In this interview spotlight, we chat with Finland based Is This Really Me about influences, challenges, their latest project and more.

Full Q&A along with links and streams available below.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create?

Is This Really Me is a folk pop band from Helsinki (Finland). Our music is influenced by psychedelic folk, 80s pop, country, gospel and slavic melancholy.

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?

Making music is necessary for survival. The obvious answer to the Ferming paradox “where is everybody” is that there must be better parties somewhere else in the universe. This is the ultimate challenge – much more music needs to recorded and performed to make them interested.

How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?

Our first album The Iron Door was just released in Germany by Ice Will Melt Records. It draws a good picture of the bands songwriting and esthetic realms. The album was mostly live recorded and got its inspiration from cultural artifacts such as Werner Herzog movies, Books of Yrjö Kallinen, Dante, Dostojevsky and various forms of contemporary art and music.

Do you face challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? How has technology helped you (assuming it helps)?

Technology is a great tool for sharing your doings. However there still is a need for physical objects that transfer the non-musical aspects of the records. A record touch.

Where can we connect with you online and discover more music?

• We are online on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isthisreallymeband/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/isthisreallymeband/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/isthisreallymeband
• Label/our artist page: http://icewillmelt.de/en/artists/is-this-really-me/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2otmu0gawM8fRTnmjeyrgI