In this special interview Swedish singer Zubaida of Siena Root discusses the band’s new live album Made in Kuba, recorded over three nights in Germany as a raw, all-analog performance. She also shares how fans helped choose the set list, the challenges of recording to tape, and the excitement of bringing vintage equipment and guest musicians to the stage. Just a closing note: catch them on tour this upcoming autumn!
Welcome to Siena Root
So, Zubaida, welcome to the Femme Metal Webzine. How are you, and how is this period treating you?
I’m doing quite well. Right now I’m really happy about summer. Winter is quite dark and cold here in Sweden, so we enjoy the few sunshine hours we get.
The upcoming release Made in KuBa
Made in Kuba is set to be released in October, and I wanted to ask: how was the preparation for this important show and the series of concerts, since I know there were one or two in a row?
Yes, exactly. We actually recorded all the songs three times in total—three nights in a row at the same venue, with one of those nights serving as a warm-up for the whole show. That way, we’d have options when mixing and editing the recordings. Other than that, the biggest preparation was choosing which songs to play. That’s always the hardest part because Siena Root has such a long history—albums from different eras, songs the fans love, and songs we love as well.
This time the fans had a say on the set list
I know that in a way the fans helped you with that. How did it feel to give them control over such an important part of the show and the project as a whole?
In a sense, it can feel a bit jarring if people pick songs that are extremely complicated in one way or another. We’ve had a lot of guests throughout the years, so some choices could even have been impossible. Fortunately, we still play many songs from our core repertoire, and the fans were very much aligned with what we wanted to do, so it worked out. Feeling-wise, yes, it was nerve-racking—but it turned out fine.
Choosing the location for Siena Root
Why did you choose the Jenaer Kulturbahnhof? You’re from Sweden, and there are many great venues there, so why Germany? Was there a special reason?
The cool thing is that the people who run the venue are long-time friends of the band. Mark, who runs the place, has a big interest in vintage and analog equipment. We also did a short tour beforehand so we’d be properly warmed up. Continuing and then driving back to Sweden to do it here actually fit well with the specific equipment we needed and just being in the right vicinity.
The guests involved
I know there were some guests involved—like Eric Peterson on organ, Clarinet, and Rhodes, and Lisa Isakson on flute and vocals. Considering the bigger incognito of the set list, did you rework the arrangements?
Siena Root’s music naturally invites interpretation, which is one of the reasons it’s so exciting. Some parts on the recordings might feature trumpets or a sitar solo, and you can always adapt. In Lisa’s case, she contributed many flute solos and vocal improvisations around different sections. Erik has played with the band for a long time—even before I took over on keys—so having him back was a great addition. I could play Rhodes at the same time, and Erik filling out the sound with the keyboards. That’s always the challenge when you’re only four people.
Do you have any plans to bring those guests on stage again?
We’ll see. We always ask if people are available and if they’d like to join. That would be amazing, of course.
Recording with analogic equipment
Jenaer Kulturbahnhof owns a lot of analogic equipment and long-time sound engineer Ove Noring was the tape operator, which can be challenging. What was the hardest part of recording live with a setlist chosen by your fans?
Recording live is definitely different from working in a studio. You’re not just recording—you’re recording to analog tape. Every third or fourth song we had to stop to change the tape. We even had to tell the audience, “Can we change the tape?” But in the end it worked out. Everyone there was very understanding and happy with the experience. It’s 100 percent nerve-wracking to record analog because if you make a mistake or don’t like something, there’s almost no chance to fix it in post-production.
The previous live album of Siena Root
Siena Root has released live recordings before, like Root Jam. How did this experience differ from that?
I wasn’t part of Root Jam, so I can’t tell you exactly. What I do know is that when they recorded it, it was a similar setup in terms of how they played. But I think the Swedish crowd is a bit different. German audiences have such great energy at concerts, and when you’re playing live you really need that energy. Choosing Germany was a great decision in the end.
The upcoming European tour
Siena Root has a new tour coming up in September, with special guests as well. What are your expectations, and what are you most looking forward to?
I don’t think I have a specific show in mind. I’m just extremely excited to head out and play for people again. We’ve been playing an acoustic set list this past year, but it’s going to be really fun to perform electrified again and feel the energy from the crowd. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most.
Next plans for Siena Root
Are you already thinking about a new release, or are you focused for now on the Kuba live release?
We’re always recording and working on new songs. I cannot say about which it will be next because we’re not yet sure what type of album it will become, but we’re focused on getting this live release out. There’s always new music in the works, though.