Track of the week. Few songs have hit us with as much impact as Danish trio Farveblind’s latest release, ‘Crooks’.
This is a sound that is immediately gripping – thanks to its bold, fiery and energising mix of dark electronica and punk.
Alongside the track itself, the matching visuals (directed by Snorre Fuglsang Ruhe) are equally as impressive.
‘Crooks’ is lifted from Farveblind’s brand new EP, ‘All Clubs are Bastards’ (out now).
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It’s safe to say that 2022 has been a stellar year for 18-year old Danish newcomer Giift.
Following the release of her stunning debut EP ‘Archives‘ in the spring, this DIY R&B artist has gone on to acquire critical acclaim from across the world and garner more than 500k cumulative streams on Spotify alone.
Today sees Giift unveil her last single of the year, entitled ‘If You Leave’, of which she says:
“2022 has been very overwhelming to me. Letting go of ‘Archives’ was also about letting go of an emotionally chaotic period in my life and at the same time it became the ultimate high that collided with new love. ‘If You Leave’ is written right at that time – as a declaration of unlimited love and as the definite ending of a chapter one and the beginning of a new.”
Giift has become one of the most widely-praised Scandinavian R&B-soul artists of late, with support from the likes of PAPER, Flaunt, COLORS and Metal Magazine.
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One of the most impressive collaborations of the week comes courtesy of Danish creatives Lleoh and Soon.
Showcasing the best in Scandinavian melancholic pop, the song’s honest lyricism presents listeners with words of doomed love and broken relationships.
Yet while the vocals carry a sombre tone, the song’s production blends elements of stripped-back pop with R&B, creating a sound that is future-forward and fresh, but also warm and intimate.
The release of ‘Softly’ continues with Lleoh’s ethos of creating music that is not dictated by the mainstream scene, but rather what she herself truly believes in.
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Scandinavian starlet Kleo returns with a blissful slice of nostalgic synth-pop through the release of her new single ‘Beautiful Life’.
Inviting listeners in to a world where everything is as sweet and pleasant as can be, the track gives us all a welcome escape from the many obstacles we face in this day and age.
The song continues Kleo’s ethos of crafting pieces of music that enable us to see the bigger picture in relation to our lives, and encourages us to allow ourselves to evolve as humans.
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It’s been a short while, but Denmark has once again delivered an outstanding new pop prospect to the world.
As the collaborative project of singer & songwriter Line Gade and producer Sebastian Igens, ROYA create a sound that feels melancholic and emotive, while still maintaining some strong pop sensibilities.
Latest single ‘Kinda Sad’ looks into those moments when we are emotionally vulnerable following a break-up, and reminds us that even if we feel alone and sad, that it’s just a part of a process we have to go through.
“It’s written out of the embarrassment of finding yourself drunk and alone, longing for someone you know isn’t good for you anymore. Lyrically, we wanted to dive into those suppressed feelings to give them a life of their own. The song is a reminder to anyone in this messed up situation, that sometimes it’s more than okay to be by yourself and feel kinda sad.”
Danish pop artist Gustaf continues to impress us with the unveiling of his latest single, entitled ‘stop’.
Through its nostalgia-tinged synth production, the song’s bittersweet lyrics tell of the emotional dilemmas that come with summer romances. Elaborating further on the track, Gustaf says:
“‘stop’ is a song about being in the early stages of your summer flirt, but suddenly it’s starting to get a little too serious and you’re not ready to commit! Mainly because you’re afraid of commitment but also because you want to keep that cloud nine feeling going on, you’re too afraid that you’ll make the wrong choice, and the daily trivial life kicks in! So let’s just stop before we fall in love!”
The song marks Gustaf’s sixth release to date. New fans of this promising Scandinavian talent can check out his past singles on Spotify here.
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Danish musician eif is back today with a soulful fusion of R&B and mellow pop through the release of her new single ‘Grown’.
Inspired by the realisation of our true worth, the song looks at the power of personal growth and self-love.
eif is currently collaborating alongside acclaimed platinum-selling producer Rasmus Gregersen, and is due to release another new track next month. In the meantime, check out eif’s ‘Teal’ EP here.
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Danish pop sensation Daniel Schulz marks his return today with uplifting new single ‘Make It’.
Lifted from Schulz’s upcoming debut album, the song serves as a perfect anthem for those of us who need some encouragement to overcome our obstacles in life.
“‘Make It’ was written for one of my best friends who needed it but eventually, it spoke to me too and what I’ve been going through for the past five years. Here it is for the World to hear it – and I hope it will be a melody of optimism and light to everyone listening.”
Since the release of his huge 2017 hit single ‘Turn Back Time’, 24-year old Schulz has carved a name for himself as one of Denmark’s most promising pop prospects, and currently commands over 715k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.
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We are launching in to the weekend with a stellar new release from Denmark by promising pop artist Lleoh.
Serving as an anthem for self-empowerment, ‘Evil’ was inspired by the inner struggles that we face after our hearts have been broken – and we try to resist the urge to become vengeful and bitter.
The track’s sublime fusion of dark electronic pop and alternative R&B was created alongside Jonathan Elkær (from acclaimed Danish outfit Phlake), and is taken from Lleoh’s forthcoming ‘Waves and Rocks’ EP (out soon).
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Hailing from Denmark is emerging singer and songwriter Betty Bass, who’s distinctive vocals have graced various releases since her initial debut in 2019.
Through a polished mix of R&B, pop and soul, Bass creates songs that carry mainstream appeal while still maintaining powerfully emotive themes.
Anthemic new single ‘Self First’ encourages listeners to be honest with themselves, and to let go of all those situations that hold us back or make us unhappy.
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Today sees the debut release for Danish-American newcomer Thaddeus. With an emotive fusion of indie, synth and pop, this artist has created one of the most impressive releases of the week.
Beautifully melancholic in tone, ‘Do I Wanna Know’ questions whether we should always try to help solve the problems of those we care about, or if it’s better to take a step back and just be there for them.
“How are you? What’s wrong? How can I help? – when our loved one battles with their mental health, we’re supposed to reach out, offer our help, give a f*ck. But what do you do when your efforts aren’t working, if you aren’t really capable of fully understanding the problem and your well-meaning advice risks belittling or misunderstanding the issue?”
The song serves as a taster for an upcoming conceptual EP entitled ‘Reasonable Doubt’, which is out soon.
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It’s been a short while, but rising Danish talent Gustaf is back today with his fifth release – and it’s been worth the wait.
‘love me less’ is a beautifully melodic pop power-ballad, infused with essences of synth to offer listeners a sound that feels both classic and current at the same time. Speaking on the song’s inspiration, Gustaf says:
“‘love me less’ is based on a former relationship where I felt that I couldn’t match the other persons feelings and devotion towards me. I felt she was way ahead of me. Whenever we would ‘fool around’ I’d try to be sincere, but I just wasn’t emotionally connected as much as she was. I was basically just hoping that one day she would stop loving me. I felt my heart was so cold and I was too shy and afraid to end it, afraid to be alone.”
Musician, songwriter and producer Gustaf has frequented Alfitude’s pages often since his debut last year, consistently showcasing himself as one of the most promising pop artists to to emerge from Denmark.
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Track of the week. Now a hugely successful artist all across Scandinavia, Danish starlet (and Alfitude favourite) Jada unveils her latest album ‘Elements‘, alongside new single ‘Don’t Say My Name And Forget It Again’.
The song expertly instills that trademark brand of Scandinavian melancholy over a melodic pop production, giving listeners a sound that feels moving yet empowering.
“When I experience art that really resonates with me, it leaves me feeling more like myself than before. When I come across art where I really feel like people are true to themselves, where I can imagine exactly how they would move or sing, what their soul wants to express, it reminds me of myself. It’s a mirror. I want to be that and offer that freedom of self. I want them to feel strong, cute and sexy.”
The track is just one part of a wider scope of work under the ‘Elements’ record, which took inspiration from Jada’s realisation that, as humans, we consist of multitudinous parts that shouldn’t be boxed into just one singular category.
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JADA – Tour 2022:
One of Copenhagen’s finest indie-pop starlets returns with a gorgeously soulful and dreamy release through new single ‘Summer’s Already Gone’.
Inspired by the sadness of the summer season ending, Mercedess wrote the song alongside indie superstar Goss and guitarist Søren Breum, while production came from critically acclaimed artist Vera.
“I wanted to write a song that could represent both the fearlessness of the magical Summer days and the truly blue sadness of the re-occurring love story it actually is when Summer eventually comes to an end. I know it’s a heartbreaking, melancholy feeling but it’s also everything I love about Summer.”
The track is taken from the long awaited debut album, ‘Casa Fantasia’, which is also released today. Speaking on the project, Mercedess says:
“’Casa Fantasia’ is an album about longing for closeness and honesty. These songs are an escape from reality – a place to feel free and be yourself. Writing it, was a personal journey and process to me, that hopefully will make space for creativity, art and emotions for others too.”
Achievements for Mercedess just this year alone include ‘Song of the Week’ on Danish Radio P3, as well as praise from influential tastemakers like COLORS and Ones to Watch.
‘Casa Fantasia’ is out now | Mercedess
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Scandinavian masters of funk and soul D/troit return today with their latest single… and it’s a showstopper!
‘Heavy’ is taken from the band’s sophomore album of the same name, and delivers a refreshingly raw yet colourful take on the retro-soul genre.
With a flavour of the Western infused into the sound (you’ll experience hints of mariachi and Spanish guitar), the track feels playfully nostalgic, but also epic and cinematic in tone.
The Danish band have had quite the journey since winning ‘Best New Band’ at the Scandinavian Soul Music Awards in 2016, garnering support from the likes of BBC 6 Music, Radio 2, and soul legend Gabe Roth.
Listen to the album here | D/troit
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Already an established musician in his native home of Denmark, Felix E. is a drummer who has worked alongside Scandinavian pop megastars like Drew Sycamore, Alex Vargas, Coco O, Nik & Jay and Mads Langer.
New single ‘Touch Me’ propels Felix E. into the spotlight, and is a masterclass in fusing the past with current. This is a sound that feels nostalgic and classic, while still delivering an energising and modern twist on indietronica.
“‘Touch Me’ is an ode to sex and love and the woman taking control in bed. It’s about how sex is a consensual act when done right. It’s about giving and receiving in equal measure and doing your absolute best for the person you love.”
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While still only 23-years old, Copenhagen-based DIY-artist Løv Li has already marked himself as one of the most interesting artists to emerge from Denmark in recent years, thanks to his eloquent songwriting and melancholy productions.
“I’ve always had melodies spinning around in my head. These days, I often record them as one of the numerous voice-memos, I’ve got on my phone. They rapidly develop into arrangements for piano, vocals and strings and are completed with all the impulsive, experimenting sounds, I create when I work on the boundless, amazing computer.”
Haunting new single ‘Can’t Let You Go’ presents itself as a beautifully dark piece of pop, yet also feels timeless and classic thanks to its subtle orchestral tones.
The song was inspired by the decay and sudden end to what was seemingly a beautiful and unique relationship.
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If you’re a fan of soulful, mellow and introspective R&B then Giift may well be your next new favourite artist.
This South African born, Danish raised talent creates understated yet melodic masterpieces that are refreshingly minimal in tone – allowing for her unique vocal tones to deliver some of the sharpest lyricism you’ll experience today.
Remarking on the release of her debut EP ‘Archives’, Giift says:
“These five songs represent everything that I’ve experienced over the last few years. There’s a personal story behind every lyric, top to bottom, and so, it was natural for me to list them in order of when I experienced what and in the order of the emotions I was going through. ‘Archives’ is about falling in love, falling out of love, loving yourself and everything in between.”
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One of my favourite newcomers to emerge from Denmark this year has been guitarist & songwriter Freddy Madson. Today sees his return through a new collaboration that features the talents of fellow Danish artist Lleoh.
Just in time for the weekend, ‘Feels Right’ is a finessed slice of dreamy Scandinavian dance-pop – the kind that uplifts you in the most subtlest of ways.
“Imagine a club with an irresistible dance floor full of seemingly amazing people you wish you were partying amongst. But you don’t dance like them or fit their dress code and the music is anything but your taste. Anyway, here you are, considering to compromise with oneself to be part of the crowd. ‘Feels Right’ is about being true to who you are. It celebrates the outsider in every single one of us – all the flaws and peculiarities that make you and me unique and beautiful in our very own way” – Freddy Madson
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Mads Koch is already an established artist and songwriter within the Danish music scene, having worked with the likes of Mø, Jada and Goss.
While noted for his collaborations with international pop artists, new single ‘The Lake’ sees Koch in a more intimate, almost ethereal setting. Served in an indie-folk style of sound, the track serves as a thought-provoking observation on life and death.
“I think a lot of us can gain a richer and more beautiful existence by practicing an openhearted approach to the transience of life. Not that we necessarily need to dwell on anxious contemplations about death but in away where we can get through this fear by surrendering to it. This is why ‘The Lake’ is a declaration of love to the little, quiet and seemingly uneventful situations, that our days and lives actually is made of.”
The song is released alongside Koch’s debut album ‘Fingers’, of which he says:
“‘Fingers’ is a declaration of love to the acoustic and clean sounds of instruments in an orchestral setting.The songs find themselves in a field between hope, calm and gloominess, while the lyrics reflects the thoughts that takes up a lot of space inside me.”
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