Electronic Pop from Erika Sirola

Erika Sirola is a Finnish-Canadian artist who’s long been an enigmatic force in the sphere of music, stitching a fabric that wraps across various genres. Her artistic journey began as a young child, finding solace in the process of turning emotions into art.

Sirola’s work is an intricate intersection of musical composition, visual environments and tactile crafts, all designed to provoke and test the boundaries of change and consistency within her evolving artist output. A songwriter since the age of eight, Sirola secured her first record deal in Helsinki at 14 and later signing with Sony Publishing in New York.

Her nomadic young adulthood saw her traverse cities like Los Angeles, Stockholm, Berlin and London, shaping a musical identity that fuses art pop and electronica with tinges of folk, ambient, jazz and IDM. In 2022, her debut EP, Who? via Elektra Records, marked a coming-of-age, showcasing Sirola’s Nordic energy and musical wizardry.

Now, taking an essential leap in creative freedom, Erika Sirola presents her first independent release, the eerie electronic pop anthem titled “THERE WAS A BOY,” the first single lifted from her upcoming EP. Released through her own label, The Gate Was Open, this single offers listeners a glimpse into a dark, playful and experimental sound, unveiling a futuristic universe where Sirola flourishes.

Opened by spacey sonic textures, setting up a moody atmosphere that gently drifts with intricate pulses dripping in reverb, Erika’s stretched vocals enter to thread airy melodies. Creating an immersive soundscape, her voice layers up before the song erupts into a stomping electronic pop sound.

Casting aside the delicate aesthetic, buzzing synth lines collide with the snapping groove of the beat, capped by enveloping vocal hooks. Floating through an energising alternative pop scene, blissful vocal stutters are contrasted by the harsh scrape of the lead synths, resulting in a thrilling listening experience that opens the next chapter of Erika Sirola’s musical journey in spectacular fashion.

Commenting on the single, she shares, “I wanted the chorus to sound like an alarm, like an intruder. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a personified mask, any of the many we wear. Perhaps it’s your ‘armour’ trying to take full control. Or like dancing with a temptress, seducing us to try on different personas in the quest for self actualisation.”

Listen to THERE WAS A BOY below

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