Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I’m Ahva, an experimental pop artist from Helsinki, Finland. Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started playing piano as a child, although I wasn’t the type who happily practiced alone every day. What I realized pretty early was that I needed the social side of music—the feeling of people making music together.
In my teenage years I switched to bass and started playing in bands. At the same time, I became a very active listener. I was constantly searching for music that felt new and exciting to me. I was never fully satisfied with mainstream music, because it often felt like all the answers had already been found. Experimental music fascinated me more because it still contained mysteries. That curiosity has shaped the way I approach music today.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Ahva”?
A: I think social media—especially TikTok and Instagram—is a really important way for people to discover music now, so I’m actively creating content there. But live shows are equally important to me. Even though my music uses electronics, samplers, and synthesizers, I always want the performances to feel organic and human.
For anyone discovering Ahva for the first time: expect music that lives somewhere between opposites. My songs often deal with contradictions in life, but I try to approach them with lightness and curiosity rather than heavy seriousness. There’s humor in the tension between different truths.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: Animal Collective has been a huge inspiration throughout my adult life, and I’m still inspired by everything the members do individually and together. Right now I’ve been especially excited about the newer collaborations between members of the band.
Inspiration often comes simply from experimenting. A local artist once told me that every instrument already contains at least one song inside it—you just need to discover it. I love that idea. Most Ahva songs begin from completely different starting points, which is why the music can sound quite varied.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Trapped in Freedom”?
A: “Trapped in Freedom” was born during the COVID years and reflects that strange period when digital life started to blur together with reality. During lockdowns, days could become repetitive to the point where you weren’t even sure whether you had watched a movie already unless you checked your streaming history.
At the same time, there was also a strange freedom in that moment—because nothing was happening, there was no fear of missing out. The song explores that contradiction: feeling trapped, but also strangely liberated. For me, it became a way of processing that unique moment in history and eventually moving beyond it.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Fun.
If I’m allowed two words, then “experimental pop” describes it best.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Trapped in Freedom”?
A: Definitely. When you work with samples and digital production tools, it’s easy to lose perspective on balance and dynamics. In acoustic music, a lot of the balance exists naturally, but in electronic production you have to build everything from scratch.
I got very excited about many of the sounds in “Trapped in Freedom”, but at some point I realized they were all fighting for attention. The challenge became finding clarity and making the song feel like an actual pop song rather than just an interesting experiment.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: The core message is: create interesting art, but have fun while doing it.
I want my music to inspire people in the same way that music has inspired me throughout my life. My goal is to make art that feels playful, curious, emotional, and alive—and hopefully encourage others to explore their own creativity too.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: I would honestly love to collaborate with members of Animal Collective. Panda Bear’s recent work has been incredibly inspiring to me, especially how the members continue evolving and finding new ways to work together after all these years.
So maybe Panda Bear could remix one of my songs, and Deakin could mix my next album—that would be a dream.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Play the long game.
For some people, going all-in immediately works, but I think it’s important to build a life that allows you to continue making music sustainably. Most artists won’t succeed overnight. Maybe not with the first album, or even the third.
So the key is creating a support system where you still have the time, energy, and freedom to keep making music over many years. If you truly enjoy the process itself, that becomes your biggest strength.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: If you’re learning an instrument and feel like quitting—don’t quit.
When I stopped playing piano as a kid, people told me I would regret it later, and honestly, they were right. Luckily, I found other ways into music through bass, production, and electronic instruments, but I would still love to have stronger piano skills today.
Starting early and sticking with it is a gift you carry for the rest of your life.
