As part of our Progotronics 51 compilation, we’re excited to feature an interview with Samuli Manu, guitarist of Finnish rock/jazz fusion band Elektric Rokband. With their latest single, Aurora, set for release on April 4, the band brings a delicate blend of cinematic soundscapes, progressive rock, jazz, and Finnish folk influences. In this interview, Samuli discusses the inspiration behind Aurora, the band’s evolving sound, and what the future holds for their upcoming album.
Your new single Aurora is set to release on April 4 and is featured on Prog Sphere’s Progotronics 51 compilation. How do you feel about the track being included in this series?
I’m genuinely thrilled and pleasantly surprised about Aurora being included on Prog Sphere’s Progotronics 51 compilation, especially since it’s the first single from our upcoming album. Our sound has evolved significantly, and I’m excited to see how listeners will connect with this new vibe.
Aurora blends cinematic, Nordic noir atmospheres with instrumental rock and progressive elements. What inspired this direction for the song?
Initially, Aurora was quite different—it was heavier and intended as a sequel to Wooden Mountain from our first album. However, I wasn’t fully satisfied and struggled with its direction for a while. Eventually, while experimenting on piano, I discovered the main theme, which immediately reminded me of Nordic noir soundtracks. This became the creative spark that clarified the direction and helped shape the cinematic, atmospheric sound of the track.
How does Aurora fit within the broader sonic identity of Elektric Rokband? Does it represent an evolution in your sound?
I think Aurora definitely embodies some fresh elements for us. With live-recorded drums and bass, acoustic piano, and real percussion, the track has a more organic feel compared to our earlier work. It’s also perhaps a bit more relaxed, with clearer, stronger themes than tracks from our previous album. Overall, I’d say it represents an evolution in our sound, showcasing a more mature approach to composition and thematic depth.
Your music is known for fusing heavy-hitting riffs with jazz-infused explorations. How do you approach balancing these different influences in your compositions?
Balancing these influences tends to happen quite naturally. I’ve always loved heavy riffs, and even though I’m not strictly a jazz musician, I’m drawn to richer and more complex harmonic language inspired by jazz, progressive rock, and fusion. It isn’t something I consciously think about; it simply emerges organically because that’s the sound I enjoy.
Cinematic elements play a strong role in your music. Do you take inspiration from film scores or other visual mediums when writing?
I’ve listened to a lot of film scores, but I don’t consciously aim to compose in that style, especially since we’re fundamentally a rock band. However, I love great films, and I’ve also read some film theory, which I find incredibly inspiring. That visual and cinematic perspective naturally influences my composing approach.
Can you walk us through the creative and recording process behind Aurora?
I composed the main theme for Aurora while on a cruise ship gig, working on it in my cabin between sets. Initially, it was a variation of an earlier version’s main theme, but this new direction resonated much more with me. The B section also evolved as a reharmonized variation of the original idea. For this tune, I composed the main harmonic structures and overall arrangement but left room for creative freedom. Especially with Timmo on drums and Santeri, who fully created the percussion parts. Jussipekka contributed fantastic synth layers that greatly elevated the track’s atmosphere.
The recording was very collaborative: drums, bass, piano, percussion, and some synths were captured at Sibelius Academy studio with excellent engineering by Jimi. I recorded guitars in Pekka’s home studio, where he also provided valuable ideas for guitar parts. Finally, Jussipekka completed additional synth layers in his home studio, rounding out a true team effort.
What are some of the biggest challenges when writing and performing instrumental music compared to traditional vocal-driven tracks?
For me personally, instrumental music feels more natural because writing vocals isn’t my strength. However, instrumental music can sometimes be more challenging in terms of audience engagement, as many listeners deeply value lyrics and vocal storytelling. Without words, we have to focus even more on crafting strong themes and emotional depth in our compositions to connect effectively.
What artists or bands have had the biggest influence on your sound, both in progressive rock and beyond?
That’s a challenging question because I don’t consciously try to emulate any specific artist or band. However, within progressive music, Symphony X had a significant impact on me, especially during my teenage years—even though their style is more metal-oriented and includes a neoclassical approach I don’t directly follow. Trio Töykeät also inspired me with their accessible, jazz-grounded sound. Additionally, classic prog bands, known for their strong melodies, have influenced me greatly. Beyond progressive rock, modern classical music continues to be a significant source of inspiration.
How important is improvisation in your songwriting process? Do you allow room for spontaneity, or is everything meticulously structured?
It really depends on the song. For example, in Aurora, there’s quite a lot of room for improvisation. The rhythm section has the freedom to be spontaneous, the guitar solo is improvised, and the outro heavily relies on improvisation within a predetermined structure. While none of our songs are fully scripted, some are definitely more structured than others. So the degree of improvisation varies from tune to tune, but it’s always an essential part of our songwriting and live performances
Your music is described as immersive and unpredictable. Is there a particular mood or experience you aim to create for listeners?
It really depends on the specific song. Mostly, I focus on creating music that resonates with me personally, always searching for something fresh and interesting. My main hope is that listeners will find enjoyment in these explorations and experience the music in their own unique ways.
Instrumental rock can sometimes be overlooked in the mainstream. How do you see the genre evolving, and where does Elektric Rokband fit into that landscape?
I think that after bands like Snarky Puppy reached wider recognition instrumental fusion started to become cool again. In Finland, there are many excellent instrumental groups, although rock-oriented instrumental music might still be somewhat underrepresented. However, genres blending fusion, metal, and progressive music seem to be thriving right now, with lots of exciting releases emerging regularly. With Elektric Rokband, we’re aiming to contribute by offering a distinctly rock-based interpretation of this evolving style.
With Aurora being released soon, do you have plans for more new music in 2024? Perhaps an album or an EP in the works?
Yes, Aurora is actually the first single from our upcoming album. We plan to release the full album in late 2025, and we’ll also be dropping a couple more singles leading up to it. So there’s definitely more new music coming soon!
What does the future hold for Elektric Rokband in terms of touring or live performances?
We’re currently booking shows to celebrate our upcoming album release, so you can definitely expect several live performances later this year! We’re excited to share our new music with audiences on stage.
If you could collaborate with any musician—past or present—who would it be and why?
That’s a tough question, but from today’s scene, I’d love to meet Jari Mäenpää from Wintersun. I find it really inspiring how he’s achieved such success through a determined, uncompromising approach to relatively niche music. Looking back at past musicians, it would have been amazing to meet and jam with Eddie Van Halen. I’ve always admired his unique style and approach to guitar playing.
Pre-save “Aurora” here, and follow Elektric Rokband on Instagram.
