Kiki Pau. Photo Osma Harvilahti.
Kiki Pau is a lovable exception in today’s music scene. The band has been labeled an over-trendy indie group from Helsinki’s Punavuori, but Kiki Pau is in fact as organic as a rock group can be in today’s world.
Influenced by 1980s and ‘90s alternative rock and 1960s and ‘70s classic pop, Kiki Pau gathered a wealth of positive attention from both critics and music bloggers two years ago with their ironically named debut Let’s Rock. While Let’s Rock focused on fast-paced three-minute pop songs, on their second album White Mountain, released last spring, the quartet could stretch their limits and linger in different moods. To say that they’ve grown up would be a bit much, but maybe they’re starting to hit puberty.
“On the first album, there’s a whole lot going on all the time. The only calm moments came between songs. We wanted to include more moments when there’s not that much happening,” ponders Kiki Pau guitarist PAULI SAARIKIVI.
Respect for older sound
Respecting vintage aesthetics, Kiki Pau recorded White Mountain mostly live in Porvoo’s Magnusborg studio, which is built in an old wooden house. The sound was fine-tuned already at the recording phase instead of using a computer afterwards, which seems to be the case for unfortunately many rock records these days.
“We all dig music, and we adamantly think that records used to sound better,” states singer-guitarist HENRIK DOMINGO.
Kiki Pau. Osma Harvilahti
“We’re going for an old-fashioned thing, where four personalities are playing on the record, each with their own style. We’re trying to avoid music made in Pro Tools that has 140 layered guitars and ends up sounding like spiritless mush,” Saarikivi laughs.
Only the music matters
Kiki Pau differs from its competitive contemporary colleagues also in attitude. While many bands are focused on embracing social media, pleasing the press and achieving maximal air time, Kiki Pau is more interested in making new music – even over touring. Kiki Pau doesn’t long for fame or see the need to prove anything to anyone.
“When making music, you should strive to minimize your ego and inch closer to the things that are real. We try to make music simply something fun that we can do between the four of us,” Domingo ponders.
“For a lot of people, updating Myspace and Twitter is just as important as making music. For us, not so much,” Saarikivi grins.
Local heroes
Regardless of this, Kiki Pau has received a lot of attention on music blogs over the world and even toured abroad on a low profile. However, they aren’t longing for world-wide fame, but rather enjoy what they have at hand – even if it’s just local dabbling.
“If what we’re doing in Helsinki works, why can’t we just enjoy that and make it as cool as possible? If people are coming to our gigs here and like what we’re doing, there’s no need to look down on that,” says bassist ALEKSI GUSTAFSSON. “We would lose the enjoyment of making music if we worried about not being on tour in the States. Although that is where we get the best feedback from.”
After all, the reality is that an indie rock group from Finland isn’t – at least not yet – a true sign of quality around the world. At least not like an introverted forest folk artist or an export metal band.
“The label ‘Finnish indie’ combines two concepts that don’t really blend together,” Gustafsson smirks.
Maybe so, but that doesn’t seem to slow down Kiki Pau. This summer you can check out their live form in Helsinki at least in Alppipuisto’s public festival on July 10 and at Flow Festival on August 13. †
http://kikipau.blogspot.com, www.myspace.com/kikipau
Text Teemu Fiilin Photo Osma Harvilahti
Light snow 
