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
Jäljen
Tenhi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kuva on tie hiljaisuuden polku
Vangitaan toivo muuttuu kallioiksi
Sameiksi silmät suru ikuiseksi
Vangitaan laulu lauseet lyötäviksi
Ruosteiseksi kieli sanat vaskisiksi
Ruosteiseksi nitovi rauta syvästä maasta
Let's capture the moment changing into eternity
The picture is the path of silence
Let's capture the wish changing into the rock
Blurring eyes grieve forever
Let's capture the singing joining into sentences
Rusting tongue, coppering words
Rusting and joining the iron deep from the ground
The lyrics to Tenhi's Jäljen depict a sense of timelessness and permanence, suggesting that once a moment is captured, it can become frozen and etched into eternity. The lyrics describe capturing the moment, the wish, and the singing, but with each of these captures, there is a sense of loss or decay. The moment becomes eternal, but perhaps loses its fleeting beauty, as it is frozen in time. The wish becomes a hard stone, losing its fluidity and ability to change. And the singing becomes words, which lose their melodic quality and become rigid.
The imagery of the lyrics emphasizes the sense of decay and loss that comes with this capture. The picture is a path of silence, suggesting a lack of movement or progression. The eyes become blurred with grief, suggesting a sense of stagnancy or despair. And the tongue and words become rusted and decayed, emphasizing the loss of their original beauty or power.
Overall, the lyrics seem to be questioning the value of capturing moments, wishes, or songs, as it risks losing their original essence in the process. The lyrics suggest that we should perhaps embrace the moment's fleeting beauty rather than trying to capture it, lest we lose the magic in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
Vangitaan hetki muuttuu ikuiseksi
Capturing a moment turns it into eternity
Kuva on tie hiljaisuuden polku
A picture is a path of silence
Vangitaan toivo muuttuu kallioiksi
Capturing a wish turns it into a rock
Sameiksi silmät suru ikuiseksi
Blurred eyes grieve forever
Vangitaan laulu lauseet lyötäviksi
Capturing a song turns it into sentences
Ruosteiseksi kieli sanat vaskisiksi
A rusting tongue turns words to copper
Ruosteiseksi nitovi rauta syvästä maasta
Rusting and binding iron from the deep earth
Contributed by Molly J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Diere Sieg
Tenhi is my favorite band of all times. Wanted to get their all vinyl special edition in wooden box. Never had the money for it, though.
Malic
beautiful .Finland language are pure magic love so much
Snuffying
da cum sa nu? desigur ca stiu :) unul dintre cele mai frumoase genuri este acesta, sper sa nu iasa niciodata din Underground, s-ar pierde mult din farmec, poate chiar tot daca ar fi compusa pentru bani :) it's perfect, as it is
megamarillion1
♫♫♫ Amazing sound ♫♫♫
Liz Smith
I couldn't tell you how many times I've gotten lost in this song.
Miia Heinonen
It's in Finnish. :) And it's a Finnish band as well.
nurwer
Stunning Band
Luxferre
Great song
Snuffying
BEST BAND EVEEEEEER
MusicisInternational
Hyvaa. Cok iyi!