Writing a medieval folk song with Raivo Jackson

Saska Lammila joined us all the way from Helsinki, Finland, to talk about his medieval-style folk song Suspended, for his band Ravio Jackson. Download the lyrics and chords to follow along.

We talked about:

• Taking inspiration from a years-ago spiritual experience, through a poem, and into a finished song
• How Saska wrote a poem in Finnish several years ago, and translated it into English for the song
• Having a 3-verse and coda structure with a blooming, intense ending
• Writing songs with parts for his bandmates in mind, but that also work for a solo singer-songwriter show

About Ravio Jackson

Raivo Jackson is a versatile Americana band hailing from Helsinki, Finland. The group began as a singer/songwriter project for band leader Saska Lammila 15 years ago, and have just published their debut album ‘Tangled Up in Roots’.

It is now an organic entity of five skilled, experienced musicians.

The music has been described as roots, Americana, folk, Nordic noir and anti-country, among other things. It is atmospheric, cinematic and melancholy. The Handsome Family, Nick Cave and Timber Timbre move in similar territory.