The songs are not autobiographical in the traditional sense. They are not directly written from a specific point in our lives portraying a moment or a story that could be unraveled to a listener in a way that it would make sense.
The Work
The inspiration comes from small pieces and fragments of music and art. Such fragments could be for example a memory, melody, voice, picture, word or a view. Sometimes a misheard fragment of melody springs a new idea, which after a while turns into a song. Some of our compositions have got their initial inspiration from a painting.
Usually one of the members brings the main idea for the band to develop. It is quite seldom that songs are composed through jamming sessions although a lot of our material is improvised during recording sessions. We often write things that even we don't understand immediately. Creating usually happens first on a subconscious level. Thus far there has not been formed a procedure for us for composing music — every song has its own way of appearing into our lives.
Melancholia
We have a big heart for melancholia — sadness is beautiful. The blue side of life is where we are as persons and as artists. The music also reflects our introversion.
Finland, Finnish and Folk
The Finnish language represents the Finnish mentality best. Our music has its roots in the Finnish folk music so using Finnish language to reflect our feelings and mental landscapes is obvious to us. However, the folk elements in Tenhi are indirect. We try to interpret them in our own way. With using folk elements we want to give certain timelessness and feel of our native land's beauty.
Nature
The greatest inspiration for us is nature. It is an endless source of amazement and beauty. We try to achieve the same kind of timelessness that is present there. In nature things are in the purest of forms.
We compare our album Maaäet to an autumnal forest. It was its feel that we aimed for when we were creating the music. Life slowly fleeing from everywhere, fatalism, acceptance, gentle fall to sleep, turning towards an end of a cycle, giving energy back to earth — giving it to be a seed of new life.
Aesthetic
Music and visual arts together form the concept of Tenhi. For us they are inseparable for achieving the whole experience we are aiming at. During the composing the visual context is a guide for us and it works as a window from where the themes are captured. As we create the album covers ourselves we set the final frames for the musical canvas.
For example the cover of the album Airut:Aamujen represents the core of the album. The portrait is a mental passage away from this place. The black stain curling around the girl's head could be an extension or a reflection of mind — an idea emerging from the subconscious. It could however be read as a death metaphor, the spirit leaving the body.
— Ilmari and Tyko 2007-01-31
Line-up
Tyko Saarikko: vocals, guitar, and piano
Ilmari Issakainen: guitar, piano, drums, bass, and backing vocals
Tuukka Tolvanen: backing vocals
Jaakko Hilppö: backing vocals
Inka Eerola: violin
Janina Lehto: flute
Live line-up
Tyko Saarikko: vocals and guitar
Ilmari Issakainen: guitar and backing vocals
Tuukka Tolvanen: guitar and backing vocals
Jaakko Hilppö: bass and backing vocals
Inka Eerola: violin
Jussi Lehtinen: piano
Raimo Kovalainen: drums
The Escape
Huomen
Tenhi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kajo täyttää taivaan hohtoon
Sarasteen koittaessa
Taivaanlaki ylle kumartuu
Huomenen tervehdyksen
Kaikuessa aamuruskoon
Pimeän selänteen kääntyessä
Takaisin suo meille yön tummuus
[Morrow]
In the crystalline autumn nights
Dawning reddens the sky
Ambience of
Looming light bends over
Morrow's greeting
Echoes in the aurora
When the day breaks
Yield us back the dimness of night
The volatile day
The lyrics of Tenhi's song Huomen evoke the imagery of autumn nights and the transition from darkness to light. The first stanza describes the beauty of autumn nights, where the glow of dawn fills the sky and the horizon is domed by the approaching daylight. The second stanza talks about the greeting of tomorrow, which echoes in the aurora as the night changes into day. The lyrics suggest a desire to retreat from the light and return to the darkness of night, away from the volatile and unstable character of the day.
The theme of transition is reflected not only in the lyrics but also in the music of the song. Tenhi's music is often described as "dark folk" or "neofolk", which is characterized by introspective lyrics and haunting melodies. The use of acoustic instruments like acoustic guitar, violin, and cello creates an intimate and melancholic atmosphere. The composition of the song is slow and atmospheric, building up to a crescendo at the end that represents the breaking of the dawn.
Line by Line Meaning
Kuulaina öinä syksyn
During the clear autumn nights
Kajo täyttää taivaan hohtoon
The dawn fills the sky with light
Sarasteen koittaessa
As the dawn approaches
Taivaanlaki ylle kumartuu
The horizon bows over the sky
Huomenen tervehdyksen
The greeting of tomorrow
Kaikuessa aamuruskoon
Echoes into the dawn
Pimeän selänteen kääntyessä
As the dark ridge turns away
Takaisin suo meille yön tummuus
Returning to us the darkness of the night
Loisteeton päivyt
The radianceless daytime
Contributed by Christopher W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Llama Worm
I love this group.
"In the crystalline, autumn nights, dawning reddens the sky. Ambience of looming light bends over the morning's greeting. Echoes in the aurora, when the day breaks, yield us back the dimness of night; the volatile day."
yodd from the spheres dame
Everything I hear from them is emotionaly charged. I have found presently my favorite band. I will get all thier cds in the days ahead. Marvelous stuff Highly recommended.
(redacted)
This is the first song I've heard from Tenhi. Very beautiful music!
Sverg
there are no words to describe the beauty of tenhi's songs
Quester91
5:17 My god, that part is awesome
L N
The snowy lands of Kalevala... What a beauty.
Nati St
This band is beutiful!! Greetings from Greece!!!
Mordsa Viechal
Wunderschön!
Carla Rojas
sublime 😢
tragos kerasforos
where can i find tabs for this song?