I interviewed Syrian-Venezuelan and Helsinki-based artist Ramsés about his new ep. This time the interview is in English.
1. Tell us a bit about your background and musical roots.
”I’m RAMSÉS, a Venezuelan-Syrian producer, musician, and songwriter based in Helsinki. I was born in Venezuela to Syrian parents, which gave me a musical DNA rooted in both Latin American rhythms and Middle Eastern folk traditions. Before this chapter, I released music as Ramithawi, a more intimate space for songs about war, love, and the meaning of home. With my work as RAMSÉS, I’ve stepped deeper into production and into exploring identity, memory, and the diasporic experience.”
2. The story behind Espíritus, track by track.
“Ya Jabal” – The first single, produced alongside my brothers from Yalla Collective. It was our first song together and a tribute to the Mijwiz and Dabke, traditional dance music from southern Syria, as well as to Jabal al-Arab, a volcano and symbol of resilience.
“Min Ana” – The second release, featuring Palestinian-Finnish singer Razān and a mysterious anonymous rapper. It blends Arabic melodies with Latin American rhythms to explore themes of identity and unlearning.
“El Clavo” – A powerful reimagining of a Venezuelan folk song originally interpreted by Betsayda Machado and Parranda El Clavo, mixing cumbia with Venezuelan tambor and electronic textures.
“Mala Racha” – This track was the spark for the whole project. It began with a voice note from Pao Errezeta in Los Teques, Venezuela, that reached me while I was in Helsinki. She sang a folk-inspired Venezuelan tonada that became the seed of this piece, created entirely at a distance, reflecting on being in a rough patch in love, life, or purpose.
3. Could you introduce the featured artists?
”Yalla Collective – A vibrant DJ ensemble based in Helsinki known for fusing SWANA sounds like dabke and Arab pop with club-ready electronic beats.
Razān (Razan Abou Askar) – A Palestinian–Finnish singer, writer, and multidisciplinary artist based in Helsinki, whose expressive voice and stories of diaspora bring emotional depth to her art.
Pao Errezeta is a Venezuelan singer-songwriter and fashion designer from Los Teques. Her evocative tonada vocals bring a contemporary edge to traditional Venezuelan music.
Nathaly Gómez – A Venezuelan singer based in Helsinki, part of the duo Cantares, who fuses Latin American folk styles with contemporary arrangements. Nathaly enriches the sonic palette with her roots and versatility.”
4. What are your plans in the near future?
”Following the release of Espíritus, my next project will be Respíritus, a remix EP where each track from the original will be reinterpreted and expanded.”
Check out the full ep in streaming services!
Mikko Ihalainen
