Syven aims to create dark, heavy, primordial and even shamanistic music, where the driving force is the traditional Finnish string instrument, the kantele, accompanied by atmospheric synth layering, ritualistic percussion and heavy distortion where appropriate. We also employ a variety of vocals that range from low male choirs to growls to chanting and to shamanistic performances, all of which help bring life to the comprehensive themes of nature, the struggles of reality, the brutality of survival, but also the wonderment and the solemness that lie therein.
Self-made instruments form the cornerstones of our sound. A.T. has built the 15 stringed acoustic kanteles, 12 stringed electric kanteles, Lapland drums and all synthetic soundscapes himself. The production, recording, mixing, etc. of our music is done completely on our own, and we also generate all visual artwork ourselves with mediums including ink, pastels, colored pencils, and some digital manipulation.