The final of this year’s Uuden musiikin kilpailu (UMK) takes place this Saturday, when the seven finalists take the stage of Tampere’s Nokia Arena. One of the contestants is Sara Siipola, who is competing for a ticket to Malmö with her powerful and emotional song ”Paskana”. Although Siipola surely is very busy at the moment getting ready for UMK, she still had time to answer a few questions we asked from her. This is what Siipola told us about her relationship to Eurovision, her career, her UMK song and some other things too:

Hello Sara Siipola and thank you for giving me this interview! At first I’d like to ask what is your relationship to Eurovision? Do you usually watch the contest and what are your favorite Eurovision songs? 

I’ve watched Eurovision ever since I was a little child together with my family. Having said that, I couldn’t even imagine myself to the Eurovision stage earlier, since I come from a small town in Ostrobothnia, and even the thought of it felt unreal back then. That is why it feels so incredible to be in UMK now. My favorite Eurovision song is probably ”Hold me closer” by Cornelia Jakobs. It was the Swedish entry in Eurovision 2022.

Could you tell us a little bit something about your musical background? How long have you been doing music and do you play any instruments?

I’ve loved singing as long as I can remember. I feel it’s always been a part of me. Inside my own head I’ve always dreamed of a career as an artist, but I didn’t have the courage to say it out loud very often when I was younger. I don’t play any instruments, and I really don’t have any theoretical knowledge either. Those would probably be useful skills to have, but here is a living example of that you don’t necessarily need those. I’m still able to sing and write songs, that’s enough for me.

How was your UMK-song ”Paskana” born and how would you describe the song and the message of it? 

The song was born from the passing of my loved one’s father. We were spending night together after it happened and I followed how that person was living between two realities. They were physically present, but totally somewhere else in their mind. I was trying to get inside their head, what would they think right now. Our laughter echoed in the room, they were trying to laugh along. But that sadness can’t be hidden from one’s eyes. From that I got the idea to that kind of phase of sadness that isn’t talked about that much. The phase of sadness that can seem like selfish and childish to the eyes of outsiders. The thought that your own world has stopped because of the lost, and still the whole world continues spinning. With what right? Why are the birds singing, why are people going to work or shopping like normally? Can’t you see my sadness?

”Paskana” is a power song, but definitely not in a regular way. The grieving process isn’t romanticized, but one’s honestly completely broken. This song gives the listener the permission to be broken. One can often feel shame that they’re still not over the loss even though some time has already passed. Even though it is completely ridiculous to think like that, since we are all individuals and it is really personal how one feels those things. It is a part of the grieving process to feel those terrible feelings, and it is ok to feel like shit. You are allowed to feel like that!

What kind of stage show can we expect from you in UMK24? 

I don’t know how much I can say, so I’d describe it like this: It is going to be plain in a way that lefts enough room for the message of the song. Still I feel that it’s a big number. But there’s just nothing extra.

Could you tell us a little bit something about your songwriting process? How are your songs usually born and from where you get the inspiration for your songs? 

For me it’s really important that I have a personal experience of the topic I’m writing about. Even if the thing didn’t happen to me directly, it could’ve happened to someone who is important to me, whereupon I’ve had a chance to experience those feelings and then I know of what I’m writing and singing about. When I go to the studio, I usually want straight away bring forth the things that have happened lately and we start doing from them. I like to go through the topics firstat the level of thought with the other songwriters and from there we start to make up ideas for the text and the melody. It is also important that at the studio there’s that kind of atmosphere that everybody have the courage to introduce even their craziest ideas. Those are usually the best ones!

What do you consider to be the biggest achievement of your career so far and why?

Definitely UMK! One do not get this kind of visibility from anywhere else in Finland. I’m really flattered from the fact that even though there were over 400 applicants I got in and get to experience UMK precisely with this group. Last year I also took part in the TV-show ”Tähdet, tähdet” (”Stars, Stars”), which was the first TV-show I made. And of course also the release of the debut album is a big and significant thing as an artist! I released it in 2021 and it’s called ”Kaunis kun itken” (”Beautiful when I cry”).

Besides your own song, what is your favorite song in UMK24 and why? 

All are really good. Whoever of us is going to be the Eurovision representative, Finland has a reason to be proud. Nevertheless, if I have to choose one, I’ll say ”Mania” by Sexmane. I love when the song has some deeper message.

What do you do when you don’t do music?

I spend time with my rescue dog Bruno. He is my world and the only thing that grounds me in the middle of all the hurry. I also love everything related to beauty and fashion so I also use a lot of time in them.

What would it mean to you to win UMK and represent Finland in Eurovision 2024? 

That would be a huge honor. Definitely the highlight of my career. Even though it has earlier felt like a distant thought, it is yet pretty close now. I also see that it’s a big responsibility. For me it’s important that I could make Finns proud.

What would you to say to our readers and your fans from all over the world? 

I love you. I can’t thank you enough for how amazingly you have received me and my song. I’ve never received this much love and it makes me speechless. I hope that as many of you as possible stays with me on my artist journey even after UMK and Eurovision. You are gold! THANK YOU! ❤️

Thank you for the interview Sara Siipola and the best of luck to UMK!

You can listen to Sara Siipola’s UMK entry “Paskana” here:

If Sara Siipola is YOUR favorite to win UMK24, don’t forget to vote for her in our poll: