They are not interested in releasing music that simply exists in the background. For them, music should provoke emotion — any emotion — and their upcoming Frozen EP embodies exactly that philosophy. Rather than approaching the release as a traditional collection of songs, the band conceived the material almost as one large composition.

“From the start, instrumentally, it was like one big song… It’s meant to be as one big thing, as a whole.”

The idea of dividing the EP into chapters emerged later, becoming a way to guide listeners through the intended narrative experience. The band hopes listeners will approach Frozen the way one reads a book — discovering each chapter and eventually returning to experience the entire story from beginning to end. The journey began unexpectedly with their haunting reinterpretation of Madonna’s classic Frozen. What initially seemed like a standalone cover evolved into the opening chapter of a larger artistic arc, bridging past reinterpretations with entirely new original material.

Visual storytelling plays an equally crucial role. Every track is accompanied by a music video designed to connect with the others, forming a continuous cinematic experience the band even plans to present as one long film.

Emotion remains the driving force behind everything Rioghan creates.

“There is so much stuff right now on the internet that is not made so you can feel something… Every time you make some art — music or pictures or whatever — it should be made with the feeling in mind.”

That emotional philosophy extends to the stage. Recent acoustic performances introduced choreography and a dancer as an integral storytelling element rather than simple visual decoration. The experience reshaped how the band approaches live shows, pushing Rioghan toward something closer to a multidisciplinary performance.

That ambition will fully unfold at the inaugural edition of Ankea Festival, where the band promises their most ambitious live show yet.

“I would have been at Ankea anyway — and now I get to play there. It’s going to be the most special live show this year… I like a challenge.”

For Rioghan, performing at the festival carries a personal dimension as well — sharing a lineup with artists they themselves grew up listening to.

Despite their evolving sound and experimental direction, the band does not shy away from being associated with Finland’s legendary metal heritage.

“We can’t help but identify somehow as Finnish metal, because Finnish metal is such a thing… But with everything else, I’m always going against the grain.”

Ultimately, Rioghan’s goal is simple: connection. Whether audiences fall in love with the music or react strongly against it almost doesn’t matter — as long as they feel something real. And when Frozen finally arrives, the band has one clear request:

“Please listen to it from start to finish.”

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