Category: Nordic Music

Duvchi – Impatient

An experimental yet beautiful blend of dream pop and downtempo from Swedish mega-talent Duvchi.

Duvchi

Kwamie Liv – 17

I’m a sucker for nostalgic tracks, and I am probably one of the world’s biggest Kwamie Liv fans, so this song is the highlight of my weekend. Hope you like it too!

‘17 is about nostalgia. It’s about looking back and remembering what was, with bittersweet appreciation. We can never return to that time but the memories live on.“

Kwamie Liv

Eleonor Léone – Karma

Just you wait til that first chorus hits, because this is one of the most intense pieces of dark Scandinavian pop you’ll experience all week. The track looks at those sleepless nights we all experience when anxiety takes over, and how those thoughts can create a prison in our minds.

“I think everyone can relate to the feeling of not always being able to be your true self. You put yourself down and judge yourself based out of fear, and fear breeds fear. And the more space you give something, the more real it becomes.”

Eleonor Léone

Menke – Echo of Youth – Story Behind The Music (Short Film)

Today marks World Mental Health Day across the globe; a time to remember that pain can hurt just as much when it’s unseen, as it is seen.

With that in mind, Swedish singer Menke has released a deeply personal short film to accompany the collection of songs from ‘Echo of Youth‘ that were written over a ten year period when her life was turned upside down as a result of depression in her family.

During that time, Menke had to move from Berlin where she was performing as a folk singer, back home to her native Sweden to look after her 13-year old sister.

Their mother had lost the ability to function as a parent due to her deep depression, and Menke had to step up and look after her sibling full time.

The EP is heartfelt a story of struggle, and the departure of youth as one transitions to adulthood.

“We recorded the songs in one long take, not track by track. I wanted to capture a human and close feel – the withered and the exposed.“

Menke

Palace Winter – Richard (Says Yes) (feat. Penny Police)

Judging by the stream of singles so far, Palace Winter are shaping up to release one of the most exciting Danish albums later year. This track came about when the band were watching a Jimi Hendrix documentary and saw Little Richard come on.

“Little Richard came on and we were both just floored by how f***in’ alive and funny and inspiring he was. So, he kind of became this little team mascot for us. Like, just do it ALL! ‘Put some sugar on it, man! MORE!’ So this song is exactly that. Richard says yes to f***in’ EVERYTHING! It’s a ‘big colourful banger to fill the canvas.’ – Carl Coleman, Palace Winter

Taken from the upcoming album ‘…Keep Dreaming, Buddy’ which you can pre-save now ahead of it’s release on 23rd October.

Palace Winter

VARPU – Pretty Girls

One of the most endearing Swedish talents of the year, VARPU is back today with a song that is the epitome of melancholy pop, Scandinavian style.

“I wanna share a song with you that I wrote after finding out that my boyfriend cheated on me. I instantly knew from the tone of his voice that my universe was about to get pulled out from under me and the days that followed were like quarantine without the virus, just Netflix and social distancing.”

VARPU

Anna Bergendahl – Vera

While on the surface ‘Vera’ comes across as a typical (and beautifully melodic) country-pop tune, the story behind the lyricism takes this song to a whole new level, and one which is poignant and extremely moving.

“My family has suffered from terrible disease, and the song is from the perspective of the future, when everyone is well again. Until then I put my faith in the whisper in the wind – may it be the whisper of God or love or just wishful thinking – nevertheless I hear it.”

Anna Bergendahl

Elina – Remember

As a songwriter, the Ivor Novello-nominated Swedish talent Elina has penned songs for artists such as Zara Larsson, Astrid S, and NEIKED (‘Sexual).

Above all this, she’s been releasing her own music for some time now, having first being featured here back in 2018.

Now she’s back with another beautifully emotive and heartfelt ballad, taken from her new EP ‘Remember’ which is out now.

Elina

Rosa Raye – When We Were Good

Danish soul-pop songstress Rosa Raye is back with another slice of musical perfection.

This song reminisces of the good times from a relationship that has ended; it takes the pain and serves it in a beautifully blissful way.

“We actually kept the demo vocal on the track, so what you hear is just what I wrote and recorded that day. I wasn’t trying to say the right, correct things – I was just expressing a feeling. I don’t sugarcoat it because stuff like that hurts. But sometimes when the truth hurts, you just want to escape and make yourself feel good by thinking about the good memories and ignoring the bad, so the song is not too serious. There are some fun lines in there.”

Rosa Raye