Siba Talks: Keval Shah & Emilia Sisco

In the October edition of Siba Talks, the guest is Emilia Sisco – a Helsinki-based soul, blues and jazz singer on the rise to international recognition.

Siba Talks brings top-level musicians and artists to the stage to share stories about their lives, careers and the music that matters most to them. The interviewer is Keval Shah, lecturer at the Sibelius Academy, pianist, and presenter. The audience will also have the opportunity to ask questions. The interview will be conducted in English.

About the artists

Emilia Sisco

Emilia Sisco is a rising force in contemporary soul, whose voice and songwriting have captivated listeners around the globe. With her powerhouse vocals and remarkable ability to weave narratives through her music, she effortlessly blends soul, jazz and blues, delivering deep emotional resonance that reflects the rich complexity of the human experience.

Emilia’s debut solo album, Introducing Emilia Sisco, recently released on Timmion Records, has been met with widespread acclaim. The album has quickly earned praise from critics, with Helsinki Times calling it “one of the best Finnish debuts of the year,” while Soul Bag Mag (FR) describes it as “seductive” and praises its “finesse” and “organic coherence.” As Juno Records (UK) notes, “Sisco’s voice weaves through uplifting choruses and introspective moments with an authenticity that’s all her own, cementing her as a powerful new voice in the soul scene.”

Before the album’s release, Emilia gained international attention with her single “Don’t Believe You Like That,” which earned her a worldwide following. She followed this success with the vinyl single double-sider “Trouble” b/w “It’ll Get Better,” produced in collaboration with the renowned Cold Diamond & Mink. Her music is often described as timeless yet modern, drawing inspiration from soul icons such as Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Billie Holiday while infusing contemporary nuances into the traditional sounds of soul and R&B.

Born and raised in Helsinki with Finnish-Zambian heritage, Emilia is rapidly becoming a promising name in modern soul music. With each release, she pushes the boundaries of her artistry while remaining true to her unique style. Hooked On Music (GE) predicts that Introducing Emilia Sisco is just the beginning, and Emilia Sisco is an artist to watch closely.

Keval Shah

British-Indian pianist Keval Shah (b. 1993) is celebrated for the intellectual and creative depth of his artistic vision. A laureate of multiple international competitions, Shah has performed at many of Europe’s major concert halls and festivals, and has recorded for labels including Deutsche Grammophon.

Alongside successes in the traditional field, Keval is a pioneer in concert design and curation, regularly commissioning contemporary music and building artistic projects that mix different genres, cultures, and philosophies. His musical practice is guided by a fascination with cross-cultural and multi-cultural processes, and the artistic and social possibilities which can be found therein.

Alongside his work at the Sibelius Academy, Keval frequently works as a broadcaster at the BBC, most recently presenting a documentary about Kaija Saariaho’s final projects.

Further information: Anna Huuskonen-Kuhlefelt, anna.huuskonen-kuhlefelt@uniarts.fi

Changes are possible.