Doomed Confessionary: Saara, Aleksi & Otto (Šamane)
Hailing from Tampere, Finland, Šamane moves timelessly along the dark halls of cold alternative rock, grieving tones and meditative soundscapes. The band’s third full-length album »Solstice« is set for release on April 12th, 2024 via Last Day Of The North.
Šamane has been building a distinctive, immersive sound of their own since their formation in 2017. After releasing their first two albums, »Kaukana virtaa Eufrat« (2019) and »Šamane« (2020), the band now submerges deeper into the depths of their creative ocean on their most imaginative album to date, offering fresh experiences regardless of the listener’s native language. »Solstice« is personal, yet it shares common ground with bands like Dead Can Dance, OM and Warning.
Singer-bassist Saara Šamane’s majestic voice, singing in Finnish as well as in the absence of words, feels ancient, elegant and powerful. Guitarist Aleksi Kiiskilä’s (also known from Grave Pleasures) untraditional use of the Arabian Oud and the electric guitar combine ancient and contemporary scales, with a dynamic touch spanning from the most fragile brush of a finger to full-blown black metal tremolo picking. Merged together with Otto Heino’s hypnotic, downreaching drum work, with timpani-like toms and captivating cymbal use, these elements together create a timelessly transcendental listening experience.
Can you say a few words about your band?
Šamane is a three-piece band from Tampere, formed in 2017. Atmosphere lays at the core of all our music.
What was the biggest challenge for the band last year?
We had our focus on finishing our third album »Solstice«; we spent time working on the mix details and finishing the visual side of the album as well.
What can you be most proud of so far?
About the fact the we have been able to create the kind of music we love, music that has meaning to us, together with people who we like.
What was your biggest regret?
Of course it is good to learn from the past, but what comes to music, it’s better to just keep yourself focused on the moment and the album you’re doing right now.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Can’t name one – all shows are different and special in their own way.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
It’s been a positive thing to notice the amount of great bands and the quality of support underground bands give to each other.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Right now, some good local band’s records as well as classics.
Can you say something more about the music scene in Tampere?
Tampere has quite a rich music scene, especially alternative and metal, but also a lot of rap, punk, acoustic stuff and so on. It’s a small country in general so genres and scenes are all quite blended together. We recommend seeing a show at Vastavirta-Klubi if you ever visit Tampere.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Album release show on May 10 at Vastavirta-Klubi with NYOS and Cats of Transnistria, and some other ones to come.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Exploring life and inner self by creating music, and thus evolving as a band.
How can people best support your band?
Buying our vinyl records in Finland and Baltics, lastdayofthenorth.fi and by purchasing our digital album on Bandcamp, asking us to play at different venues and festivals.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Remember to sit down every once in a while and take a look inside.
Links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well