When an artist decides to step out from behind an alias and finally put their real name on a record, it often means something deeper than a simple stylistic shift. For Finnish musician Aleksi Kii, known previously as PA Kiiskilä, the upcoming album ‘Varjokuvia’ (out October 24) feels like both a rebirth and a return — a moment of shedding old skin and embracing honesty in its purest, most poetic form. Autumn feels like the perfect time to talk about melancholy Finnish rock, and as the rain starts falling outside, Aleksi smiles warmly through the gloom. “It’s my old name,” he explains about the change. “But it’s more about an inner change — toward the things I really want to do. This album combines all the parts of music I love, so it felt like the right time.”

Moving under his own name has also reshaped how he approaches songwriting. ‘Varjokuvia’, he says, is his most honest and poetic work to date, a record that thrives on emotional duality and leaves space for interpretation. “I like things that can be heard differently depending on where you are in life,” he says. “Every listener brings their own meaning.” And those meanings, as often in Finnish music, are steeped in melancholy. Aleksi laughs softly when asked if it’s just that typical Finnish sadness. “Maybe. Someone once said that joy feels like a visitor, but sadness is always there. I’ve tried to escape it, but I can’t. Even if I play rock music, that feeling always comes through.”

At the heart of ‘Varjokuvia’ lies a word Aleksi keeps returning to: connection. “Music helps me connect with my own emotions and keeps me grounded,” he reflects. “But it also connects people. We live in a time where technology was supposed to bring us closer, yet it often makes us more disconnected. I think organic music can help us reconnect — with ourselves, with nature, with others.” That same sense of connection shaped the album’s structure — from energetic full-band rock songs to quiet, solitary moments. On several tracks, Aleksi played nearly everything himself, creating what he calls “solitary songs” for moments of introspection. “I wanted to make good songs, but also something that’s just me there,” he says. “For those moments you just want to be on your own.”

Despite its introspection, ‘Varjokuvia’ is far from a lonely effort. The album features familiar names from Finland’s underground and alternative scenes — Rainer “Raiku” Willman (Grave Pleasures, Shining), Niko Lehdontie (Oranssi Pazuzu) and Kimmo Helén (Hexvessel), among others. “They’re all so skilled,” Aleksi says appreciatively. “You don’t need to micromanage. You just let them do what they do best, and it’s going to sound good.”

Even with his background in various bands and genres, he insists that all his projects share one simple philosophy: keeping it real. “I don’t like quantizing things or using in-ear monitors,” he grins. “I like guitar, drums, people — bread and butter, meat and potatoes. Just humans making music.” That hands-on, human approach extends to the technical side as well. Having studied music production and worked alongside seasoned engineers, Aleksi takes pride in crafting his sound from start to finish. “It helps when you can do things yourself,” he says. “If you want it dark, you can make it dark the way you mean it — not someone else’s idea of dark.”

With the release of ‘Varjokuvia’, Aleksi is also unveiling a new live band, Aleksi Kii & Aaveet. The idea is simple: keep the emotional weight but translate it into an electrified, living thing. “I wanted something raw and energetic,” he says. “Not a huge production, just a real rock band vibe.”

And though the album draws its strength from melancholy, Aleksi doesn’t see it as hopeless. When asked how it fits with Finland’s darkening autumn, he smiles. “It’s dark here, yeah — but there’s so much hope. Without hope, there’s nothing.”

Before wrapping up, he takes a moment to thank everyone supporting the underground scene. “I just want to thank you for the work you do for music. It’s important.”

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