Orlando Hotopf is becoming a regular fixture on our pages, and for good reason. The rising Stockholm-based talent is winning fans globally with his every-impressive indie releases, and new single ‘Wild Ones’ will only continue to grow his popularity.
The lo-fi, subdued production mirrors the song’s lyrics, which are inspired by bad relationships, and the tensions between staying with someone and wanting to let them go.
This is Hotopf’s sixth single to date, so we’re hoping that at some point this talent finally releases an album! In the meantime, you can explore more of Orlando’s music on Spotify.
Silje Strange is a promising newcomer emerging from Denmark who crafts a gorgeous alt-pop style of sound that is deeply emotional, haunting, and raw.
New single ‘How Lucky You Are’ touches on themes of emotional manipulation and the mental anguish that comes with being in toxic relationships. The lyrics are honest, brave, and really quite powerful.
“This song is about a relationship where the narrator describes how they control their partner through manipulating threats, lies guilt tripping. The lyrics move between reassurance and menace, exposing how psychological abuse often hides behind ‘care,’ jealousy, and the fear of abandonment. The song was inspired by curiosity about how a manipulative partner thinks, showing why someone might keep hurting the person they claim to love.”
While we still don’t know much about this artist, something tells us that she’ll grow to become one of Denmark’s most interesting musical exports.
Vau is an artist and producer emerging from Malmö in Sweden who recently caught our attention with a gorgeous song called ‘Bird You Want To Save’.
The track’s production is a masterclass in lo-fi pop. Despite its dreamy and enchanting soft style of sound, the track speaks of unrequited love, which offers an interesting juxtaposition between the music and the lyrics.
“A song about wanting to be held but not being able to receive it. About looking put-together on the outside while feeling like a broken mess on the inside. The song almost didn’t make the album – until I found a tiny frozen wren outside my studio and nursed it back to health overnight in a pot. The next morning it flew away.”
An upcoming album is scheduled for release later in the summer. Vau’s music has amassed over two million streams to date, which is an impressive feat for a relatively new talent.
Orlando Hotopf returns with his distinctive indie-folk sound today through a beautiful new single called ‘Blue Jeans’.
Written and recorded during a snowstorm in the outskirts of Stockholm with the acclaimed Tyler Neil Johnson, the song speaks of the instability that some people can bring to your life.
“‘Blue Jeans’ is about that someone who comes in your life creates a hurricane and then leaves is the worst possible way.”
Despite being a relative newcomer, Hotopf’s music has already picked up more than 80k streams to date. More new music is coming, so be sure to follow Orlando on Spotify.
We’ve been fans of Swedish artist ORKID for well over a decade at this point, and yet she still finds ways to make us love her even more. And we’re not the only ones – this artist has had a burst of interest and recognition, particularly in the past year, thanks to her widely acclaimed EP ‘Where Flowers Grow’ (listen here).
That record was created following the passing of her mother, and new single ‘In All Of My Tomorrows’ (along with the accompanying EP of the same name) follows on from the aftermath of grief. ORKID explains:
“My first EP was rooted in grief – a body of work that helped me begin to process something very personal. But grief doesn’t disappear; it changes shape. ‘In All Of My Tomorrows’ is about carrying that feeling forward while finding space for hope again.”
ORKID was the recent winner of a P3 Guld award, as well as a nominee for Best New Artist at the Swedish Grammys. We’re so happy to see this talent get the recognition she deserves!
Why the rest of the world hasn’t yet woken up to Danish outfit shinyhunt is really beyond us. This emerging Copenhagen-based band has been building steady momentum in Scandinavia with their captivating blend of shoegaze and 80s/90s-inspired grunge rock.
Songs like ‘city of no one’ are sonically textured in so many interesting ways that every time we play it, we discover something new. Lifted from their acclaimed – and frankly brilliant – 2024 album ‘sea-salt ice cream’ (listen here), the track really stands out live, which is why we’ve chosen to show their performance from SPOT Festivalon this feature.
If you’re lucky enough to be in Copenhagen on the 2nd of October, then you can catch the band performing at VEGA’s Ideal Bar – grab a ticket here.
Malmö outfit MAMI UMAMI, fronted by artists Jaquelin El Amiri (Miss Mami) and Leonard Furby, create a kind of sound that is chaotic, unpredictable… and absolutely thrilling.
Emerging from Sweden’s underground scene, this creative collective has been gaining steady momentum since the release of their singles, ‘Piraja’ and ‘Paper’, last year. Now they’re back with another big release, ‘belly dancer’.
The track’s personality mirrors the energy and creativity that comes with MAMI UMAMI’s live performances. Lyrically, the song tackles themes of capitalism and the yearning to rebel against society’s expectations of success.
”F*** you and everything you stand for.” – MAMI UMAMI
MAMI UMAMI play Gothenburg’s Pustervik on the 1 May (tickets), and Debaser Nova in Stockholm on the 9 May (tickets). A new EP titled ‘AFTERWORK’ is scheduled for release soon via Big Wednesday.
muuk, the musical moniker of artist Ines Roervig Lewkovitch, first came across our radars earlier this year with her sensational debut ‘i’m no soldier’.
The hugely talented Danish starlet returns today with a powerful single called ‘into you’. This introspective and emotionally charged song was inspired by the artist’s difficult childhood, transporting listeners to her bedroom in her father’s apartment.
“I’m really not good at writing songs where I point fingers at others, but for so many years I’ve wanted to hug my younger self and tell her that it is not her fault what happened back then. This song is justice for her.”
“I don’t think my father ever experienced real love… so how could he possibly pass it on to me? Either way, it was really hard for me growing up, never knowing what unconditional love felt like. I always felt like I had to fight for my parents’ acceptance.”
The track was created alongside fellow songwriter Victor Stokholm and producer Morten Bergholt, and was completed in only four hours. It’s rare to come across a musician who is bold and brave enough to expose their innermost thoughts and vulnerabilities in the same way that muuk has, and that’s something incredibly special.
Subterranean Street Society is a Dutch-Danish trio currently based in Amsterdam who craft a style of folk-grunge that really is quite something spectacular to experience.
Vocalist and guitarist Louis Puggaard-Müller wrote the band’s latest offering, ‘Kindness’, during a trip through Malin Head in Ireland with a friend.
“I originally wrote it as a traditional folk song, pretty much campfire style. But when I brought it to the band, we turned it into something bigger: an alternative folk grunge track that keeps the emotional core intact while giving it weight and movement. To me, it feels like the ultimate road trip song. Raw and cinematic. The kind you will blast while driving through wild, beautiful scenery, preferably Irish, but any view will do.”
The song’s lyrics were inspired by that journey, encompassing the landscapes, the talks with strangers along the way, and the clarity that sometimes comes from embracing the unknown.
“The title ‘Kindness’ comes from the fact that we were completely dependent on strangers. Every mile we travelled was given to us. It made the world feel fragile but generous at the same time.”
Alongside Louis, Subterranean Street Society also includes Ivo Johan Schot on bass and choir and Joost Koevoets on drums, percussion, and vocals.
The band recently supported Laura Cox on tour and have a full year ahead with new releases for their fans to enjoy. In the meantime, you can explore more of their music on Spotify, where they currently attract more than 13k monthly listeners.
Norwegian star Hanne Leland has been on our radars for more than a decade, and we’re still fans after all this time. The acclaimed singer and songwriter has had a varied career in music, immersing herself in Nashville’s scene in her early years before shifting to the electronic pop sound that she is so well known for now.
Leland returns today with a brilliant new Scandi pop banger called ‘Call You Mine’. It’s the perfect song to add to your weekend playlists, and in our view, it is likely to gain even more traction over the upcoming summer months. It’s catchy, fun, and lyrically relatable to anyone who’s ever fallen in love.
To celebrate its release, we managed to get the chance to have a catch-up with the artist, where she speaks on the creative hustle, her inspirations when making music, and what the future holds.
You’ve made a fascinating transition from the Nashville singer-songwriter scene to becoming one of Oslo’s most exciting independent pop forces. For those just joining the journey, how would you describe the Hanne Leland sound in 2026?
I’d say my sound is very much rooted in pop, with a touch of electro-pop. I like to experiment, so my sound has shifted a bit between indie pop and electro-pop over time, but at its core, it’s always been pop. This year, I’m really leaning into a more polished, playful electro-pop sound.
Your career is a masterclass in DIY hustle – from pitching sponsors to recording with Taylor Swift’s session musicians in Tennessee. Looking back at those early days, what is the core motivation that keeps you building this international career entirely on your own terms?
I think a lot of indie/ DIY artists are naturally very entrepreneurial, and that’s something I’ve always identified with. I have a strong work ethic and I love making things happen, but ultimately, it’s my love for music and songwriting that has kept me going.
Whether it’s your previous singles or your 2025 Christmas album, there’s always a distinct emotional thread in your writing. Where do you typically find yourself most inspired to create? Is it in the quiet moments of reflection or the chaos of real life experiences?
I’d say it’s a bit of both! I often write about my own life, whether that’s the big, chaotic moments, like a breakup, or the quieter, everyday experiences. For example, my 2025 song ‘Nothing At All’ is about the simple, everyday life with your partner, and how that ordinary routine can be everything you want.
Your new single ‘Call You Mine’ is an anthem that captures that agonisingly exciting ‘are we/ aren’t we’ phase of a new romance. Since you wrote this a couple of years ago, what was it about this specific track that made it feel like the perfect spark to kick off your 2026 releases?
I think it’s the perfect track for spring! It’s flirty, fun, and full of anticipation. It feels great to release something upbeat and playful just as the sun starts peeking out and summer is on the horizon.
With over 17 million streams under your belt and a fresh team behind you in both Norway and the UK, the momentum is clearly building. What does the rest of the year look like for you?
I’m thrilled to be playing my own headline show in Oslo this year! I also have more singles planned, in the same playful, upbeat vibe as ‘Call You Mine.’
It’s been a while since we last featured talent from Norway, so we’re really excited to be sharing with you newcomer Linn-Katrin Lune.
‘Sunset Hill Road’ is Lune’s second release to date and treats listeners to a melodic fusion of indie-folk and acoustic pop. The minimal production allows the vocals to shine through beautifully, and overall, this is quite an easy song to fall in love with.
Lune cites Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Melissa Horn as some of her inspirations, and we can certainly hear elements of that on ‘Sunset Hill Road’. We’re looking forward to hearing what comes next!
REYA is one of those pop newcomers who instantly command your attention. The London-based musician and producer releases a new single today, called ‘supersize’, and it is indeed larger than life.
A dark pop production at its core, this song is simply epic. Flamenco guitars are blended with pulsating, hypnotic beats, while REYA’s vocals flow with lyrics that effortlessly flirt between English and Spanish.
“I’ve been blessed enough to travel for work and gotten to know so many wonderful people over the past year. I’ve opened up my own label Pink Studios, which aims to give women and minorities a platform to bloom and own their masters while getting their bag. And I’m currently producing albums and EPs for stunning artists inside and out (you guys inspire me beyond words). All of this to say, I’ve learned A LOT, a lot about what I want and what I need from myself and life. And as much as I love creating with and for others, you can’t pour from an empty bucket.”
Impressively, REYA always writes and produces her own music. There’s no doubt in our minds that we’ll be hearing a lot more from this artist in the coming months… one to watch!
It’s been six years since we last heard from Swedish outfit Anwai, so we’re delighted to see their return today with a beautiful new single, called ‘SOMETHING NEW’.
This melodic track is part of the double-single feature titled ‘4ever HD’ (listen here) and showcases an interesting fusion of indie, electronica and dreamy pop. The sound is distinctive and original but also immersive and emotionally sincere.
Over the years, Anwai have never failed to surprise us with their innovative pop productions, and this new single is no exception. So, welcome back… we’re happy to hear from you again.
“‘WEIGHT’ is about being lost together, the strain a relationship carries, and the choice to stay anyway. It’s two people holding the heaviness side by side. The song lives in that tension between exhaustion and devotion.”
OFF MIC is a new Swedish project that we don’t yet know much about, but we’re very excited about what we’ve heard so far.
‘Unseen’ is inspired by themes of ’emotional distance and slowly fading presence’ and presents listeners with a bold and arresting mix of indie and dark pop.
Despite the minimal approach to its production, this song is deeply intense. It evolves as you continue listening, culminating in an emotionally charged and sonically abrasive climax.
It’s a brave style of sound and one that we’re absolutely hooked on.
theophilia is a promising new artist emerging from Sweden, who has just released a captivating new single called ‘Together Through Life’.
Blending a nostalgic synth sound with elements of indie and electronica, the song instantly hooks listeners with its pulsating beat structure and intriguing vocal delivery. The track is taken from the artist’s freshly released ‘Big Bang’ album (listen here), of which he says:
“I found myself far out in a no-man’s-land of the human psyche, but eventually made it back home again, and that journey is what the record reflects.”
The record is in fact theophilia’s debut, but it took an incredible 15 years to come to full fruition:
”’Big Bang’ has passed through five different studios in 50 different incarnations, but that was what it took to find its core. Twisting and turning, overworking things and then going back, that’s my way of understanding a song’s identity.”
theophilia plays Stockholm’s Debaser Nova tonight (6th March), so if you’re in town, be sure to grab a ticket here.
We’ve long believed that Isak Danielson is one of Sweden’s best songwriting talents, and his new single, ‘Always You’, only makes us affirm this even more.
This is a classic heartbreak song that reminisces on the ‘what ifs’ of a failed relationship. It’s a deeply moving track that could relate to anyone healing from a wounded heart.
“The guy I wrote this song about was not the one I was supposed to end up with, and I’m so glad I didn’t, but it’s interesting to look back and reminisce on the what ifs. What if I had stayed with this person? Could it have turned into something amazing? Has the love of my life passed me by? And of course, I don’t feel that all, but thinking about that sort of Sliding Doors scenario got my imagination going. I remember I had taken this video of the guy dancing to ‘Bette Davis Eyes’. The sun was coming into the room and he looked so happy. It was good times. ‘Always You” reminds me of one of those romantic movies where two people who’ve broken up do come back around to find each other in the end, like The Notebook or One Day… only nobody dies.”
The song features acclaimed pianist Litens Anton Nilsson, as well as the Stockholm Studio Orchestra.
This Charli xcx-inspired take on Kate Bush’s iconic ‘Wuthering Heights’seems to have gone viral very quickly. Give it a spin; it’s delightful.
Elias O. Graversen is a promising Danish-Bolivian pop artist currently working out of Berlin who deserves every bit of attention he gets from this bop.
