I’ve been a fan of Saint Djuni for quite some time now. Each song brings a refreshingly eccentric and playful twist to indie-pop, and new single ‘All Of My Friends’ is no exception.
No matter what mood you’re in, this song is guaranteed to elevate your spirits and give you the boost you need to get through the day.
“Lonely days and lonely nights should always be replaced by having joyful and happy moments with friends and family. A very known motto for Saint Djuni.”
A rousing dose of alt-rock from Danish outfit The Malpractice. This is a sound that is boldly eclectic and unique, with falsetto vocals clashing over a raw and energetic production, leading you to the musical equivalent to a KO on the chorus.
Taken from the upcoming EP ‘Additional Purchase Incentives’ which is out on 17th September 2021.
Now commanding over 20 million streams to his name, Swedish indie-pop artist Augustine returns with the beautifully emotive ‘Summer Wine’.
A retro ballad with a nostalgic essence, the song is all about feeling trapped in the aftermath of a relationship’s demise, and desperately trying to find a way to free yourself from the memories of what you’ve lost.
“I wrote most of the lyrics in spring, on a train to my family’s house on the Swedish west coast. The weather got brighter each day and people seemed so happy and hopeful, but I felt more distant than ever. ‘Trying out our summer wine’ became a symbol for the little things that you took for granted with someone, until it’s over and you just can’t get them out of your head.”
Jake Lee serves Scandinavian electro-pop with a kick. This is a sound that is immediately relatable, yet carries a dark and intense undertone which is powerful and gripping.
Hailing from Southern Sweden, Mundane Experience are an alternative hip-hop group who are confidently crafting songs on their own terms.
Blending elements of the genre with lo-fi rock, ‘Natural Selection’ serves as the third song on their EP ‘Blurry Notes’ and features a guest appearance from the artist Amanda Sandin.
A fabulously refreshing collaboration between emerging Oslo-based ensemble GiddyGang and South-African/Norwegian MC Vuyo.
‘Told Me’ seamlessly blends hints of hip-hop, jazz, RnB and indie to form a song that is deliciously captivating, playful and hugely uplifting.
“It’s a little love song dedicated to my best friend and the journey from first getting to know each other to where we are today.” – Sarah Nærø Pettersenfor, GiddyGang
“I wanted to take an unconventional approach to a love song. I wrote it like I was a start-up and I wanted my crush to buy into my elevator pitch.” – Vuyo
This perfect summer power-pop bop comes courtesy of Danish musician, songwriter and producer Gustaf. The nostalgic yet relatable ‘Young Love’ was inspired by his experiences of first love, and the inevitable first heartbreak that comes with it.
“‘Young Love’ is NOT a love song, and yet… It’s about once first love and the pain when the relationship fall apart, the worst break-up and the shattered dream of the one and only, whom you thought you should share your life with.”
Take an extra moment to also appreciate the artwork; Gustaf re-decorated his own bedroom to make it look like a teenager’s, just to get that flashback feeling of being young and in love!
Norwegian alt-pop artist Hanne Mjøen has really been spoiling us with her recent run of singles, all of which have been some of the finest to emerge from Scandinavia so far this year.
And today is no exception with the release of ‘Emotional Fever’. This melancholy electro-pop masterpiece tells of the emotional battles between deciding whether someone is right for you or not. Mjøen describes the fever as:
“One moment it feels like forever, and the next you get a panic attack and you just want to leave. And it feels like a fever because of the sudden changes you have no control over.”
Taken from the upcoming EP ‘Emotional Fever’ which will be released in mid-September.
I’m pleased to start the day by sharing Danish electro-pop at it’s absolute finest, courtesy of new talent Aya Mai.
‘Time’ is a polished track that sets your pulse racing, all the while still feeling subdued and stripped-back.
Swedish superstar Benjamin Ingrosso seems to have a good instinct in what songs he decides to lend his distinctive vocals to.
His collaboration with French-born, Japan-based future funk pioneer Vantage is perfect proof; this is probably going to be one of the best summer bops of the year.
Danish-Cuban artist KING is back with a new single that showcases Scandinavian music at it’s finest; this is a vital and urgent song that hits hard and leaves a lasting impression.
“On ‘Angel Dust’ I felt like doing something very sensual – as opposed to sexual – in my artistic visual identity. So I just pushed it as one long foreplay with beautiful movements. We could be naked doing this stuff and it would still be sensual and not sexual: that was the mission with this visual.”
Hailing from Helsinki. Misha is half Finnish and half Ukrainian producer who is crafting some of the most finessed blends of hip hop and RnB to emerge from the Nordic nations right now.
And with over ten million streams and support from the likes of BBC Radio 1Xtra/ Jamz Supernova and Okayplayer, this is one talent to watch out for!
Taken from Misha’s new EP ‘Gusto’ which is out now.
There was a time when Sweden was pumping out electro-pop songs on a weekly basis, but lately the nation’s commercial music scene has diverted into other styles. Which is actually pretty great, since it keeps things exciting and fresh – but I do still wish that the occasional banger made it’s way to me still.
But fret not if you’re like me, as you’ll be happy to see that BBY LIZA has served us all with a big track in the form of ‘Champagne’. Press play and put the volume on high!
A hugely exciting new talent from So-Cal, Miki Ratsula is a Finnish-American artist who’s style of lo-fi pop is not only beautifully stripped-back, but melodic and emotive. This is a sound that encapsulates the essence youth in 2021, and it’s beautiful.
“’reeboks’ is a song about being so anxious about the future that I end up just running myself into the ground. I don’t want to dwell over such mundane things. I’d rather be excited for future things. At its roots, it’s a song about anxiety and the weight it carries on us.”
Denmark’s Asbjørn has been a pop stable in Scandinavia ever since his debut back in 2012. Consistently pushing the boundaries of the genre, this talent never ceases to surprise me with his releases.
‘Remember My Name’ is the new single, and if you have yet to experience this talent, then you certainly will after pressing play.
“I am generally pretty bad at being sad. And in my music I often contrast sadness with high energy, so my body can dance it out, rather than cry. I wrote ‘Remember My Name’ on top of the beatbox beat, and tapping into my frustration in the chorus felt very empowering at the time. The lyrics have a double meaning to me; ‘you’re gonna remember my name, the boy that got away’ could be sung to an old lover, yes. But it could also be directed towards the people who don’t believe in you.”
A master of many talents, Charlotte Dos Santos is an independent producer, singer, composer and arranger.
After listening to ‘Away From You’, it’s little surprise to learn that this Norwegian Grammy Award nominee has already garnered over 20 million streams, earned recognition from the likes of Fader, Pitchfork, and Pigeons & Planes, and recorded a coveted COLORS session.
“I wanted to write an uplifting track after such a heavy year and especially after really longing for dancing, and being outside with friends and loved ones.”
Icelandic talent Máni Orrason has released one of the strongest pieces of indie-rock to come out of Iceland so far this year. ‘Change the World’ is a rousing and anthemic piece that is both captivating and emotive.
A gorgeously sleek fusion of soul, RnB and pop from Finnish-Swedish talent Molly Mae.
A successfully featured vocalist on tracks by the likes of Liam Mockridge, Palma and KASPERG, this Berlin-based producer & singer is now ready to showcase her own sound through debut single ‘I Wanna Know’, of which she says:
“It’s about wanting to explore a connection further with someone yet not knowing exactly where they stand. You know, that frustration of not understanding why the other person is holding back, I think a lot of people have been there.”
A massively promising new talent hailing from Sweden, Aida Lee is blending RnB with pop in all the right ways. ’90’s Baby’ is a sleek, finessed and polished vibe that is ready to invade the charts at any moment.
A story familiar to many of us, Danish artist Mattis never knew how to show or tell his feelings as a young man. His new single ‘Enough Of My Love’ marks the turning point in his life when he discovered the importance of being true to to his authentic self; and it’s a brilliantly rousing piece of Scandinavian power pop!
“‘Enough Of My Love’ is a love song that I feel I just now am ready to release. I have had a hard time expressing my feelings through life and lately I have taken some big steps towards becoming more authentic and brave enough to say ‘I love you’ to those I love. And what a perfect timing to release such a song going into the summer and with corona as a hopefully almost finished chapter in Denmark – and the World.”
If you loved the song then be sure to check out Mattis’ beautiful cover of ‘Everywhere‘ by Fleetwood Mac.
