Nordic Music - New Music

Christian Nielsen – Halo

This weekend’s banger comes courtesy of acclaimed Danish DJ and producer Christian Nielsen and his newly released techno track ‘Halo’.

Nielsen cites icons like Kerri Chandler, Moodymann, and Frankie Knuckles as inspirations for his style of work, which is evident when you listen to his songs. His sounds are immediately gripping, and deliver a type of electronic music that is fresh and easy to form emotional connections with.

With more than five million catalogue streams on Spotify under his belt, it’s clear to see that Nielsen is well on his way to establishing himself as one of Denmark’s brightest techno talents.

Christian Nielsen

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Girl Scout – Honey

This weekend’s indie bop comes courtesy of acclaimed Swedish four-piece outfit Girl Scout and their new release ‘Honey’.

The track’s retro-tinged style of production treats listeners to a sense of charm that is rare to come by in today’s indie landscape. On the lyrics, the band’s guitarist and vocalist Emma says:

“’Honey’ is about the bittersweet experience of close friends growing apart, heartache and the inevitability to keep everyone in your life at the same time. The lyrics delve into the complex emotions of frustration, concern, and helplessness while witnessing the imbalance of that relationship. It was originally written as an acoustic number, but we discovered that it was better suited as our interpretation of a 2010s indie rock song.” – Emma Jansson, Girl Scout

Girl Scout currently command more than 55k monthly listeners on Spotify, and has garnered critic’s support from heavyweights like BBC Radio 1, NME, and The Line of Best Fit.

The group will embark on a UK-wide tour from February and hit the rest of Europe shortly after. You can check out all the stops and get tickets right here.

Girl Scout

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Luthersson – Reel In

Award-winning Icelandic singer Luthersson returns with an interesting new single to celebrate the end of his recent successful tour.

‘Reel In’ is one of the artists’s most honest releases and presents listeners with a haunting fusion of R&B and alternative pop.

Despite its sparse and eerie style of sound, the track flows in melancholy through it’s introspective and raw lyricism.

“This deeply personal track explores the theme of detachment as a defensive response to a breakup.”

If this is your first time hearing of Luthersson then you can enjoy another song that he released earlier this year called ‘I Can Always Picture You’—listen here.

Luthersson

New Music: Orlando Hotopf

Stockholm-based Londoner Orlando Hotopf is a rising singer and songwriter who has just unveiled an impressive new song that deserves to be heard by you all!

‘High Road’ is the first of two singles that the artist will release this year. The track fuses indie with folk in a way that almost feels timeless—in part thanks to clever production, which layers 22 different guitar parts that were recorded using 1936 Levin.

The production creates a captivating soundscape that perfectly complements the song’s nostalgic lyrics, which were inspired by Hotopf’s early adulthood.

“The song is about the nostalgia of my early 20’s, the endless nights and countless bad decisions (which I don’t regret) I made whilst searching for something I couldn’t quite find…”

Hotopf’s music has been championed by the likes of Mahogany and Indie Folk Central, while also receiving airplay on stations such as KX FM and 88.5 FM in the US and Radio Nord Norge.

Orlando Hotopf

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Vilhelm Buchaus – Break My Heart Again

Track of the week. Without a doubt, Vilhelm Buchaus is one of our favourite rising Scandinavian stars.

Today’s release of ‘Break My Heart Again’ only adds to our admiration for this hugely talented Swedish singer and songwriter.

In essence, this is a song about broken hearts. Alongside its stripped-back, sombre production, the track’s lyrics express feelings of emotional pain and the toxicity of failing romances.

“I wrote ‘Break My Heart Again’ about being stuck in a broken relationship that doesn’t work, despite trying multiple times. I knew the relationship caused me more pain than joy, but I still hoped for a different outcome, and that feeling inspired this song.”

The song was created by Buchaus, with the help of Jacob Werner and Amanda Kongshaug. Fans can expect an EP later in the autumn.

Vilhelm Buchaus

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Elise Elvira – My Girls

One of our favourite Scandinavian talents to emerge this year is Elise Elvira. As a triple-threat artist who is a performer, songwriter, and producer, it’s clear Elvira is a naturally adept musician.

The new single ‘My Girls’ is a refreshingly distinctive summer bop. This track was co-produced alongside Fabio Trimarchi and lyrically focuses on the importance of healthy female friendships.

The production is experimental and unexpected, yet it still maintains a playful pop sensibility that is charming and intriguing in equal measures. A very special sound from a very unique artist!

Elise Elvira

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Vilhelm Buchaus – Dying Light

Swedish singer and songwriter Vilhelm Buchaus is back with another teaser from his highly anticipated upcoming EP, and we can’t wait to feature it for you today.

New single ‘Dying Light’ is a powerful rock-pop banger that was inspired by the artist’s yearning for adventure. Elaborating on the lyrics, Buchaus says:

“’Dying Light’ is a song I wrote about growing up and longing for something more in life. I grew up in a small town and have always felt limited by the repetitive and safe everyday life that comes with it. Much of the longing for something else that I felt as a child has gone into the writing and inspired, among other things, this song.”

This musician currently commands more than 14k monthly Spotify listeners, while his songs have already garnered over 600k streams. With such a natural flair for songwriting, we anticipate that Buchaus will grow to become a Scandinavian sensation very soon.

Vilhelm Buchaus

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IAMJJ – Extra Spicy Noodles

We’re starting the week with a massive banger from Copenhagen musician IAMJJ and his new single ‘Extra Spicy Noodles’.

Now, I know what you’re thinking… Denmark? Spicy noodles? Yes, but also no. In what might be the weirdest coincidence in music history, this song actually focuses on the flaws of togetherness.

”When love gets complicated and frustrating we tend to try and spice things up with a ‘romantic’ trip to Paris or buying that sofa you never needed. It’s like noodles: it doesn’t taste of much but if you spice it up with chilli you might be able to enjoy it or at least numb your senses for a minute. If you accept that life has got you in a deadlock maybe it’s time to move on.”

IAMJJ is one of Denmark’s most prolific musicians, with more than 25 million career streams to date. He’s released three albums, toured his home nation several times, and played on some of Scandinavia’s most prolific festival stages.

IAMJJ

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New Music: Salty Licorice

Track of the week. Despite being a relative newcomer, Swedish project Salty Licorice has already caused quite a stir. The visuals of her recent release of ‘Yemanya (p.19)’ went viral on TikTok (amassing more than 8.6 million views), and the song itself has also been streamed over 300k times.

New single ‘North Sea Siren (p.78)’ is yet another impressive piece of sonic artistry. Lifted from the artist’s forthcoming ‘The Sunrise Cried’ EP (out later this year), this introspective song focuses on the humans’ natural tendency to desire change.

“I was captivated by The Spy and read it several times. I visualized the scenes as if they were a film and began composing music that would suit them. The lyrics are written from Mata Hari’s perspective. I was intrigued by how fearless she comes off in the book. It gave me the freedom to express myself in ways I normally wouldn’t.”

Salty Licorice (aka Soha Akile) has been praised by the likes of The Line of Best Fit, BBC, MTV, and DiscoverNü. It’s not often that we come across a talent who is so unafraid to push the boundaries of pop, so we can’t wait to hear what comes next!

Salty Licorice

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sixten – Living Comes With Dying

Acclaimed Scandi duo sixten return today with one of their most powerful releases in quite some time.

‘Living Comes With Dying’ was inspired by a friend of sixten’s, who sadly lost their mother to cancer in the past year. The production is sombre in tone, while the lyrics are sincere, heartfelt, and deeply moving.

“We felt we couldn’t write about anything other than what our friends were going through. Other topics like love troubles, which we usually write about, became meaningless in comparison. ‘Living Comes With Dying’ is dedicated to those who have lost their dearest loved ones and serves as a reminder of the importance of continuing to support cancer research.”

The track is taken from the duo’s upcoming ‘Misemotional’ EP, which is out in August via TEN Records.

Since first releasing music in 2016 (under the former name of Strandels), sixten has garnered more than 15 million streams on Spotify, accumulating a string of gold-certified singles along the way.

sixten

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Noak Hellsing – Empty the Bags

Track of the week. Swedish artist Noak Hellsing kicks the weekend off with a shimmering new single called ‘Empty the Bags’.

Through its finessed fusion of dreamy pop, disco, and indie, this track treats listeners to a hypnotic sound that leaves you wanting more. It’s a sound that feels distinctly unique and is complimented by evocative lyricism, which is inspired by the emotions of love.

“‘Empty the Bags’ is more than just a song. It’s a powerful narrative about dedication and unconditional love. It’s about how far we’re willing to go to protect what’s dear to us.”

The song serves as a taster to Noak’s forthcoming ‘SHIFT’ EP, which is out on the 18th of July via Ten Music Group. Until then, you can check out more of this emerging talent’s music over on his Spotify.

Noak Hellsing

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Edgar Homeros – Upset

Edgar Homeros has already proven himself as one of Scandinavia’s most promising emerging music artists, and the release of his new single ‘Upset’ only further adds proof to this.

Lifted from his latest EP, ‘Crying Dove’ (listen here), the song presents listeners with a melodic blend of indie and soulful pop. The sound is minimal in style, but carries with it so much emotion and sincerity. Elaborating on his new EP, Edgar says:

“This is a special project for me. It’s been a year in the making, compared to ‘Volatile’ which was written & produced in a month. When writing the songs, it wasn’t with a specific concept in mind, but as I started to compile them I saw the red thread – it was a diary of me growing up in Stockholm, through both heartbreak and joy.”

The track was created in collaboration with Jake Gosling, who is noted for his work with global names like Shawn Mendes and James Bay.

Edgar Homeros

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New Music: Vilhelm Buchaus

We’ve got a fantastic new talent from Scandinavia to share with you today, who goes by the name of Vilhelm Buchaus.

While still only 22 years old, this rising singer-songwriter is already winning listeners across Europe thanks to his bold style of sound, which is both heartfelt and rousing.

The new single ‘Snow In The Summer’ shows listeners Vilhelm’s more vulnerable side, and treats us to a raw fusion of indie and rock that could easily get a stadium crowd on their feet.

“Through my music, I want to share what I’m going through in a way that others can relate to – the same way that artists before me have done the same for me. I also need to write about things I think about constantly. And as long as I am true to myself in what I write about, I hope others can recognize themselves in my songs.”

The track serves as a taster for the artist’s forthcoming debut EP, which is out soon via iconic Swedish label TEN Music.

Vilhelm Buchaus

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New Music: Lucky Lou

Track of the week. It’s been a little while since we shared with you some premium Scandinavian pop, so we’re delighted to introduce you to Swedish starlet Louise Lindberg, aka Lucky Lou.

Already an accomplished songwriter who has worked with the likes of Zara Larsson and Astrid S, ‘Space’ marks the artist’s first foray as a soloist. And as to be expected, the track is a pop masterpiece.

Lifted from an upcoming debut EP (out in June), the song was inspired by the demise of a cherished friendship. The artist explains:

“Throughout making the EP, I had quite a few fallouts with people in my surroundings, and I felt overstimulated and taken for granted. The song is about the sorrow of breaking up with someone close to you, whom you love and have known for a very long time.”

It won’t come as a surprise to know that the track was written and produced by Lindberg herself. We’re excited to see what comes next!

Lucky Lou

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New Music: Rinjin

Rinjin is an exciting electronic project from Norway, consisting of musicians Christoffer “Chris Le Pop” and Frøy.

The duo has just released a charming disco-pop bop called ‘Just us’, which we’re quite sure you’ll fall in love with.

Sonically, the production serves as a reflection of Rinjin’s admiration for genre-bending Scandinavian outfits like Røyksopp, Todd Terje and Annie. Lyrically, the song encapsulates the feeling of wanting to be loved and our desires to escape our troubles.

With such a strong debut under their belts, it’s likely that Rinjin will garner a lot of fans very quickly!

Rinjin

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New Music: Emilie Sofie

We are starting the weekend with some of the finest Danish pop to come across our radars in quite some time.

‘I Know’ is Emilie Sofie’s debut single, and was inspired by the realisation that a relationship which was seemingly perfect begins to fall apart.

Despite it’s polished production and finessed vocals, the powerful lyrics hit hard and feel raw in emotion. This is pop at it’s best.

The track serves as an impressive introduction to an artist who is undoubtedly talented. We can’t wait to see what’s next from this promising starlet.

Emilie Sofie

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Echo Thrills – Sunshine

It might be cold, wet and grey in London right now but this new single from rising Swedish talent Echo Thrills has put us in a summery mood.

Appropriately named ‘Sunshine’, the track treats us to a charming mix of mellow soul and dreamy pop. The sound feels both nostalgic and experimental in equal measures, which is refreshing to experience.

So if you’re feeling a little melancholy and pining for the summer season, be sure to press play to this song and allow yourselves to bask in its joyful grooves.

The artist performs at Stockholm’s CO/HEAD Festival on the 27th April – tickets can be found here.

Echo Thrills

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Takykardia – You Got Me Feeling Bad

It might still be Thursday but Danish trio Takykardia have already unleashed the week’s biggest banger.

‘You Got Me Feeling Bad’ is sonically reminiscent to the breakbeat productions that took over radio stations all across Europe in the late 90s, and treats today’s listeners to the full Y2K experience.

“There is an urge between the three of us to channel out unexplored energies. The only limit is our imagination, and as an act, we strive to evolve and to stay curious about the past, the now and the future. ‘You Got Me Feeling Bad’ is a celebration of being single rather than being with someone who makes me feel bad and insecure about myself!” – Luna Matz, Takykardia

Takykardia are steadily marking themselves as one of Denmark’s hottest prospects, and have found praise from the likes of Earmilk, Kaltblut, DMY and VICE, as well as BBC Radio and Rinse FM.

Takykardia

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Fig Tape – Holy Ponies

One of our favourite Norwegian artists of late has been Fig Tape, who returns today with a new single called ‘Holy Ponies’.

As we’ve come to expect from this talent, the song presents listeners with a euphoric and polished fusion of techno and alternative pop. This is a sound that makes you crave for a night out in a sweaty underground club, and we’re living for it.

Living in Berlin heavily inspired me musically. I made a lot of up-tempo, techno-inspired music when living there. It was a good feeling to go back last year and visit your old hometown. I had such a great time there, and it was so nice to meet up with BAUGRUPPE90 and do the session we did when we made ‘Holy Ponies’.

In a nod to his ever-growing popularity, Fig Tape’s music was recently featured on the iconic Netflix series ‘Young Royals’. Fans can expect more singles to be released in the coming months.

Fig Tape

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New Music: john hugo

We’re very excited to be sharing with you a bright new indie talent from Sweden called john hugo.

This promising singer and songwriter creates an impressive pop-rock sound that feels classic yet fresh in style – which makes sense when we learn that his work is influenced by the likes of The 1975 and Alexander 23, as well as Fleetwood Mac and even Prince.

Anthemic new single ‘Friends’ has just been released, and showcases the artist’s brilliant potential. Speaking on the track, hugo explains:

‘Friends’ is a deeply personal song about the uncertainty and confusion that develops when a relationship ends and you lie to yourself and to the other person that ‘we can still be friends’.

While still early in his career (hugo has only released two other singles on Spotify), we think this is a talent to watch for. More music can be found here.

john hugo

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