Nordic Music - New Music

WIINSTON – care4

WIINSTON might well be our most featured Danish outfit from recent years, and with good reason.

This genre-bending Copenhagen duo have consistently delivered sounds that are future-forward and experimental, while also maintaining some pop sensibilities.

‘care4’ continues to showcase WIINSTON’s desire to push sonic boundaries, and fuses genres as diverse as indie, folk and R&B into a song that is not only unique and intriguing in style, but also emotive and authentic in character.

“‘care4’ is the perfect picture on how we currently define ourselves. It’s rooted in multiple genres like indie, folk, RnB and hip hop with inspiration from the soundscapes of cinema. When making music, to us, every aspect is equally important ‘cause when we limit ourselves to only one genre it doesn’t feel like we created anything, really – then we just remade something that already is. We aspire to make this our mutual philosophy in the studio.”

WIINSTON

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Sval – ANGELA (feat. Jimi Somewhere)

Norwegian starlet Sval teams up with frequent collaborator Jimi Somewhere on new single ‘ANGELA’.

In what is likely to be our favourite release from Norway so far this year, the track treats listeners to a sound that is both tender and vulnerable, but also euphoric in tone.

“‘ANGELA’ is a what if story. You fall in love, but you don’t have enough time to make it work. It’s about meeting someone and falling in love in a place where you know it’s temporary. To me the song feels nostalgic, about someone you don’t see anymore, but you still think dearly of.” – Sval

Elaborating further on the song’s creation, and her process with working alongside Jimi Somewhere, Sval explains:

“Writing this song was super easy, I just sang the first thing that came to mind. I only had a guitar loop and some drums and wrote my part on a late night in my living room, before bringing it to the studio with Jimi and Milo. Jimi’s verse really elevated everything, and I love having him as a feature. His voice really suits the song, and I love the story in his verse. It’s one of my favourites from my upcoming project and I hope people can resonate with it.” – Sval

As one of Norway’s newest alt-pop exports, Sval has received tastemaker recognition from the likes of Earmilk, Clout and Going Solo, while her most recent single, ‘GRENADE‘, has been streamed more than 200k times on Spotify alone.

Sval | Jimi Somewhere

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Sofia Monroy – Control

It wouldn’t a normal weekend at Alfitude without featuring some premium Swedish music, and today it’s the turn of Sofia Monroy.

Serving as the last single from her forthcoming ‘Telenovela’ EP (out in the spring), new single ‘Control’ presents listeners with a perfected fusion of future-forward pop, alternative R&B and soul.

The resulting sound is one that feels sleek, finessed and refreshingly experimental in tone.

“‘Control’ is about the fear of losing control in connection with the longing to be someone else’s everything. All of a sudden you find yourself there, tied behind and perplexed, perhaps in love or maybe just stuck.”

To date, this rising Stockholm-based starlet has accumulated more than 300k career streams on Spotify alone.

Sofia Monroy

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Big Spoon x EMI.KKO – Hush Money Scandal

Danish-Senegalese producer Big Spoon (aka Kinck) joins forces with emerging UK talent EMI.KKO on sultry new single ‘Hush Money Scandal’.

Fusing experimental pop with alternative R&B, the song showcases a sound that is future-forward, vibrant and confidently bold.

Two rising musicians in their own right, both Big Spoon and EMI.KKO have already garnered significant achievements.

As a songwriter, Big Spoon has worked with labels as iconic as Ultra Music and Sony Music, while EMI.KKO was first signed by Elton John’s Rocket Music.

Big Spoon | EMI.KKO

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Late Runner – Catch Your Eye (Organ Trio Version)

Acclaimed Danish artist Late Runner (aka Asger Tarpgaard) returns today with an interesting new project that is sure to excite fans of Scandinavian indie-pop.

Originally written back in 2017, the new Organ Trio version of ‘Catch Your Eye’ reworks the song into a perfected slice of nu-disco.

The track is lifted from a wider collection of works (out now) that have all received the Organ Trio treatment, of which Tarpgaard explains:

“The four songs are special organ trio-versions of Late Runner tracks. It’s more electronic than ‘the usual’ Late Runner sound. It’s somehow a detour before I’ll return to the more acoustically driven Late Runner sound later this year.”

Late Runner

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Asy Saavedra – Masterpiece

If you’re unfamiliar with Swedish-American artist Asy Saavedra, then today’s release of ‘Masterpiece’ could be your perfect introduction.

Refreshingly original in its approach to pop, ‘Masterpiece’ treats listeners to an avant-garde style of sound that feels eccentric and experimental, yet still maintains a playful essence.

As a vocalist, songwriter, producer and composer, Saavedra creates her own solo work while also serving as lead singer and keyboard player with acclaimed electro-pop outfit Chaos Chaos.

Asy Saavedra | Chaos Chaos

New Music: Morten Lava

We are kick-staring the day with one of the most exciting newcomers to have emerged this winter.

Already an accomplished producer, Danish-born Morten Lava has worked alongside artists as notable as JAE5, Skepta, Rema and Headie One.

Aside from his accomplished work behind the scenes, Morten is also a rising artist in his own right, and today’s unveiling of bouncy heartbreak-anthem ‘Fake It’ looks set to propel the London-based talent further into the spotlight.

“‘Fake It’ explores the late night melancholia of a past relationship, as Morten, originally from rural Denmark, deals with heartbreak in the big city.”

While accumulating more than 150k career streams to date, Morten has also played iconic London spaces like Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Abbey Road Studios and even sold out his own headline show at Islington’s Academy2.

Morten Lava

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New Music: Edgar Homeros

An artist already on the rise in Sweden, Edgar Homeros looks set to take on the rest of the continent by storm in 2023.

Following on from the release of his debut song ‘Centerfolds’ last year (which became an instant hit, amassing well over 80k streams on Spotify alone), Homeros returns with new single ‘Heartless‘.

Through its gorgeously emotive fusion of indie and electronic pop, the song presents listeners with a sound that feels both melancholic and energising in equal measures.

“When I released “Centerfolds” several people told me that it felt like a song for autumn, which was great to hear. In the same way I think ‘Heartless’ fits perfectly now after new years, where you have one foot still in the darkness of winter, but we still move towards brighter times.“

“Even though it’s more upbeat and dynamic in comparison to ‘Centerfolds’ it keeps the same theme, and it’s one of my favourite tracks from the EP.”

With such a strong start to the year, Homeros is one Scandinavian artist to keep on your radars.

Edgar Homeros

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New Music: No Project One

Denmark’s burgeoning indie scene continues to surprise and impress with today’s introduction of alt-rock duo No Project One.

As school friends on the island of Bornholm, Jesper Møller and Jakob Hjarsø would skip classes to work on their music.

Fast forward to 2023, and the two 23-year old musicians have just unveiled their anthemic debut single, ‘Connected’.

Bold, intense, epic and cinematic in character, the song serves as an impressive taster to the duo’s work. Explaining the track’s story, they elaborate:

“In a magical and somewhat coincidental way, ‘Connected’ ended up being the first No Project One-song. Its sound instantly hit this pure feeling in both of us – something that is both raw and powerful and an atmosphere you can step into. The lyrics sum up a theme of human connection and feeling comfortable in what you do, where you are and with whom. A moment where nothing else really matters.”

It’s rare to find a new outfit unleash their sound in such a confident and self-assured way. Be sure to keep these kids on your radars – they might be one of Denmark’s most interesting bands this year.

“To us, No Project One means that you rarely succeed in what you do the first time around – that everything must be tried and explored. This project reflects our abilities, curiosity and ideas that narratively tells the story of where we are and the fact, that this band is No Project One.”

No Project One

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New Music: leoblu

Hailing from the small Finnish island of Åland (population 30,000), leoblu is rapidly gaining momentum as a Scandinavian artist to watch for in 2023.

Inspired by grief, ‘cake’ is leoblu’s newest release, and showcases a dark-pop sound that beautifully and thoughtfully encapsulates the essence of melancholy.

To date, this rising alternative talent has amassed more than 800k career streams on Spotify alone, and performed on festival stages globally – from Spain to Canada and Argentina.

leoblu

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New Music: Wiliam Torp

As far as emerging Scandinavian music goes, Denmark really has been a hotbed for talent this year, and William Torp is yet another case in point.

Lifted from an EP of the same name (out now), ‘still u’re all i’m thinking about’ is a beautifully atmospheric and intimate piece of indie-pop that feels emotive and captivating in equal measures.

Torp plays two live shows in January – Copenhagen’s Ideal Bar, and VinDanmark in Aarhus. Tickets can be found here.

Wiliam Torp

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Rebecca Lou – Heaven or Hell

Danish talent Rebecca Lou closes the year out with an epic anthem through her new single, ‘Heaven or Hell’.

The track makes an instant impact from the moment you press play, with Lou’s powerful vocals gliding over an energising and polished power-pop production.

No stranger to the Danish music scene, Lou has accumulated more than half a million career streams to date on Spotify alone.

Rebecca Lou

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Botaii – Résumé

Artist and producer Botaii (aka Sander Askeland) has proven himself to be one of Norway’s most interesting and experimental newcomers.

‘Résumé’ continues to showcase this talent’s skill at crafting sounds that feel future-forward and unique in tone, while still maintaining a powerfully emotive essence.

With a style of music-making so original and bold, Botaii is one Norwegian talent to keep an eye out for in 2023.

Botaii

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New Music: DOTO

Representing Sweden’s next generation of music talent is DOTO, whose new single ‘Peace of Mind’ serves as a masterclass in melancholic soul-pop.

Thoughtfully constructed in both it’s lyricism and composition, the song looks at our need for calm in the troubled world that we live in.

While still a relative newcomer (‘Peace of Mind’ is only DOTO’s second release), this talent has her eyes set for global domination, and is collaborating alongside acclaimed songwriters Jade Ell and Joakim Buddee on new material.

DOTO

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New Music: Markella

As far as premium emerging Scandipop goes, you’ll struggle to find someone as impressive as Greek-Norwegian newcomer Markella.

‘Burn Again’ is a rousing and anthemic fusion of electronica and synth that perfectly encapsulates the feelings of melancholy which Norwegians portray so well in their music.

With more than half a million streams from just two singles, Markella will undoubtedly become one of the Nordic region’s biggest creative exports in the year ahead.

Markella

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New Music: DARKOWA

Norwegian starlet DARKOWA crafts a style of electronic pop that is future-foward and experimental, but still feels accessible enough for any listener to form a connection with.

‘Aquarius’ is taken from the rising artist’s debut EP, ‘Time Machine’ (out now), and showcases a dreamy sound that is somehow both ethereal and playful at the same time.

Supported by tastemakers as prominent as Wonderland and 730 magazines, DARKOWA is one of the most exciting Nordic talents to keep on your radars in 2023.

DARKOWA

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ONBC – Ghost Town

ONBC have been a staple within Denmark’s indie-pop scene ever since the release of their 2015 debut project, ‘Crash, Burn & Cry’.

Lifted from their upcoming ‘Dark Matter’ album (out next year), new single ‘Ghost Town’ is a dark, haunting, mysterious and melancholic song that’s all about growing up in a small and quiet town.

With a trademark sound that blends alternative and cinematic music together, ONBC have amassed a loyal fanbase throughout the years and amassed hundreds of thousands of cumulative streams across digital players.

ONBC

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Izza Gara – You’ve Done / Came To Dance

We recently came across Swedish-Turkish artist Izza Gara’s new single, ‘You’ve Done’, and realised that we’ve never actually featured this emerging starlet before… so now we are!

A talent of many crafts, Gara is not only a singer and songwriter but also a dancer and painter.

Songs like ‘You’ve Done’ demonstrate Gara’s unique approach to music production, which fuses elements of alternative pop with R&B, resulting in sounds that are distinctly unique yet still carry mainstream appeal.

Speaking on previous single ‘Come To Dance’, Gara eplains:

“Everything started with a jam after a pause from a session. We had so much energy and no one could focus. We programmed the beat and composed the chords and the bass through an old analog synth. After that we recorded it through the voice memo on the phone, so every instrument sound is from the iPhone mic.”

Gara aims to tour across Europe in 2023. In the meantime, fans can enjoy debut album ‘Lonely Too’, which is out now.

Izza Gara

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Ellen Krauss – This Time Of Year

Swedish starlet Ellen Krauss returns today with a powerful new single that serves as a refreshing alternative to the festive sound that we are all accustomed to.

‘This Time Of Year’ is an emotionally-driven pop ballad that was inspired by those who feel lost and rootless during the season, and is a reminder that Christmas affects people around us in very different ways.

“‘This Time Of Year’ is a song I wrote from my ‘aunts’ perspective. She’s not really my aunt but she’s always been in my family because she no longer has a family of her own. Christmas is always a tough time for her as she’s reminded of those she’s lost and it’s all very moving to me.”

As one of Sweden’s most prominent musical exports to emerge in recent years, Krauss has not only become a critic’s darling, but also accumulated millions of streams and performed over 80 live shows to date.

Ellen Krauss

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New Music: Sarah von Reis

Sharp-eyed fans of Scandinavian pop may already recognise singer and songwriter Sarah von Reis as a former member of Swedish pop phenomenon Dolly Style.

Since breaking with the band in 2018, von Reis has focused on her work as a solo artist, and is now setting her sights on becoming one of Sweden’s newest stars.

Written alongside Maja Francis and produced by Andreas ‘Hyena’ Söderlund, ‘All My Ghosts’ treats listeners to a dark yet playful sound that feels both haunting and intriguing in character.

“It’s the first love song I ever wrote. Maybe it’s not a classic love ballad, but it’s more about feeling naked, closing your eyes and hoping you’re good enough. The text is based on a love letter I wrote to a girl. When I realised I am gay, love suddenly felt a lot scarier. Like suddenly there was more at stake. I have something to lose if she doesn’t want me.”

Upcoming debut EP ‘Melancholia High Season’ is scheduled for release in March 2023.

Sarah von Reis

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