Kaamos by Simon Svoboda

Simon Svoboda, the Finnish-Australian composer, has released his new EP Kaamos, showcasing a haunting and ethereal blend of classical and minimalist music. The five-track EP draws deep inspiration from the Finnish winter, a season marked by darkness and eerie beauty, reflected in the EP’s title, which refers to the period in Finland when the sun barely rises.

The lead single, ‘Kaamos’, encapsulates this theme with arpeggiated cello chords accompanied by Svoboda’s falsetto vocals, creating a soundscape that mirrors the stillness and mystery of the long winter nights. Each track on the EP, including ‘Halla’ (frost), ‘Savu’ (smoke), ‘Usva’ (mist), and ‘Valo’ (light), further explores different elements of the season, offering a unique auditory experience that is both minimalistic and deeply emotive.

Simon Svoboda, who is a prominent figure in Finland’s classical music scene, received support from the Finnish Art Foundation and a scholarship from the Koneen Säätiö, which played a pivotal role in the creation of this EP. These grants enabled him to collaborate with a diverse group of artists, including Ukrainian violinist Varvara Vasylieva, Finnish organist William Häggblom, and his sister Helen Svoboda, whose vocals are featured on the track ‘Valo’.

Influenced by composers like Arvo Pärt and modern artists such as Thom Yorke, Simon Svoboda’s work on Kaamos highlights his ability to merge traditional classical elements with contemporary minimalism, solidifying his status as a complex and intriguing artist.