BN Fanzine: Between the ancestral and the modern: the sonic alchemy of RAKINUA

jueves, 23 de julio de 2026

Between the ancestral and the modern: the sonic alchemy of RAKINUA - INTERVIEW

Rakinua makes its debut with Esi Um Ninu – Heal Us, Mother, a conceptual album presented as a ritual journey between the ancestral and the contemporary, where dark folk, progressive metal, and mystical storytelling converge within a unified sonic structure. The band builds a universe inspired by ancient Raetic cultures, transforming each song into a fragment of a larger narrative guided by oracular figures and ceremonial voices. More than a simple debut, the record serves as an immersive experience that blends cinematic atmospheres, tribal percussion, acoustic passages, and bursts of metallic intensity. In this interview, we explore the conceptual origins of the project, the construction of its narrative, and the role of ritual within a work that seeks to transcend the traditional album format.

Rakinua presents itself as a project with a strong mythological and ritualistic dimension. How did the need arise to build such a specific narrative universe around “Esi Um Ninu”?
VELIS: Everything started with the deep wish to build something connected that is authentic, that fits our vibe. So the first thing we knew was, that we want to create a concept album that is based on a long forgotten population that used to live in the Alpine area where we grew up. The more we read, the more findings of these times we saw in museums, the more our creativity was engaged and so our own artistic universe started to take shape in terms of stories, lyrics and
music.

The album works as a fragmented story told through songs and interwoven voices. Was it conceived from the beginning as a complete narrative, or did it evolve during the musical composition process?
VELIS: To connect the songs with narrations that also are a representation of the visions of the oracle Madame Noctinebra, was already conceived like this from the very beginning. The visions are completely out of the concept of time and so is Madame Noctinebra. Visually you will see that in the way she is dressed. The narrations are not only a mirror of moods but also enchanting with beautiful organic soundscapes.

The record blends elements of folk, progressive metal, and almost cinematic passages. How do you manage to balance acoustic, ritualistic, and extreme elements without losing coherence?
VELIS: it has never been a “planned on the table” record, therefore the balance came completely spontaneous and the result satisfied us from the very early stages. Of course, we didn’t know what we would have gotten in the end, when the pre-production process started, we still weren’t aware of the quantity of elements that we would have had to balance. But it still works
fine to this day.

Female vocals and oracular narrative voices play a central role in the album’s atmosphere. What do these figures symbolize within the overall concept of the work?

VELIS: To be honest, Rakinua is not completely comparable with the quoted bands, at least not to the core. The sound, the background and the visuals developed through the creative process into something very unique. It was very essential for us not to be the next “xy”. The time brought inspiration and ideas which matured slowly until we were satisfied and for sure we always aim
for more inspiration.

Critics have compared your sound to bands like Wardruna, Opeth, or Myrkur, although the project seems to go beyond these influences. How do you define Rakinua’s sonic identity yourselves?

VELIS: To be honest, Rakinua is not completely comparable with the quoted bands, at least not to the core. The sound, the background and the visuals developed through the creative process into something very unique. It was very essential for us not to be the next “xy”. The time brought inspiration and ideas which matured slowly until we were satisfied and for sure we always aim for more inspiration.

The album is deeply connected to ideas of ancestry and spirituality. Is this purely an artistic construction, or is there also a personal or philosophical exploration behind this imagery?
VELIS: It’s a combination of both. It’s an expression of our philosophical and spiritual believes translated into art.

“Esi Um Ninu” feels like an album designed to be experienced from start to finish, almost like a theatrical or cinematic work. How important is the concept of a full album to you in an era of fragmented listening?
VELIS: For sure, we are telling a story and we recommend to experience it with good headphones in a high quality version to experience every layer and it’s richness. On the other hand- The songs are also enjoyable as parts of the whole journey. This is only the first chapter of the saga. Where is Rakinua heading after

“Heal Us, Mother”: toward greater darkness, further narrative expansion, or a completely different evolution?
VELIS: What I can reveal at this point is, that the story is continuing but due to the fact that Esi um Ninu ends with a big question mark, the way it will go on will be surprising.