Unveiling Conchis: The Hidden Face Who Channels Darkness into Music and Art

While image often overshadows the art in the world of modern pop, Conchis (pronounced /kahn-tʃɪs/) stands apart as an enigmatic figure, defined by both her anonymity and her intensely emotional music.Her name, Conchis, is derived from John Fowles’ novel The Magus, a book that perfectly mirrors the complexity of her artistic persona. As Conchis herself explains, "I took the name from John Fowles' book, The Magus. The main character was a recluse and a master manipulator who played psychological games with people. The book had a dark undertone, which suited my music, so I thought I'd take that name for myself."

Born into a family that nurtured her artistic potential, Conchis recalls an early connection with music: “My mom said I could sing before I could talk. My parents enrolled me and my sisters in a classical music school, and I started playing the violin at seven. Later, I joined the choir." It was a childhood shaped by music, but it wasn't until a personal tragedy struck that her need to create truly took hold. “The real turning point came when my mom passed away when I was 15. I had all these emotions inside, and I didn’t know how to express them. So, I picked up the guitar, started playing, and something just came out. That’s when I realized I found comfort in creating music, and I knew I wanted to continue.”

"I didn’t want to be connected to my appearance.. So I decided to stay faceless and ageless."

Throughout her journey, Conchis has remained dedicated to a vision of music that reflects her personal struggles, but also one that allows listeners to interpret and engage with their own emotions. This balance between openness and mystery is part of what makes her so compelling. “I believe truly touching music comes from vulnerability,” she says. Yet, despite the raw emotion embedded in her songs, Conchis has chosen to remain somewhat hidden from the public eye. “I didn’t want to be connected to my appearance. I was the frontwoman of a band before, and it felt like so much focus was on how I looked. These days, a lot of music is tied to a certain age, and I want to make music until I’m old and gray. So I decided to stay faceless and ageless—if that’s possible.”

The influences that shaped her sound are as varied as her musical journey itself. "Nowadays, I listen to Thom Yorke—Radiohead, his solo work, or The Smile. I love Fever Ray and Lorn," she notes. But her early tastes ran the gamut, from "lighter pop like A-ha, Bryan Adams, and New Kids on the Block" to grunge staples like "Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and Nirvana." The evolution of these influences has resulted in a sound that is impossible to pin down, a “mishmash of everything” that defies simple categorization.

Her latest project, Chapters, draws heavily on her personal experiences, blending deep emotional resonance with creative exploration. “Life, in general,” Conchis says when asked about the inspiration for the album. “I went through some hardships—burnout and then becoming ill with chronic fatigue syndrome. Before that, I had struggled with my energy levels for a long time. I’ve always been drawn to human psychology and how people act, so that’s my main inspiration.”

"I realized it was about life’s choices, like not becoming a mother and wondering if that was the right decision."

The album is not an easy listening experience. Conchis understands this, but she hopes that the listeners who connect with her music will find solace in its rawness. “I just want everyone to be real and vulnerable,” she says. “I don’t know if I have a specific message, but I hope to touch people with honesty.” This is especially true for her lead single, “Cray Cray,” a track she didn’t even pick herself. “I gave my PR firm and label free rein to choose. They picked ‘Cray Cray’ for me. It came to me easily—this crazy melody and vocal line just popped into my head. When I wrote it, I realized it was about life’s choices, like not becoming a mother and wondering if that was the right decision. It’s also about curiosity versus craziness, and how sometimes they’re the same thing.”

While Chapters is full of deeply personal reflections, certain tracks were born almost effortlessly. “'Cray Cray' was the first track I wrote since I became a solo artist, and it came very easily—almost like a stream of consciousness,” she explains. On the other hand, the track “Calm Your Mind” explores a feeling she hadn’t fully experienced yet. “It’s about being trapped inside four walls and having racing thoughts. The strange thing is, I wrote it before I actually lived through that experience during my illness.”

Her creative process for the album was fluid and instinctual—whether it's a melody, lyrics, or even a drumbeat. “On this album, I often started with synth and drum patterns, then added demo vocals and built the lyrics from there.” And when her chronic illness made it impossible to physically create music, she adapted, composing two future albums in her head. “When I got sick, I couldn’t even listen to music or open my computer. I had to lie in a dark room, and that’s when I started composing music in my head. I composed my next two albums that way.”

Conchis also embraces mysticism and symbolism in her visual work, finding inspiration in tarot cards and the elements. "For this album, I made my own tarot cards because The Magus is connected to the tarot’s Magician card, which controls the four elements—air, water, earth, and fire." She explains how this choice connects to her creative identity: “I’m also a fan of symbolism and minimalistic design, and as an art director, I wanted to challenge myself to create a minimalistic version of tarot cards, which are usually very rich in detail.”

"I think vulnerability pays off."

Looking ahead, Conchis is already working on her next two albums, viewing her work as a trilogy. “I think it will be a trilogy. I’m not sure if I’ll use the element samples again, but I want all three albums to represent my illness, my journey, and my reflections on life.”

Despite the anonymity and darkness she often explores in her art, Conchis sees her work as a way to offer something honest and real to her audience. Vulnerability is her strength, and it’s through this rawness that she hopes her music will find its home with those who need it most. As she sums up, “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.”

Want to learn more about Conchis? Read 20 Questions with PopFiltr.