Already a noted actress, Alba August has proven to show herself as a triple threat for also being a magnificent songwriter and singer.
You won’t hear a vocal as powerful as this all week. Pure yet raw; ethereal and deeply intense.
Danish trio CHINAH never fail to impress. This is a luxuriously textured song with a series of intricate (yet minimal) beats underlining a beautifully melodic composition.
“‘Mysterious’ was made by crudely putting together some odd elements and somehow making them fit. We try to capture the weird beauty that can arise from combining things that weren’t initially meant to be together.” – Simon Andersson, CHINAH
Continuing the exceptionally high standard of neo-soul and jazz from London-based Danish-born singer-songwriter Amalie Bryde comes the release of her next single, ‘Lay Down’.
At first the song feels mellow and stripped-back, but listen carefully to the lyrics; they’re refreshingly loaded and stand for more than you think…
“In ‘Lay Down’ I sing about a man only wanting to have sex with me, but it’s so much more than that. ‘Lay Down’ is a commentary on gender inequality and what it means to be a woman in the 21st century; religiously, politically, professionally etc.”
I lost count of how many times I’ve featured Swedish talent LOVA on Alfitude, which is a testament to how much I love this kid’s raw and honest approach to pop making.
Today marks the release of her debut album ‘Grown-ish‘, and with it this single to whet your appetite. On the album, LOVA says:
“For the first time, I wrote for myself. I asked myself, ‘What are people going through?’ I wanted it to be very much like a diary and very personal. It was therapeutic for me, and the title resonated with where I am in my life. It’s a way to show every side of me. All of the songs are creating the story, but the album is also what made the songs. I’m excited to be able to go back to it in ten years and reminisce how I felt during this time.”
A stunning blend of alternative pop, fused with indie RnB that feels deeply emotive and timeless.
Danish talent Grandjean is no stranger to music; he’s been writing and producing hits for the likes of European heavyweights such as Nneka, Freja Kirk, Sivas and Yes-R.
‘Weeps‘ is taken from the upcoming debut-album ‘Via Motion‘, which will be accompanied by a 40-minute film, as every song will have its own music video.
A dreamy ode to old-school soul, mixed with tones of RnB and chilled disco from Finnish talent Tuomo.
“The song was originally inspired by discussions on the ideal romantic relationship, but I feel it applies somewhat to all human interactions.”
Some exciting Danish talent here. BBYBITES has a style of pop that feels playful and flirtatious while still carrying through an essence of finesse.
An American-Norwegian duo who fuse together the best of 80’s synth with 90’s Scandinavian music to create a fresh and highly-charged take on power-pop.
“It’s like The Weeknd met Sam Smith at a bar and after talking for a bit, they both realised that ABBA was their karaoke go-to and they grew up listening to Sigur Ros during their angsty teenage years.”
Of all the Danish pop talent that I listen to at the moment, I have confidence that Alexander Oscar could be one of those kids that breaks out and gets momentum across Europe this year.
A decade later and Norwegian talent Bernhoft still creates some of the most refreshing blends of soul and indie-pop you could wish for.
This is as melancholy as you can get with Scandinavian bubblegum pop. Just a beautifully sweet track that is so easy to fall in love with.
A finessed, beautiful and totally pure Danish soul sound by a talent emerging from Aarhus. Blissfully melodic and completely enchanting.
One of Norway’s brightest pop prospects returns with a finessed piece of highly charged power-pop.
Blending blues and country with a pounding pop twist, Dylan Conrique releases visuals for her latest track featuring Swedish singer-songwriter Noak Hellsing.
“The lyrics place me in the centre of a huge stadium surrounded by spectators. It’s just before I’m going to run a relay race and I’m regretting signing up for it. I wanted that imagery to mirror the insecurity I sometimes feel for my own appearance and the constant comparison/ competition I have towards myself and others around me. I have a specific idea on how I’d like to be seen, but often that idea falls through with the reality.” – Lokoy
Taken from the upcoming debut album ‘badminton’ which is out on 22nd January via Propeller Recordings.
I make no secret of how awesome I think Zara Larsson is – she’s established herself as a Swedish pop powerhouse in an exceptionally short space of time. This release was produced by Mike Sabath and features a melodic verse from Young Thug.
The new album ‘POSTERGIRL‘ is released 5th March.
Hailing from a small Danish town comes a talent who creates emotive lo-fi pop sounds that define the essence of modern youth, and the dilemmas that come with it.
“‘MIDNIGHT’ is about having a crush, but not knowing whether or not this person actually likes you. It is also about moving away from this person at the same time. And the only thing you want to do is to call you up. After midnight.“
Taken from the EP ‘flowers in march’ which is out now.
It wouldn’t be a normal week on Alfitude without showcasing some stellar new pop from Sweden.
So let me introduce to you Stockholm-based Filip Groundstroem, who creates a sound that defines introspectiveness within youth in a way that feels relatable and engaging.
“This song is about being young, lost and having no idea about what you want to do with your short time here on planet Earth. As a young person, you’re constantly on the quest for who you are and how to fit into the box. You try different jobs, hang out with different people in different environments, but still struggle to see yourself in the bigger picture.”
Taken from the EP ‘Boy on the Moon’ which is out now via Sailor Music.
Saint Djuni start the year in a truly epic fashion, serving us a rich dose of indie pop with an orchestral twist that harks back to the golden era of Trip Hop.
The result is a dreamy piece of escapism that is an ode to anyone who’s longing to start over in life.
“In the end, we all carry love. And that love starts at your Favorite Place.”
What better way to start the Sunday than to get this new electro-pop gem from Icelandic pop kid Hildur on the stereo…
