Category: Danish Music

muuk – into you

Photo / Antonia Steiner

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.

muuk | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

Subterranean Street Society – Kindness

Photo / Edward Freije

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.

Subterranean Street Society | Ones To Watch Playlist

Kate Bush… but make it brat

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.

Elias O. Graversen | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

Mansfield – Too Much to Handle

Photo / Jesper Ludvigsen

You’d be forgiven for thinking ‘Too Much to Handle’ was a Britpop anthem from the 90’s, but it is in fact a new song by Danish outfit Mansfield.

A well known name within Denmark’s indie scene, Mansfield first picked up major traction with the release of their 2020 debut album, ‘Star-Crossed Lovers‘. Songs from the record, like ‘A Place in the Sun’, propelled the group’s popularity with critics and indie fans alike.

And they haven’t stopped releasing music since, continuously evolving their sound. Speaking on the new single, frontman Christian Stage says:

“This song is our way of expressing what we’ve learnt along the way. We’ve worked hard to get to where we are, but it’s so easy to lose yourself in that process. Making music and performing is great. Yet it’s difficult to stay focused when all sorts of things call for your time and attention.”

Coincidentally, in keeping with the UK indie theme, Mansfield will play alongside British band All The Young at Copenhagen’s Rust on the 27th of February – you can grab your tickets here.

Mansfield | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: Alva Lys

Alva Lys is an emerging singer and songwriter from Sweden, currently based in Copenhagen. This exciting artist caught our attention today with the release of her new single, ‘One Night in Berlin’.

Inspired by the German city’s notorious nightlife, the song blends dark pop with electronica, creating a soundscape that is both atmospheric and intriguing. The track feels sinister and tense but still maintains a playful pop sensibility.

“Driven by pulsing beats and atmospheric synth layers, the song captures the intensity of a fleeting connection on a Berlin dancefloor – the kind of night that feels endless until reality breaks through.”

You can explore more music by Alva Lys on Spotify, where she’s amassed thousands of streams from only a handful of songs.

Alva Lys | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

Elliot – hot but depressive

Photo / Charlee Mouna

“It comes from self-sabotaging good intentions – from distancing yourself from love before it gets too close, because you don’t want to hurt others with your own emotional complexity. Instead of showing all the beautiful things I carry inside, I end up showing my destructive sides – the person who never feels good enough – and then I’d rather destroy it before ending up in yet another superficial or staged relationship. ‘hot but depressive’ is, in many ways, a song about the fear of loneliness.”

Elliot | Nordic Sound Playlist

Retro Kid – Think I Know

Danish-based British artist Retro Kid (aka Jake Juba) starts our weekend with his delightful new single, ‘Think I Know’.

The song serves as a taster to the producer’s forthcoming EP and is inspired by Juba’s life as a father to a young son, who, at the age of three, is confident enough to know what he wants but still finds ways to make life ‘interesting’ for his dad.

“I think I know what I want… dry socks (and more than six hours of sleep).”

As Retro Kid, Juba has won acclaim for his distinctive approach to electronic music from outlets as prominent as Amazing Radio, BBC Introducing, Indie Shuffle, and EARMILK.

Retro Kid | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

Calby – Deeper Love

Photo / Petra Kleis

If you love soul and see yourself as a hopeless romantic, then you’ll most likely appreciate Calby’s latest offering, ‘Deeper Love’.

Serving as a taster to the artist’s next album, this track showcases a charming blend of soul, pop, and R&B and was written purely as an ode to relationships. It’s a simple message, but one that is relatable to anyone who has ever been in love.

“‘Deeper Love’ is a song I wrote for the love of my life. It’s my tribute to everything we share. It’s about what we’ve been through together – how I can see myself in her scars, and how she carries them more gracefully than I ever could. It’s a declaration of love – honest, unfiltered, and without reservation.”

Calby is an acclaimed and well-established Danish singer-songwriter based in Copenhagen, who has already released two albums to date – 2021’s ‘Burnout’ and 2023’s ‘Inner Critic’s Choice Awards’. You can listen to both records here.

Calby | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: muuk

Photo / Antonia Steiner

We’ve got a new and exciting Danish musical project to share with you today, going by the name of muuk – the solo project of artist Ines Roervig Lewkovitch.

‘i’m no soldier’ is muuk’s debut single. It presents listeners with a thoughtfully constructed alt-pop production that builds intensity as the song evolves, while also showcasing Lewkovitch’s captivating vocals.

“‘i’m no soldier’ relates to loneliness creeping in on life and the realization and acceptance of needing support from your loved ones.”

The track was created alongside close friend Andreas Jaaks, who also served as the producer.

“‘i’m no soldier’ went very smoothly at first, until we suddenly got stuck to a point where we almost left it in drawer. I think that’s kind of funny, because that sums up the song pretty well. Feeling stuck in life, getting real low, and losing every hope of finding joy.”

Despite this still being muuk’s first release, we’re very excited to see how the project evolves over the coming year.

muuk | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

Nathav – Over You

Danish artist Nathav has just unveiled one of the sweetest songs of the week, called ‘Over You’.

Blending dreamy pop with jazz and mellow synth tones, this track really stands out for its originality. It’s emotional and heartfelt while also being experimental and slightly avant-garde.

Lyrically, this is a beautifully written heartbreak song that offers comfort to anyone who’s healing from a ruined romance.

“The song is dedicated to all the brave hearts who try to hold it together when heartache has shattered them into pieces.”

Nathav is already an established fixture within the Danish music scene, performing as a member of the bands Lovebites, Blake, and Umatic across the years. If you’re now a fan, then be sure to check out her positively received 2024 EP ‘Moon River’ here.

Nathav

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Elinborg – Blood

Photo / Sigríður Ella Frímannsdóttir

Today’s release of ‘Blood’ by Faroese artist Elinborg has really blown us away. It’s been a minute since we’ve come across something this flawless from the Nordic region.

It’s electronic pop at its most elevated. The song is dark, intense, and cinematic and is a reworking of an original version by the artist called ‘Blóð’, now with English lyrics. Elinborg explains:

“I chose to release an English version of my song ‘Blood’ not only because it holds a very special place in my heart, but also because I wanted to explore how my sound might change when I switch languages. I’ve always been intrigued by different languages, and even though Faroese has a special place in my heart—and I’ll absolutely continue writing in it—I think it’s important to grow and evolve as an artist. That’s why I wanted to try releasing English versions as well: to reach a more international audience, but also to add new colors to my artistic world.”

If you love this sound as much as we do, then make sure you explore the artist’s latest album, ‘Í Ævir’, over on Spotify.

Elinborg

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Asbjørn – show u the future

Danish artist Asbjørn kicks off the week with a nostalgic bop that could have very easily fit into a playlist from a London radio station in the 90s.

‘show u the future’ is a collaboration with La Boum Fatale and blends a classic UK garage sound with electronic pop in a way that feels retro but also current. It’s playful and optimistic and harks back to a time when club culture was at its peak.

“‘show u the future’ rewinds to a time of skipping snare rolls, shuffling 2‑step grooves, and late‑night bassline pressure. This one is for the ravers, the lovers, the dreamers in the corner, dancing till sunlight creeps through the blinds.”

The song serves as a taster to Asbjørn’s upcoming project, ‘HAUSPARTY’, an EP inspired by club music and the nightlife culture, and its unique way of building communities out of music lovers.

Asbjørn

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Elliot + Reveal Party – nothing at all

“There’s something strangely liberating about writing through discomfort — through the unforgivable. Maybe it’s because it allows you to say what’s never been said, even as you feel a creeping fear of being changed by the story or identifying too closely with it.” – Elliot

Elliot | Reveal Party | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist 

Nicklas Sahl – Love of My Life

“‘Love of My Life’ is about the dream of finding true love – and just as much about how exhausting, painful, and endlessly lonely the search for it can be. That feeling of knowing she must be out there somewhere, yet having no idea where to look. Hinge dates, endless nights out, and solo bike rides home through Copenhagen started to feel more and more meaningless. I wrote this song mostly as a way of letting go of the pressure to find ‘the one’ – with the quiet hope that sometimes, it’s only when you let go, that you actually find what you’ve been searching for.”

Nicklas Sahl

ORA – LIMBO

Photo / Olivia Krüger

“It’s about accepting that when you’re living with ADHD – which both my brother and I do – you may never experience life in a ‘normal’ middle ground. And that’s okay. We wrote this as a celebration of that difference” – Lea, ORA

Taken from the new album, ‘:(:’, which is out now.

ORA

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New Music: GIMI

We honestly can’t remember the last time that we featured talent from Denmark, so we’re really excited to be sharing with you a new artist from the region, who goes by the name of GIMI.

This Copenhagen-based, Danish-Kosovan singer and songwriter has been steadily gaining traction from the release of only a handful of singles so far.

New single ‘Communicate It’ treats listeners to a beautifully introspective piece of dark pop which is sonically experimental but also emotionally charged. Speaking on the track, GIMI explains:

“I wrote this song about this deep rooted need I have for validation. It’s about how we often seek self-worth through the attention of others, turning casual hookups into a search for approval and trying to find your value in someone else’s desire.”

With support from the likes of BBC Introducing, KALTBLUT and The Line of Best Fit, it’s quite clear to us that this talent’s momentum is on the rise.

GIMI
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New Music: Spawner

Photo / Fanny-Alba Bang Jönsson & Mathilde Ferro Fransen

“‘Can’t Find You’ is a song about searching for someone, or something, who literally disappears in front of your eyes. The person shows up in very strange places and keeps leaving weird clues, like in the pages your notebook.”

Spawner

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New Music: HISSY

Photo / Nefeli Have

Danish artist HISSY (aka Martin Grønne) has unveiled this weekend’s anthem, and it’s called ‘Silenzio’.

If you love your indie-pop with an electro twist, then you’ll adore this track. It’s an energising and breezy style of sound, which is really quite compelling to listen to.

Lyrically, the song looks at the effect that people’s words and opinions can have on us – and our desire to simply ‘switch off’ these thoughts.

“The song is about needing to shut out other people’s voices if they’ve moved into your head and make it hard to hear what you feel yourself.”

While HISSY is Grønne’s foray into solo music, this musician is already well known as a member of the acclaimed group Virgin Suicide, which he serves as the front-person for.

In turn, Virgin Suicide has gathered praise from the likes of The Guardian, while also selling out shows across the globe and performing on iconic stages like Roskilde and The Great Escape.

HISSY

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New Music: 100%WET

Photo / Lucas Kober

Track of the week. We’ve made no secret of our admiration for emerging Danish music talent, so we’re stoked to be sharing with you another new outfit from the Nordic nation called 100%WET.

Signed to acclaimed label Crunchy Frog (home to The Raveonettes and Yune, among many others), this duo has caught our attention with their unique productions, which blend nostalgic 90’s sounds with shoegaze and electronica.

Euphoric new single ‘Ether’ will be our weekend bop and is very quickly becoming one of our favourite songs of the winter.

“‘Ether’ describes the juxtaposed feelings of being in an altered state of mind—the perception of momentary bliss while also experiencing everything at a dissociate remove.”

100%WET comprises of producers Jakob Birch and Casper Munns, while vocal contributions come courtesy of artists like Eir from Sweden (as featured on ‘Ether’), Polly from Denmark, and the UK’s Hockeysmith.

100%WET

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