Contributing Writer
Pihka Is My Name are a Finland-based duo who combine analogue synthesizers, hypnotic piano patterns and crunchy drum machines. Band members are composer-pianist Henna Helasvuo and producer-sound designer Lasse Turunen. The new single “Station in Flames” showcases a duo with a distinctive love and skillset within sound design. It’s a track that touches on elements of deep house and electronica, with a coherent energy that gives the duo their unique sound.
Introducing Pihka Is My Name, an electronic duo hailing from Finland, whose sonic tapestries blend analogue synthesizers, mesmerizing piano motifs, and gritty drum machines. Comprised of composer-pianist Henna Helasvuo and producer-sound designer Lasse Turunen, this dynamic partnership is at the helm of a captivating audiovisual universe. At the forefront stands Pihka, an animated character embodying an obsolete imaginary friend. Through their art, Pihka Is My Name invites you to embark on an extraordinary journey, perceiving the world through the eyes of this ethereal companion.
In March 2021, Pihka Is My Name self-released their debut album, ‘Everything Is In Between,’ which garnered rave reviews and acclaim. This was followed by the ‘Dance Forbidden EP,’ released via the Taiwan-based Mettāsonic label in January 2022.
Pihka Is My Name’s live performances are a testament to their boundless energy and imaginative prowess. In addition to their meticulously crafted repertoire, the duo thrives on improvisation, allowing the music to seamlessly transition from one song to the next. Witness their electrifying stage presence and be transported into a world where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur.
Speaking on the new single, the duo state:
We’d been wanting to see Jon Hopkins live for a while, and this year it finally happened! In a very inspired state, we wrote this distorted, hauntingly relentless beat. The synth line was written and performed live, with Henna on a vintage synth and Lasse on effects pedals. Henna’s brother Artturi Aalto played an additional layer of moodyness on his cello. On our gigs, Lasse’s emotional reverb-soaked falsetto is an important instrument, so we wanted to have some of it on the record as well. While we feel our synth sounds are very lively, it never hurts to have a human voice amidst them. The song is meditative and energetic at the same time.
Stream ‘Station in Flames’ HERE
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