What began as the introspective solo project of singer-poetess Rioghan Darcy has evolved into a strikingly cinematic modern metal band. Joined by guitarists Teemu Liekkala and Tero Luukkonen, bassist Antti Varjanne, and drummer Valtteri Revonkorpi, Rioghan blends gothic beauty, progressive muscle, and poetic depth. Their new album “Kept” (which debuted at #6 on the Finnish physical charts) explores themes of inner imprisonment and emotional rebirth. In our interview with the band’s representatives, Rioghan and Valtteri dive into the album’s creation, their seamless creative chemistry, and the evolving identity of a band clearly destined for international impact.

How did that concept come to life for “Kept”, and how did it shape the stories you wanted to tell through the music?

Rioghan Darcy: We had a few key demos from the start, and as their story progressed, I ended up noticing both of the lyrics revolve around the same theme but from very different perspectives. Then we made a few more songs and the concept started to form itself as the poems just started to click into the melodies.

This album dives into some deep themes of imprisonment, both mentally and physically. Was there a personal experience or a moment in time that pushed you to explore these kinds of stories in “Kept“?

Rioghan Darcy: I have had several sequences in my life when I have felt I’ve been pushed to corners with no way out, but somehow always found my way to surface. Now in a more serene place, I guess I felt safe enough to dive back in and explore those feelings.

One of the band members mentioned that “Motion” is their favorite song on the album. What about this track feels so personal to you? Is it the way it captures the band’s essence, or is there something else that makes it stand out?

Rioghan Darcy: I have confessed it is my favorite track, I really love the versatility in the composition and also how extremely fun it has been to play it live. I think this song really brings forth the whole band, in both album and live settings.

How do you make sure every band member’s unique influence gets represented in the songs? Is there a lot of give-and-take when it comes to choosing which direction a song should go?

Valtteri: The demos are very well arranged on their own, but everyone is free to bring their own flavor to the mix, as long as it makes the song better! And usually Jenni and Teemu have a very clear vision for the song so everyone can easily take it from there. The only song that went through multiple iterations was “Red”. We almost gave up with it but fortunately Teemu came up with “the one last arrangement” because that song is definitely one of the highlights on the album!

Rioghan Darcy: When we decided to move on from being a “project” to identifying as a band, I have to admit I was a little reserved if there would be some kind of creative disputes ahead, but my introvert worries were completely in vain and I have not regretted this move, not one second!

Everyone brings their own best effort, and I guess it was written in stars for us to end up together as everyone’s input blends so seamlessly together.

And it’s not always just me and Teemu writing songs; on ‘Kept’ the ending’s mood piece ‘Grief’ is written by Tero.

Your live shows are known for their striking visuals. How much do you think about the visuals when creating music, and how do they work hand-in-hand with the atmosphere you want to create for your audience?

Rioghan Darcy: Visual presentation and the music are completely inseparable, at least in my creative process.When I write poems, I often get some visualizations in my head from the start, and they set the mood for the finished song and often also the videos too. I try to recreate the things I see in my imagination and try my best to make them happen in real life too.

The pre-listen party and livestream show sounded like an incredible experience. How did it feel to finally share “Kept” with your fans and the press in that intimate setting? Did their reactions surprise you in any way?

Valtteri: It was a new experience for us to play live without seeing the audience… Very exciting! And of course it didn’t go without technical difficulties: our sound guy had to come by the drumset to change some mics but fortunately that happened at the one and only suitable time in the set! I bet that nobody watching the stream noticed anything.

Rioghan Darcy: I was so happy we got such a warm response, as we faced all kinds of annoying small setbacks while organizing the event (like completely changing the venue like a few weeks before, we probably couldn’t have managed to pull this off without the super friendly staff from Alakulttuuritila Alimus), and I really had no idea what to expect from that day. I was so relieved everything went super smoothly, thanks to the incredible professionals from Soderman Audiovisuals, and I was actually amazed there were so many people watching the stream.

It was an interesting experience to play to an empty hall and just try to keep in mind there’s lots of people behind the screens.

But definitely would do it again in a heartbeat!

As you’re building your place in the international scene, how do you see Rioghan evolving over the next few years? What do you hope your music will inspire or evoke for listeners, both in Finland and beyond?

Valtteri: Hopefully many-many people will discover our music and find it inspiring and moving in some ways! We want to be inspired by our own songs and hope that others find it that way, too! Let’s explore together!

Rioghan Darcy: I don’t want to put any boundaries to our thing, I draw inspiration from moments I can’t foresee. There’s no limits to what genre’s or elements we can bend to our liking. So if anything, this will always be an exciting journey. I really hope I can send forward some emotions with our music, and for people to watch our videos and read the lyrics and take from them what they will.

If you could describe “Kept” as a movie or a piece of art—what would it look like, and what kind of mood would it leave the viewer with?

Valtteri: Personally, I think the album cover is a perfect image to suit the music of “Kept”. That image has a lot of beautiful colors and lots of details but if you think about it, it’s also pretty dark at the same time. Also, Disney’s version of Stephen King’s Carrie might suit as well!

Rioghan Darcy: I stand with Valtteri and Carrie.

As musicians, you’re constantly creating, but what do you do when you need to take a break or recharge creatively? Any unexpected hobbies or routines that help you get inspired again?

Valtteri: Me and Antti, we love playing video games and Rioghan might be the only band in the world with two Elden Lords keeping the groove going!

Rioghan Darcy: I like to be alone, or maybe not alone but away from people and hang out with my dogs. Also crosswords are one my favorite things…

Photo: Péter Tepliczky
Interview: Ditty