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- August 5, 2022
Finnish Artist Erika Sirola Releases Her Debut EP Who?
After signing with Elektra and announcing it with the drop of “End of the Day” at the beginning of June, Erika Sirola is releasing her first EP, Who? this August. These four tracks encompass Sirola’s coming-of-age as an artist, as she experiments with different music stylings such as art-pop and techno, along with more esoteric edges of folk, jazz, and experimental music.
The opening song for Who?, “All In My Head,” is a catchy alt-pop song reminiscent of Imogen Heap, especially in the beginning when Sirola is singing a capella and utilizes heavy harmonizers. There is a slow build-up with the introduction of the piano, before the climax in the chorus, as Sirolas sings about being so lost in her insecurities when it comes to this love. The music video features Sirola in her living room, flashing between memories with her lover and her being all by herself.
Watch the music video for “All in My Head” below:
“End of the Day” was Sirola’s first single after signing with Elektra, and is about a period in her life when she was struggling with putting down roots and maintaining relationships. Sirola paints this struggle through her descriptive lyrics, such as the opening line, “I plant plastic palm trees/ ‘Cause they don’t die on me.” The music video for “End of the Day” depicts Sirola in a coffee shop, alone, as though she is waiting for someone who is never going to show up. Around her, the hustle and bustle of the coffee shop, with its clanging utensils and the murmur of its patrons, emphasizes how alone and isolated Sirola truly is at that moment.
Watch the music video for “End of the Day” below:
“Souvenir” is Who?’s most experimental track, as Sirola utilizes a heavy bass and distorted background vocals to create an unsettling feeling to the song. Sirola’s vocals are reminiscent of Billie Eilish, with the softness and slight rasp of her voice, even more so paired with the sad tone of the song and lyrics. The lyrics, “Make sure to/ Bring me back a souvenir/So I remember all the times/That you weren’t here,” depict a relationship where someone didn’t give their all, whether it was not providing enough support or even the lack of physically being with the other person. Although the track starts with a dark pop vibe, the last part of the song incorporates what sounds like a “rewind moment,” where it becomes more of an electro-pop track.
The closing track on Who?, “A Little More,” is soft and understated, while leaving the listener with something to contemplate. It’s a raw look at the regret of not taking risks, as Sirola asks the dreaded “what if…?” questions that are common when dwelling in the past. This is especially apparent in the chorus when she sings, “A little more drunk/ A little more f*****/ A little more loved/ A little more lost/ A little more crushed/ A little more wild/ A little too much.”
On top of a collection of genre-bending songs that are chock full of Sirola’s unique sound, her creativity extends to the creation of the EP’s cover art as well. Sirola, who is also an accomplished artist and clothing designer, created the cover art herself and utilized the mixed media aesthetic to also design each single’s cover art.
For anyone interested in Erika Sirola and her music, be sure to follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to stay up to date. For now, you can listen to Erika Sirola’s Who? EP below!
