An artist to watch from Scandinavia next year will be Afro-Swedish singer, songwriter and producer Felish.
A former recipient of the LACM Linda Perry Scholarship, this talented musician has been working alongside hitmakers and releasing songs since her 2016 debut, ‘A Dream’.
New single ‘Can I be sad too?’ further continues to showcase Felish as a pop star in the making, and treats listeners to a sleek fusion of melodic soul-pop and funky disco.
Another week, another stellar newcomer to emerge from Norway. This time it’s the turn of Bergen-based Bo Milli, who has just unveiled her new single, ‘FOMO’.
Demonstrating a natural flair for writing catchy pop songs that carry with them intelligent lyrics, the track finds the 21-year-old starlet wondering how things would unfold if we were more honest with our feelings towards each other.
“I like writing lyrics that sketch out what someone would say to another person if they were actually honest. In that vein, ‘FOMO’ is about the breaking point in a casual relationship where I lose my cool — in a very literal sense: while that other person is out partying with cool people, I’m unable to hide my true feelings on the matter, unable to stay emotionally distant and hard-to-get. It’s about losing a game you’ve been engaged in with someone, because you care more. And it’s about the ‘fear of missing out’ that constant digital insight into other peoples life has fostered.”
With support from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, The Luna Collective and When The Horn Blows, Bo Milli might well be one of Norway’s next big pop exports.
Danish-Guatemalian pop artist Soluna Samay releases one of the grooviest cuts of the week with her new single ‘Make Them Stay’.
Through its sleek fusion of alternative pop and soft jazz, the track treats listeners to an upbeat sound that lyrically serves as a reflection on the perils of modern-day dating,
“About misfortune in love, feeling cursed – and with no other way out – finally making peace with ‘being on my lonely’”.
An established and well-loved name in Denmark, singer and songwriter Samay has garnered more than 500k catalogue streams to date on Spotify alone.
Another new name to add to Norway’s ever-growing roster of impressive pop vocalists, MAIH introduces herself to the world through single ‘Let Him Let Me Go’.
With its perfected style of melancholic dream-pop, the song presents itself as an anthem for the broken-hearted, and feels emotive and vulnerable in tone.
It’s a sound that is so typically Scandinavian in style, but never fails to win us over. Keep MAIH on your radars for the year ahead – this talent may well be one of Norway’s newest exports.
While Varas may be a name new to many of you, this emerging 25-year old talent has been gaining momentum across the Nordic region since the release of his 2020 debut EP,‘Set One’.
Hailing from Sweden, Varas is the musical moniker for self-taught Chilean producer, singer and songwriter Benjamin Muñoz Varas.
Signed to the legendary TEN Music Group,Varas constructs a style of alternative indie-pop that feels understated yet melancholic, sincere and emotive in tone.
Elaborating on the inspiration behind his latest release, Varas explains:
“‘New Light’ got created out of surprise and by getting to know new sides of myself. It was equally scary and relieving when I realised I’d always replace me with another me. I was convinced the person I identified as was a constant thing, a solid rock. I change each year and each day.”
“It doesn’t matter if I’ve convinced myself into a certain direction, all it takes is romances, friendships, losing and getting jobs, letting go of dreams or creating new ones to lose the sense of it. It’s dumb. But don’t get me wrong, it’s a positive and vital ability. Although when I think about it, scratch what I said. It could also just be a song about falling in love at the wrong time. Ask me again tomorrow!”
The track serves a taster to Varas’ forthcoming EP, which is set for release early next year.
As the alter-ego of Danish musician Mathias Baadsgaard, everBear is a promising indie-folk project that has captured attention for the last year.
Following on from the release of the Baadsgaard’s ‘The Secret Life Of Trees’debut EP a few months ago, today sees the release of a brand new single entitled ‘Time Is A Slope (Waiting on Fire)’.
Created alongside producer Valentin Kruse, the song’s (very relevant) message is inspired by the anxieties that most of us face when we think of society’s future, and wonder if our existing lives will ever go back to how they used to be.
“‘Time is a slope (waiting on fire)’ could easily have become a song with a guitar and vocals, but through the creative process it quickly evolved into something entirely different than that. It evolved into an anthem of expression and hope.”
Acclaimed Swedish indie outfit Janice Prix are back today with a new single entitled ‘Stone Love’.
Dark, haunting and atmospheric in tone, the song attributes its intensity to being written and produced during the pandemic. Elaborating on the lyrics, guitarist and producer MK explains:
“[The song] definitely revolves around destroying something beautiful and turning it into something awful. It happens in both love and friendship.”
Since releasing debut album ‘Waking’in 2020, Janice Prix have gone on to tour across Europe and South Korea, while also garnering critical praise from the likes of The Line of Best Fit and Hype Magazine.
Consisting of brothers Sammy and Johnny Bennett, Deki Alem is a new musical project emerging from Sweden that incorporates elements of drum’n’bass with hip hop, electronica and punk.
The resulting sound presents listeners with tracks that are refreshingly invigorating and energising in tone.
Rapidly gaining traction across Scandinavia, Deki Alem have already garnered praise from the likes of GAFFA Sweden and Kingsize Magazine.
Acclaimed Scandinavian singer and songwriter Ellen Krauss unveils a new single today entitled ‘Tie Me Down’.
Inspired by the inner conflicts that come with commitment, the song continues to showcase the beautiful fusions of indie and alternative pop that Krauss has mastered so well.
“The song is about not wanting to commit to someone because you’re convinced you’ll find someone even better. But you still stick around just because it’s good and exciting. I wrote this song this fall, I was out and about, dating round and it was great but it was always like ”she’s not you”.
Since her debut in 2019 (with LGBTQ anthem ‘The One I Love’), Krauss has garnered praise from the likes of Billboard, Earmilk, Clash, Fault and 1883 Magazine, while her catalogue of work has exceeded 47 million streams to date.
Norwegian outfit MARBLES are back with a spellbinding slice of dreamy synth-pop through new single ‘World Inside Me’.
Lifted from the band’s forthcoming LP (out early next year), the song was inspired by the emotions that come with loneliness.
“‘World Inside Me’ was written in our most isolated period through the pandemic. It tries to describe a feeling of loneliness that is mostly conjured by our own mind. Even though there are options and offers from the outside world, sometimes you just feel better in your own sphere. Living in your own little world (or bubble) can feel both pleasant and safe, but also quickly turn into a lonesome and desperate state of mind.”
Until their new collection of songs is released, fans of this emerging Nordic group can explore 2020’s self-titled album here.
Norway continues to deliver world-class pop artistry through rising singer and songwriter Natan Dagur.
Initially gaining prominence from an appearance on Norway’s edition of The Voice,Dagur has since accumulated a significant following that has resulted in over two million catalogue streams on Spotify alone.
New single ‘Holding On’ treats listeners to a perfected pop sound that feels understated yet emotive in tone, and serves as a promising introduction to this exciting newcomer.
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.
Norwegian alt-pop talent Sval has graced our pages for a good few years now, and today’s release of ‘GRENADE’ continues to prove just how impressive this artist is.
Bold, intense and impactful in character, the song blends elements of indie-rock with pop – resulting in a sound that is raw and powerful yet still feels relatable to listeners.
“To me, ‘GRENADE’ is a self destructive and liberating song at the same time. It’s about embracing sadness and anger, and even though the song has a sad tone it’s something beautiful about owning those feelings completely Whenever I’m feeling sad, as long as I get to sit with those feelings for a while, I’m fine. The song has a certain kind of loneliness attached to it, thoughts of others not understanding your feelings. Hopefully people can release to that.”
Sval currently commands more than 84k monthly listeners on Spotify, and has racked up millions of streams since the release of her debut EP ‘Young Alien’ in 2019.
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.
Swedish one man-band The Sweet Serenades (aka singer and songwriter Martin Nordvall) unveils his new single today, entitled ‘Back in Your Arms’.
Created alongside producer Johannes Berglund (who has worked with the likes of Fever Ray and Shout Out Louds), the song presents listeners with a beautifully emotive and captivating fusion of indie, alternative pop and folk.
Fans based in Germany will be pleased to know that The Sweet Serenades will be touring the country from 29th Oct to 6th Nov 2022 – tickets can be found here.
Mikaela Stenmo continues Sweden’s proud tradition as being the home of electro-pop with the release of new single, ‘Heart Attack’.
Unmistakably Scandinavian in character, the song’s melancholic essence contrasts beautifully against an uptempo electronic production, while the lyrics tell of the stresses that come with being in love.
“The lyrics explore how I realise that I am the culprit in a fight between my ex boyfriend and I and try anything and everything to get him back. The song highlights the stress one feels when desperately trying to get a hold of someone they love.”
The song was originally conceived in 2020 with the help of Wille Enblad and Lucas Albrektsson, and has undergone two years of revisions before its release today.
Not many talents can claim to have released a new single and EP while also launching their international acting debut at the same time. But that is most certainly the case for Swedish artist Janice.
Lifted from new EP ‘The Playlist’ (out now), ‘My Kind Of Woman’ expertly fuses nostalgic soul and alternative R&B with power-pop, ultimately creating a bold anthem for body acceptance:
“‘My Kind Of Woman’ is an anthem that celebrates women of all shapes and sizes. It’s about being the woman you want to be. Dare to throw yourself out there, flourish and believe in your own power. Don’t let anyone else define you.”
Janice also stars in Netflix drama series ‘The Playlist’, which was inspired by the origins of Spotify (streaming globally now).
If there’s time for you to play only one song today, make it ‘Something Good’ by Norwegian artist Tuvaband (aka Tuva Hellum Marschhäuser).
Truly, this is a stunning piece of music that sums up humanity’s need for hope, and is a perfect track to play when times feel tough and you need a reminder that things can get better.
“I wanted to find more songs that I could like, filled with sentences like this. So I decided to write the song I wanted to listen to.”
As one of Norway’s most notable indie-rock projects, Tuvaband has garnered more than 40 million career streams to date and earned a nomination from the prestigious Norwegian Grammy Awards.
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.
