Category: Nordic Music

siné – 2GOOD2U

Just in time for the weekend comes a fresh pop bop courtesy of Danish newcomer siné. While on the surface ‘2GOOD2U’ carries a punchy and fun sound, it also has a softer and more vulnerable side that juxtaposes superbly.

“It was really meant to be the ultimate break-up song. But while I was going all Girl Power and feeling free I was hit by the insecurity that always haunts you when you’re trying to leave someone for good. And so instead,I ended up feeling totally miserable about myself. ‘2GOOD2U’ is about the inner fight that comes with not being able to stand up for your ridiculous self when life needs to change. It’s a reminder that you are the one in your life who can make the chance to move forward from what might seem like a catch-22.”

siné

Mina Okabe – Miss Those Days

Undoubtedly one of my favourite exports from Denmark so far this year, Mina Okabe is back today with not only a sensational single, but an entire album full of pop gems to delight your audible senses.

New single ‘Miss Those Days’ is a shimmering and emotive track, with a lyrical topic everyone can relate to at some point in their life.

“It’s about friendship – about a close friend of mine. We used to be together all the time but one day she had to move far away and even though we promised to stay in touch everything we had just faded out and disappeared. ‘Miss Those Days’ is about everything you take for granted and the wonder of sudden change.”

Taken from the new album ‘Better Days’ which is out now.

Mina Okabe

Teddy Failure – Pure (feat. ELIO)

Consisting of two highly requested writing & producing talents known as TeoFrans, it’s little surprise that Swedish project Teddy Failure crafts supreme sounds that are immediately captivating to any listener.

As a production duo, TeoFrans have collaborated with some of the most exciting new talents to emerge recently, including LOVA, Naaz, Bearson, Rhys, Felix Sandman and Eli.

Their new single ‘Pure’ conjures a sense of teenage apathy, with killer lyrics like ‘We mix vodka with fire’ luring you in. But keep listening until the end, when the track’s live-fast-die-young naivety reaches a cathartic conclusion thanks to ELIO’s beautifully moving vocals.

Teddy Failure

New Music: Slopes

One of Norway’s most exciting indie-pop exports so far this year, Slopes creates a kind of sound that is universally loveable. With distinctive vocals and rousing melodies, it’s only a matter of time before this talent achieves global recognition.

“Sometimes, if I’ve let someone down, I can feel as if those tears shouldn’t be wasted on me – kind of like, save them for someone better! Tears is about avoiding or escaping relationships in fear of letting people down.”

Slopes

Julia Viktoria – Complicated

Serving us melancholy electro-pop bangers the way only Swedes can, today sees the release of Julia Viktoria’s new single, ‘Complicated’.

This is a weekend-ready bop that describes the complications of searching for love, while still carrying lots of emotional baggage at the same time.

“Life is often complicated; in relation to others but also to yourself and your own feelings. It is easy to rethink, cancel dates and meetings, doubt yourself, doubt your own ability and send out mixed messages.”

Julia Viktoria

Rasmus Hagen + Maxine – Learn To Love

No stranger to the music business, Rasmus Hagen is already a platinum selling singer/ songwriter and producer from Stockholm.

With over 120 million streams on Spotify alone, Hagen was the featured singer on John De Sohn’s hit single ‘Love You Better’, while also working alongside a roster of talents like Andrelli, Urban Contact and iamsimon.

Written with Alfitude favourite Aron Blom, ‘Learn to Love’ features the vocals of emerging Dutch artist Maxine and touches on tearing down emotional walls built from a previous relationship, slowly opening up to giving and receiving love again.

Rasmus Hagen | Maxine

New Music: BUKVE

A truly stunning debut release from Norwegian songwriter BUKVE. By thoughtfully fusing elements of indie-pop with alternative pop, this talent creates melodic pieces of music that have an almost ethereal essence to them.

Featuring vocals and steel guitar from Firewoodisland, ‘Let me go Son’ is deeply moving song about letting a father go – not letting his death linger in his life anymore, while also speaking to his son and telling him live his own life.

BUKVE | Firewoodisland

King of Little Sweden – Dave Is Online

Swedish pop collective King of Little Sweden return today with relatable new bop single ‘Dave Is Online’.

With lyricism that was inspired by self-observation, the song looks at our emotional disconnection in digital times.

“This is a song about ‘Online Intimacy’. Nowadays, we can get swamped by so many messages that we sometimes end up neglecting the ones that we really ought to answer.”

King of Little Sweden

Saint Djuni – All Of My Friends

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.”

Saint Djuni

The Malpractice – The Good Son

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.

The Malpractice

Augustine – Summer Wine

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.”

Augustine

New Music: Mundane Experience

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.

Mundane Experience

GiddyGang & Vuyo – Told Me

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

GiddyGang | Vuyo

Gustaf – Young Love

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!

Gustaf

Hanne Mjøen – Emotional Fever

Photo by Fabian Fjeldvik

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.

Hanne Mjøen

Vantage – I Found You (feat. Benjamin Ingrosso)

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.

Vantage | Benjamin Ingrosso