TLOBF Interview // Villa Nah

This is Villa Nah, from Helsinki, Finland. They make a kind of glacial new-romantic pop, underscored by modern production that takes many of its signifiers from IDM and minimal techno.

There are special songs, and there are special memories, but if you’re one of those nostalgia-driven people for whom neither seem vivid enough on their own, nothing matches what happens when the two meet. The beauty of these moments is they refuse to be archityped – we can’t force them any more than we can explain them. And while Villa Nah aren’t magicians, they speak the language of that magic as well as anyone making music about time and dreams today.

Hi Juho, hi Tomi. Can you talk a bit about your history together? How did Villa Nah start?
We’ve known each other since pre-school, been good friends ever since. We got into music early on, and experimented with a lot of stuff from basic garage rock to ambient synth stuff. Villa Nah started around 2008 from songs I had written and wanted to record.

Can you tell us a bit about the process of making Origin – did you have a clear idea of what you wanted to do before you started, or did it come together slowly?
There was a strong idea of what it would sound like. We often think of music in terms atmosphere and had a pretty clear vision of what feelings Origin would convey. Also being our debut album we wanted to create a cohesive listening experience – something that can still be enjoyable after a few listens.

You recorded Origin with the famed house producer Jori Hulkkonen. How was this experience, and how did his influence shape the outcome of the album?
We had laid down most of the music earlier on by ourselves, and simply took everything necessary to Jori’s studio where things went quite seamlessly. It was very good to work with someone like Jori – his experience and workflow helped us retain focus with the general picture. Sometimes when you spend overthinking about things it just helps to get that second opinion. And when that opinion comes from someone like Jori Hulkkonen, it’s really a blessing.

What’s the music culture in Helsinki like? Is it more than black metal and euro-pop?
Not really euro-pop, but certainly metal/hard rock/heavy. Finns love guitars.

How do you think where you’re from influences your music?
Most of our influences are probably just drawn from our childhood, anything from film scores and pop music when we were babies. There are really no particular band to mention – we just like the general atmosphere of music from that era, around late 70s to mid 80s is probably our favourite… unsurprisingly.

Your lyrics have a longing yet abstract quality to them. What’s the inspiration behind them?
I just try to reflect the feelings I get from the music. I always write the music first, then the lyrics. Abstract and openended scenarios appeal to me – life doesn’t always explain everything, you find yourself with more questions than answers.

What new bands or producers do you love at the moment?
A dear friend of mine just introduced me to Koudlam – their record “Goodbye” seems lovely.

What time of the day do you think your music is best listened to at?
During the night, absolutely. Of course any time is ok with us, but we recorded the music at night with very much the night in mind.

What kind of imagery do you imagine your music playing to?
It’s hard to put into words, but something very nocturnal, hazy. Like an old VHS tape. I always go to places in my childhood, but that’s just me. Perhaps slow motion night driving would be accurate?

What upcoming plans do Villa Nah have and what are you the most excited about?
This summer there’s a bunch of festivals for us with Bestival probably the one we’re most excited about. Also looking forward to getting back to writing more music…