actually had a good laugh about it.
Musiikkinne on aina ollut todella melankolinen ja romanttinen. Miten juuri sellainen soundi syntyi?
Luulen, että se syntyi hiljalleen ajan kuluessa. Olemme kaikki tykänneet aina kauniista ja melankolisesta musiikista, se varmasti kuuluu soundissamme. Sitten kun soitettiin yhdessä ja työskenneltiin studiossa, alkoi syntyä bändin oma soundi. Kitaristimme Toni Lundenin soitanta on myös alusta asti ollut olennainen osa bändin soundia.
Miltä musiikkinne kuulostaa, kun kuulette sitä radiosta?
Se kuulostaa hyvältä, mutta yllättää aina! Siihen ei osaa varautua, kun kuulee oman bändin musiikkia sattumalta radiossa, tai jonkun baarin soittolistalta.
Miten voisitte kuvailla omaa musiikkityyliänne, jos ette saisi käyttää mitään vakiutuneita termejä?
Tämä onkin haastava kysymys. Haikeus ja melankolia ovat kyllä aina läsnä musiikissamme, kuten myös romatiikka ja kauniit melodiat. Ja tietynlainen tumma pohjavire on kuultavissa musiikissamme. Biiseissämme on myös aika usein unelmointia, ollaan jossain todellisuuden ja unimaailman rajamailla.
Mitkä ryhmät vaikuttivat teidän musiikkiinne paitsi The Cure? Onko teillä joitakin muita musiikkimaailmaan kuuluvia idoleita?
En tiedä onko meillä varsinaisia idoleita, mutta on sanottu että meidän musiikissamme kuuluu vaikutteita mm. seuraavilta bändeiltä: The Cure, Depeche Mode ja Kent. Nämä kaikki ovat kyllä hienoja bändejä, joista pidämme paljon. Uudemmista bändeistä voisi mainita esimerkiksi White Lies.
Luulen, että se syntyi hiljalleen ajan kuluessa. Olemme kaikki tykänneet aina kauniista ja melankolisesta musiikista, se varmasti kuuluu soundissamme. Sitten kun soitettiin yhdessä ja työskenneltiin studiossa, alkoi syntyä bändin oma soundi. Kitaristimme Toni Lundenin soitanta on myös alusta asti ollut olennainen osa bändin soundia.
Miltä musiikkinne kuulostaa, kun kuulette sitä radiosta?
Se kuulostaa hyvältä, mutta yllättää aina! Siihen ei osaa varautua, kun kuulee oman bändin musiikkia sattumalta radiossa, tai jonkun baarin soittolistalta.
Miten voisitte kuvailla omaa musiikkityyliänne, jos ette saisi käyttää mitään vakiutuneita termejä?
Tämä onkin haastava kysymys. Haikeus ja melankolia ovat kyllä aina läsnä musiikissamme, kuten myös romatiikka ja kauniit melodiat. Ja tietynlainen tumma pohjavire on kuultavissa musiikissamme. Biiseissämme on myös aika usein unelmointia, ollaan jossain todellisuuden ja unimaailman rajamailla.
Mitkä ryhmät vaikuttivat teidän musiikkiinne paitsi The Cure? Onko teillä joitakin muita musiikkimaailmaan kuuluvia idoleita?
En tiedä onko meillä varsinaisia idoleita, mutta on sanottu että meidän musiikissamme kuuluu vaikutteita mm. seuraavilta bändeiltä: The Cure, Depeche Mode ja Kent. Nämä kaikki ovat kyllä hienoja bändejä, joista pidämme paljon. Uudemmista bändeistä voisi mainita esimerkiksi White Lies.
How do you see the SAKIA’s future as a band? Do you aspire to the worldwide fame?
Since day one we were always all about reaching for the world fame. The dream still lives on but we also enjoy spending time together and with our fans without the extra pressure. We honestly think that when we write a good enough song it’s still possible!
We know that you already visited Russia but back then the band called The Maytoes. We also know that the Russian listeners welcomed you and they liked your music. Do you have any plans to come back to us, but this time as SAKIA?
Awww... The Maytoes. So nice that you know about all that stuff! We had such a great welcoming in St. Petersburg back then. Seriously, we still talk about it all the time. We have no scheduled tour at the moment but god it would be awesome to come back to Russia again! Thank you for your love and support!
Since day one we were always all about reaching for the world fame. The dream still lives on but we also enjoy spending time together and with our fans without the extra pressure. We honestly think that when we write a good enough song it’s still possible!
We know that you already visited Russia but back then the band called The Maytoes. We also know that the Russian listeners welcomed you and they liked your music. Do you have any plans to come back to us, but this time as SAKIA?
Awww... The Maytoes. So nice that you know about all that stuff! We had such a great welcoming in St. Petersburg back then. Seriously, we still talk about it all the time. We have no scheduled tour at the moment but god it would be awesome to come back to Russia again! Thank you for your love and support!
April 16, 2018
- Tuuli TalvinenFounder & Editor-in-ChiefInterviewer