Nordic Music - New Music

New Music: Leyonclou

Inspired by the likes of Lady Gaga and P!nk, Swedish artist Leyonclou mixes music, art and image with playful expressions.

While on the surface, new single ‘Hindsight’ is a fun electro-pop bop, the song’s lyrics focus on her struggles with mental illness, with the hope to one day ‘see it in hindsight’.

“My biggest wish with ‘Hindsight’ is that it reaches the person that needs to hear that life is worth living, and it gets better. You’re not alone, and it’s ALWAYS worth the fight. You’ve got so much more to experience and so much more to give. Music is a huge part of why I’m still here, and I hope that me and my music can be the change and support that so many other songs and artists have been to me.”

A portion of the song’s revenue will be donated to Swedish non-profit organisation Suicide Zero for their work in preventing suicides.

Leyonclou

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Amanda Alexander + VAAAL – I don’t talk about you

Swedish artist Amanda Alexander teams up with LA-based producer & writer VAAAL on new single ‘I don’t talk about you’.

Together, these two talents created a raw piece of music that seems to fulfil the entire spectrum of emotions – blending dark and industrial sounds with dreamy tones of euphoria.

Since the song was originally constructed years ago, Amanda decided to also collaborate with singer, songwriter & producer frogi on rewriting some of the lyrics and adding some final touches, creating the superb song that you are listening to now.

“It hurts when you meet someone who really fills you up. It’s like a part of you has changed forever, and you know it will never be the same again. And when it ends, that part of you can never belong to someone else because you have saved it for them – for another world or universe where the relationship still exists.” – Amanda Alexander

Amanda Alexander | VAAAL

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JEONA – Paloma

Copenhagen-based performer, producer and songwriter JEONA returns with a captivating blend of pop and alt-R&B on new single ‘Paloma’.

As everybody curled up with their loved ones during the cold Danish winters, JEONA found himself on his own with nothing but a drink and the memories of past love.

The song describes how JEONA tries to find comfort and answers through the taste of something that his former girlfriend had introduced him to, while also struggling to understand what made him like the taste in the first place. Puzzled by his feelings, he concludes that he’s stuck in the past.

“I write songs about all the vibrant colours of life.”

JEONA

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Ina Forsman – Don’t Lose Today

Finnish starlet Ina Forsman is back today with a beautifully nostalgic soul sound. Inspired by a conversation that Ina had with her partner, new single ‘Don’t Lose Today’ is all about fulfilling love and devastating inner struggles.

“We live in a world where we worry so much about the future that far too often we forget to enjoy the present moment. We should remind ourselves more often that as soon as we arrive where our longing is taking us today, we will be thinking about the future in the same way that we are already thinking about it today.”

Ina Forsman

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Rhys – Butterflies

An artist who has never been afraid to experiment with her work, Rhys seems to have finally found her sound through the release of new EP ‘Thanks a lot now I can’t smile’ (out now).

Featuring co-production by Elias Kapari, this creative and playful record takes inspiration from growing up in the hipster nest that is Portland.

“This EP is a projection of my frustration in life and relationships; filled to the brim with passive aggressive jokes, defence mechanisms, pettiness and sadness. It’s me looking back and admitting my flaws and worst tendencies, but also realising i’m not always fully responsible for how things turned out. You can’t predict how people will treat you, or how you’ll react to situations in life. You don’t always have to be reasonable or grateful, sometimes things just feel shitty. Relationships end, they leave, you leave, depressions happen. I found myself asking everyone I met if my feelings were normal, seeking some type of solace in that others could relate to my lows, but that’s never really enough. So instead I wrote songs, hoping they in turn could help others. I’m just writing about life and every teeny tiny emotion in between.”

Rhys

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Brother Leo – Hello Life

Described by Music Week as ‘a non-conformist creating his own lane in the world of pop music‘, Swedish pop royalty Brother Leo has finally unveiled the first part of new album ‘PoP Poetry’ – and with it the release of ‘Hello Life’.

“In a way I’d say ’Hello Life’ is about me searching for answers, both inside and outside of my body. A search that in many ways became the start of Brother Leo and a more unafraid, playful, creative freedom. So it just felt right to open the album with that song. Some songs just come to you in an almost magical way. ‘Hello Life’ is definitely one of them.”

The album introduces star-studded collaborations with the likes of Neiked, Fat Boy Slim, Björn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John), Fred Gibson (Fred again…), London Community Gospel Choir and Steve Mac.

‘PoP Poetry’ [pt.1] is out now.

Brother Leo

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New Music: Paula Jivén

Still only 18-years old, Swedish singer and songwriter Paula Jivén creates spellbindingly original pop songs that are deeply captivating in the most beautiful ways.

Her dreamy yet subtly eccentric new single ‘Someone Always Knows’ touches upon loneliness and lingering emotions from her childhood.

“’Someone Always Knows’ is just a really sad song. I wrote it two years ago when I was going through a pretty tough time with myself, and I took to writing almost like a coping-mechanism. I wanted a truthful song, something that just stated how I felt. Not a fight song for when you want to move on, just a song for when all you want to do is linger in your emotions. The lyrics debate loneliness and fear of abandonment. I’m also reaching back into my childhood, I had trouble finding friends and I remember feeling very lonely. There’s a very raw sadness to being alone, but not understanding why. Honestly, I’m a bit scared to release this song. It’s very close to my heart, and in a sense it’s like giving away a piece of myself? But on the other hand I’m so happy about sharing it with anyone who needs a really sad song.”

Debut EP ‘The Duality In Me’ is out later this year.

Paula Jivén

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Máni Orrason – Coffin

Icelandic wonderkid Máni Orrason unveils his first single of 2022 with infectious pop bop ‘Coffin’.

The track was written at a point in Orrason’s life where new opportunities were on the horizon – meaning he had to make important decisions about which avenue to pursue next. It also left him pondering whether he should believe his own hype, or lean into his more grounded existence.

“I love the romance of the rockstar. When I was getting into music, I was obsessed with these larger than life, untouchable figures; they showed me that you can do whatever and be whoever.”

Máni Orrason

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New Music: BEAR THE ANT

This is just about one of the most beautiful debuts to emerge from Scandinavia in quite some time.

Created by psychedelic pop-rock newcomers BEAR THE ANT, ‘Higher Times’ was recorded in a cabin in their native Iceland during the cold winter solstice – exposing listeners to a beautifully balanced sound between depression and hope.

BEAR THE ANT

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Sam Florian – Fire

Blending lo-fi indie with mid-tempo electronic bedroom pop, Swedish artist Sam Florian returns today with charming new single ‘Fire’.

“‘Fire’ is about meeting someone new and feeling a strong instant connection to that person without even knowing anything about them. It’s a weird feeling and I don’t know how else to describe other than that it’s a kind of ‘Fire’ inside me. I wanted this song to sound more organic and a bit cheesy 80’s, especially with the chorus guitars which I’m really weak for.”

Sam Florian

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New Music: Oh Blonde

Adding further to Norway’s already-impressive roster of pop talent, today marks the debut for newcomer Oh Blonde.

Showcasing some of the finest new music that Scandinavia has to offer right now, ‘If I See You’ is slow-burning banger that is subtly melancholic and heartfelt in essence.

“This song was written with fellow Norwegian artist, Elsie Bay and producer Ola Frøyen. It came along in a studio session where I poured my heart out about a difficult time in my life where relations changed and some ended. I had been wanting to write about it forever, but never managed to do in a way that felt right until this session. The song is about closure in a way, and the fact that with time things sort itself out.”

Oh Blonde

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Beach of Diamonds – Can’t Wait

Norwegian duo Beach of Diamonds return with an anthemic slice of pop-punk in the form of new single ‘Can’t Wait’.

The nostalgic song reminisces about young teenage love, and being too shy to stand up for the love of your life.

Taken from the forthcoming mini-EP, which is due to drop soon via Sailor Music.

Beach of Diamonds

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Miynt – Of the sun

Stockholm artist Miynt returns today with a melodic slice of nostalgic bliss. ‘Of the sun’ feels timeless and classic, while still maintaining a pop sensibility.

If you’re a fan of this Swedish talent then you’ll be pleased to know that the song is taken from her upcoming debut album ‘Lonely Beach‘ (scheduled for release in May 2022).

Miynt

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Molly Hammar – Tell Her

Now commanding over 300k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, it’s safe to say Molly Hammar’s momentum is accelerating at an impressive pace. Her music has spread like wildfire all across Europe over the last year, and together with iconic french producer Bob Sinclair she even landed the top spot on Italian radio with ‘We Could Be Dancing’.

The release of new single ‘Tell Her’ will only continue push this artist into receiving the recognition she deserves. On the song, she says:

“‘Tell Her’ is written and based on a vision I’ve had about all the people who stay in relationships just because they feel comfortable and safe. The song is an anthem about how great things could be if you leave it for something that could potentially be amazing.”

The Swedish songstress has already received acclaim from the likes of BBC, Beats 1, Billboard, NYLON and Complex, and collaborated with the likes of Big Narstie and Ella Eyre.

Molly Hammar

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Casper The Ghost – Different

Swedish outfit Casper The Ghost return today with their punchy new single ‘Different’.

The acclaimed duo of Casper Brodin and Victor Hillbom have launched in to the new year with a sound that is more raw and intense than what we’ve heard before.

The song is all about finding the right person for you – which makes you want to be a better person.

“It’s about when you find that special someone, perhaps not the type of person you thought you’d end up with, but one who makes you a better version of yourself.”

Casper The Ghost

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New Music: Forgetting Yesterday

Sweden might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of rock these days, but Malmö outfit Forgetting Yesterday are set to change that.

This is a sound that epitomises the definition of punk pop; delivering a nostalgic sound with a current twist.

’30’ touches upon the emotions of telling yourself that you are okay under the circumstances while neglecting how you truly feel.

“This modern take on our prior pop punk sound is something we are really proud of. When heading into the studio with producer Ludvig Ottosson (Noija) of Silver Sun Studios we wanted to elevate what we were already doing and that’s something we really think we achieved here.”

Forgetting Yesterday

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New Music: Freddy Madson

Of all the tracks I receive from Scandinavia, this has to be one of the strongest releases that I have come across so far this year. Freddy Madson is an independent pop artist based in Copenhagen who is creating some of the most sublime sounds you could hope for.

‘Hanging in the Air’ is a beautifully dreamy yet highly-charged song that fuses hints of indie and jazz, telling the honest story of how to regain faith and trust in yourself when everything seems lost.

“I think everyone knows what it’s like to feel imperfect or inadequate. Other people’s great expectations can suddenly become a massive burden in your life – and it literally dragged me down, creating an endless flow of irrational thoughts and unnecessary contemplation. It was the feeling of hanging in the air while racing for a new tomorrow but it was with the help from my closest ones, that I got back on track.”

Freddy Madson

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New Music: VALDIS

Emerging from Iceland is singer-songwriter VALDIS. While only crafting sounds since 2020, this talent has already landed on the official radio charts in Iceland and featured on numerous Official Spotify Editorial playlists with her work.

‘Onto You’ is a relatable and empowering blend of RnB and dark pop that captures the excitement and danger that come with a new relationship.

VALDIS

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New Music: Agnes Rangel

Danish newcomer Agnes Rangel crafts an intensely unique and captivating blend of pop, jazz and trip hop. This 21-year old songwriter and musician releases her debut single ‘Blindsided’ today.

Her sound encapsulates complex human traits like infatuation and angry jealousy, all within an intimate space where honesty and feelings arise between herself and the listener.

“The song is about a beautiful friendship and how a one-sided love-euphoria can mess up everything. About how, what was meant to be a declaration of love between best friends, became a final, brutal quarrel and a recurring nightmare of total confusion and excruciating pain. I wrote ‘Blindsided’ in the middle of the night with all these emotions circulating around inside my body. I recorded it the morning after.”

Watch out for the upcoming EP, ‘Sexual Dependency’, which is expected to be released later this year.

Agnes Rangel

Asbjørn – STB x Boyfriend

Consistently delivering some of the most interesting sounds to come out of Denmark, Asbjørn never fails to impress with his releases.

New single ‘STB x Boyfriend’ is a masterclass in pop – with a simple yet sleek production, an infectiously memorable melody, engaging lyrics and a fabulous vocal performance; this is one song worthy of being added to your playlists for the weekend.

“By the end of 2018, I was living in Los Angeles for a little while, wrapping up the album in a cute house in Echo Park, where roosters woke me up every morning at 4 AM. I was falling for a guy who lived there, and one night I dreamt of him. In the dream our love affair was soundtracked by ‘STB x Boyfriend’, but in this around-the-bonfire sing-a-long version. When the roosters woke me up, I grabbed a guitar and sat down on the front porch to rewrite the lyrics. The song found a different nerve and rawness with the rusty guitar, that somehow fit the rather naive chorus, about a relationship that was bound to end before it even began.”

Taken from new album ‘Boyology’ which is out now.

Asbjørn

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