conchis: 20 Questions with PopFiltr

In today's episode of 20 Questions, we sat down with Conchis to get to know her better. Conchis is an enigmatic and fiercely creative artist who embraces both the light and the dark aspects of the human experience. Drawing her name from The Magus, the masterful and psychological novel by John Fowles, Conchis blends intense emotion with anonymity in her art, choosing to keep her appearance and age away from the spotlight to focus purely on the music. Her sound is a unique mixture of genres, evolving from light pop to alternative and shoegaze, all the way to deeply personal, introspective pieces that defy categorization.

Let's dive in.

1. If your music were a place, what kind of landscape would it be?
conchis: Hmm, great question. It would probably be somewhere in Iceland—rugged mountains and flat plains, lots of grit and texture.

PF: Have you been to Iceland?
conchis: Yes, once when I was in a band. It’s such a beautiful place.

2. What’s your perfect day off look like?
conchis: A late morning, coffee, and writing in my diary. Then I’d make music, go for a walk, meet up with friends for dinner, and maybe a glass of wine.

PF: White or red?
conchis:: Red, always red.

3. How do you stay creative when life gets in the way?
conchis: I just have this strong creative fire. Every day, I’m inspired to do something—whether it’s making music, painting, or even sewing. But usually, I want to make music. I don’t need to search for inspiration, it’s just there.

4. Is there a piece of art or visual that you return to for inspiration?
conchis: If TV series count as art, then I’d say Twin Peaks by David Lynch. I love the mix of mysticism, humor, warmth, and darkness.

5. If you had to describe your music using just one color, which one would it be?
conchis: Black.

6. What was the coolest behind-the-scenes moment while making Chapters?
conchis: I loved being in Berlin working with my producer. We went out and celebrated his colleague’s birthday—that was a fun moment.

7. If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
conchis: Maybe Lorn. I love his analog sounds, darkness, and minimalism. Or Thom Yorke—I think he’s a genius, and it would be amazing to learn from him.

8. If you had to rank your own music from the album, what would your top three be?
conchis: “Stories” would be number one, then “People, Chapters” at number two, and “Cray Cray” at number three.
PF: Why?
conchis: I’m drawn to emotional tracks, and those three convey my emotions really well. They clicked for me, and I didn’t feel like I needed to add anything more.

9. You’ve had some tough life experiences. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
conchis: I’d tell myself to hold on tightly—it’s going to get rough, but it will get better. You’ll get through it.

10. If you could star in any movie, what genre would it be?
conchis: Probably something with a twist, like Pulp Fiction or Fight Club. I like movies with unexpected endings.

11. What does success mean to you?
conchis: Success for me is being able to make music as much as I want. It’s also when someone tells me a song I wrote touched their heart. That’s a great feeling.

12. What’s your phone background?
conchis:: It’s a painting I made called My Panties Are Showing. It just had that shape, so that’s what I named it.

13. Is there a genre of music you secretly love but haven’t explored in your work yet?
conchis: I’ve tried difficult genres like rap and Latin music, but maybe folk music or something more acoustic could be interesting.

14. Do you have any pre-recording rituals?
conchis: It’s important to be in the right headspace. Sometimes I’m just not feeling it, so I won’t record that day. I try to connect with the emotion I had when I wrote the song and let that flow during the recording.

15. Celebrity crush growing up?
conchis: I don't know about growing up, but now it's Jake Gyllenhaal.

16. What’s been the proudest moment in your music career so far?
conchis: Playing at Canadian Music Week with my band or performing at Flow Festival here in Finland. But every time I finish a track that clicks, that feels like a proud moment.

17. Any hidden talents?
conchis: I can sew clothes!

18. Have you ever formed inspiration from unexpected places?
conchis: Yes, once I was walking in the woods, and I was really angry—something that doesn’t happen often. I heard a rant inside my head, and I recorded it right there in the woods. Inspiration can come at any time.

19. Looking back at your music career, what creative risk have you taken that paid off?
conchis: With my latest album Chapters, I didn’t censor myself. I wrote very personal things and was unsure if I should share them. But I’ve gotten good feedback, especially for “Cray Cray,” so I think vulnerability pays off.

20. Your music is very emotional, and it’s not necessarily an easy listen. Why is that?
conchis: When I’m creating, I tend to channel my negative emotions into the music. In life, I’m generally a happy and positive person, but when it comes to making music, that’s where I release all the darkness. It can be overwhelming at times. It’s not exactly “poppy” or light. But I really hope my album finds the right listeners—people who will connect with it and use it as an outlet for their own emotions.

PF: We have a tradition here at PopFiltr—our current guest leaves a question for our next guest without knowing who they are. The question for you is: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

conchis: I see myself living in the countryside, creating music and painting. I imagine a quiet life, but one that’s still very creative with lots of projects.

PF: And what would you like to ask our next guest?

conchis: Who is your favorite visual artist?

PF: Any final words for your fans?

conchis: Thank you for listening. It’s always an honor if someone connects with my music, so thank you.

Check out our interview with Conchis, where she delves into her creative process, vulnerability, and life with chronic fatigue syndrome.