Mandy Manala is a five-piece, female-fronted rock band from Vaasa, Finland, formed in 2021 by musicians with over two decades of experience in the scene. Their sound blends the heaviness of stoner rock with melodic and theatrical influences, drawing inspiration from artists as diverse as Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, and Ghost. Fronted by the powerful voice of Christa Nedergård, the band explores dark themes such as anxiety, occultism, and the human psyche, while crafting music that remains both intense and accessible.
The Origin & Identity:
How did you all come together as a band, and when did it feel real?
Christa: I had been wanting to create my own music for quite some time. Before that, I sang in several cover bands, but I always felt that writing original songs would be much more fulfilling. In the beginning, I imagined something rooted in rock ‘n’ rollwith a touch of blues, which has gradually evolved into the sound we have today. Our bassist, Kenneth, has been a closefriend of mine for many years, and I always knew I wanted to create music with him.When it came to guitarists, David and Joel were a natural fit right from the start. Once we were sure we wanted to make this band a reality, Kenneth reached out to Jonas-our amazing drummer-and that’s how the lineup came together.
Recording our debut album in the studio was the moment when it all became real to me.
Kenneth: Christa had been bugging me about writing our own songs when we played in a Motörhead cover band called Motörcunt. But I didn’t have any inspiration and didn’t know what it should sound like at all. I knew, though, that her vocal talent couldn’t go to waste, so at some point I felt kinda pressured to come up with something. I was also really bored by all those stoner bands out there that values a killer tone over good songwriting. I was also boreр with how modern metal sound nowadays with all the guitars sounding exactly the same. So I wanted to create a wall of guitars with two guitar players that had a very different tone and playing style. Joel plays an SG with an Orange amp with very heavy tone and plays it like the engineer he is. David plays these Harley Benton Frankenstein-monsters with either single coil or P90 like a black, 70 year old, blind blues-guy. So combined it was the perfect recipe to build a soundscape around.
When it dawned on me that Christa was a million times better than me at singing and I could make the melodies in the songs technically impossible for someone like me to sing everything started to come in to place. David also write very good riffs and is very essential for everything to work.
Where did your band name come from, and why does it feel like you?
Christa: Amanda was the name of Kenneth’s grandmother, a very strong and inspiring woman. ‘Manala,’ on the other hand, is Finnish for hell or the underworld. Putting the two together as ‘Mandy Manala’ Felt like the perfect fit-combining strength, darkness, and a name that carries personal meaning for us.
Did you have a clear vision for your sound from the start, or did it develop naturally?
Christa: At first, we knew we wanted to do something stoner rock-based with somе bluesy undertones, but the actual sound developed naturally. As soon as all of us started writing and playing together, it evolved into what Mandy Manala is now.
What should listeners know about your newest album?
Christa: It’s a mix of heavy riffs, strong melodies, and powerful vocals. The album captures who we are as a band right now: dark, intense, but with hooks that stick with you. We’re proud of how it turned out and can’t wait for people to experience it.
Influences & Creative Process:
Who or what has shaped your sound in ways people might not expect?
Christa: Our sound definitely developed naturally, but it was shaped by some influences people might not expect. Sure, we’re inspired by heavy bands like Black Sabbath and Ghost, but we also look to artists like ABBA and Fleetwood Mac for their ability to write timeless, unforgettable melodies. That mix of heavy riffs and catchy hooks became a big part of our identity. On top of that, each member of the band brings in their own background and taste, and instead of trying to narrow it down, we embraced it. That’s why you can hear elements of classic rock, metal, and gothic vibes woven into what we do.
When creating a song, do you follow a routine or mix it up each time?
Kenneth: Basically, a new song in the world of Mandy can start off with me having some lyrics and a melody. Then I record what I have on either an acoustic guitar orjust hum it into a voice memo on my phone and send it to David. Then he sends a riff back to me and then we go back and forth until we have something to work with.
After that the interesting part begins; showing it to the rest of the band and have them interpret it their own way. I mean, we could probably be a two-man band and record what we come up with together (David and me) but that would miss everything that everyone else brings to the table and that is a key element in how we write our songs. The twist. I love seeing my vision interpreted by everyone else in the band, because that is when everything changes and comes alive for real.
Are there moods, riffs, or ideas you find yourself returning to?
Kenneth: I never write when I’m happy. I don’t need to. I write when I need therapy. Luckily, at least when it comes to art, life seems to bring alot of sadness and need for therapy and that is when inspiration thrives. Art imitates life and the other way around. When it comes to melody I’m always in search for the next twist and the next hook. Those may hit you at the strangest situations like when doing dishes, feeding the dog or driving to the post office. Life is the mood and the riffs come from the beyond. You can’t really control it, you just have to keep your eyes peeled.
How do you make writing decisions — together or does someone usually lead?
Christa: Our writing process is a mix of collaboration and leadership. We all bring ideas to the table, but Kenneth usually takes command and guides the process. That way, the songs have a clear direction while still leaving room for everyone’s creativity.
Musical Technique / Composition:
When layering sounds, do you focus more on tone or on mood?
Kenneth: The song always leads us. We concentrate on what the song needs, then we will find the tone and the mood and everything else. The one rule though is that you can’t come in with a big ego when writing or recording a song. If the song doesn’t need a big guitar solo, then it doesn’t. If the song needs a drum solo in the middle or an isolated bass part, then yes, go ahead and shine! But we don’t put in partsjust to stroke someones big ego-boner. The Song is the boss and it will become what we seem fit.
Do you use alternate tunings, odd meters, or unusual chords to shape your sound?
Kenneth: We will use whatever we think is necessary to get the songs where we want. We don’t really know what is unusual or usual. All we know is we don’t want it to be boring.
How much of your arrangements come from improvisation versus planning?
Kenneth: We try out different arrangements and listen to the songs. Then we re-arrange it until it is how we want it. We don’t really jam if that’s what you mean. We plan everything into the last fine-tuned detail and then go into the studio. But when producing our music I like to leave certain parts open for improvisation on purpose. mostly on Christa’s part. Because she really sings from the heart and sometimes it’s good to just let her do her thing and improvise some stuff.
Stories & Experiences:
What’s one moment that truly captures what this band is about?
Kenneth: We’re still waiting. We will tell you when it comes!
Does playing live bring out a different side of your music?
Christa: We haven’t had the chance to play live with Mandy Manala yet, but I can’t wait. Performing has always been something l love, because it’s not just about singing it’s about presence, energy, and connecting with people in the moment. I think once we start playing live, it will reveal a whole new side of Mandy Manala, one that can’t fully be captured on record.
What’s the quirkiest experiment you’ve done in the studio?
Kenneth: Well, I don’t really know what is quirky since I have never been to a music production school. Sometimes our engineer Owe raises his eyebrows in a weird manner when I produce. For example when we overdub solos with an acoustic guitar plugged into a cranked Marshall-stack or when we read Dante’s Inferno into a microphone in our underwear in the middle of the night. I guess most of the things we do are rather quirky and not by the book.
Has a fan ever done or said something that made you see your music differently?
Kenneth: I don’t really care if people think that our music sucks or if they think it is good. Our primary goal is not to make music for other peopls enjoyment. And haters gonna hate. We make music that we enjoy ourselves. But as a music nerd there’s always a certain joy when someone likes the same band as you. And since we make music that we would listen to ourselves I personally find it enjoyable if someone likes our music. There’s also interesting when other people interpret the music we make, because you’re always so close to your own art so someone “on the outside” might hear it from a totally different perspective. With that said, I don’t really know if we have fans. Do we?
Current Inspirations & Recommendations:
Any up-and-coming musicians you think deserve more attention?
Kenneth: Every single on of every up-and-coming musician deserves more attention than what they get!
Vision & Reflection:
Where do you see your sound heading next? Any experiments you’re itching to try?
Kenneth: If the first one was our self-titled “Black Sabbath”, then the next one will be our “Paranoid” and so on. You get the picture. After album #8 we will fire Christa for being to drunk all the time.
Which track do you feel captures your band best, and what’s the story behind it?
Christa: That’s a tough one, because every track has its own history and importance to us. Some are more personal, others more about the themes we explore as a band, but each one shows a different side of Mandy Manala. We’d rather say the whole album captures us than just one song.
What do you hope people feel when they sink into your music?
Kenneth: I’ve always found solace in music. I hopе that someone might find something in our music that can help them during bad times. That’s what art is for and I hope that someday someone comes up to me and tells me that my misery have been of help to them.
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