Sivu

Sivu is unlikely to be a name you've heard before (it's Finnish for his surname, Page) but will undoubtedly be a sound you will want to hear again if his talent is anything to go by.

Not a musician that suits the singer-songwriter tag, Sivu's sound is as unusual as his name, drawing influence from artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Kate Bush, and Björk.

Born in Cambridge, Sivu was formerly a guitarist for another band and began his journey performing at a series of 'brutal' open mic nights. In that time, he formed a close bond with Charlie Andrew, the producer of alt-J's mercury-award-winning 'An Awesome Wave' who convinced him to pursue a solo career - advice which he thankfully took. 

His debut single, 'Better Man Than He' is inspired by the depression of a close friend. The song's emotional lyrics draw hope from darkness, blending dreamy acoustics, and subtle electronic touches into an indisputably unique sounding record. Sivu's flat-mate, Adam Powell, who has previously directed for Dot Rotten, Jamie T, and Example, directed the video for the track.

Despite his immense musical talent, Sivu has continued to work at a call centre in Waterloo. Balancing his job with his songwriting only adds to the quality of his lyrics, giving him time to explore subjects he never imagined he would write about. 

Another track, 'God Speaks in Tongues', for example, explores questions of biblical myth and spirituality. Although Sivu writes his songs alone, when performing live sets, he performs with a live band. "It's a real asset to be able to share your songs with amazing musicians who play each song with their all." 

Sivu is undoubtedly set for big things, having already performed at the 'In the Woods Festival', which showcases the best upcoming talent and gave rise to artists such as Lucy Rose, Lianne La Havas, and alt-J. Nonetheless, he remains modest in his bid to pursue a career in the music industry and continues to play at smaller venues. "I'm just proud of getting the songs from my bedroom to where they are now."

Originally written for tmrw print mag (spring 2013 edition)