Nordic Music - New Music

Erika Sirola – BERNADETTE

Track of the week. It’s been quite the while since we featured some high-grade experimental music, so we’re excited to be sharing with you this fabulous new song from Finnish-Canadian star Erika Sirola.

‘BERNADETTE’ is lifted from the artist’s freshly released ‘THE FOUR FACES’ EP (out now), and presents listeners with an intelligent fusion of experimental electronica, alternative pop and hints of funk.

“This EP delves into the core of the self. I’m such an advocate for fluidity in artistry. I’ve witnessed so many who feel they’ve had to sacrifice interesting avenues out of fear they wouldn’t be accepted or understood. The creation of this EP and design collection also marks the first significant step for me in letting go and embracing freedom in ‘all the everything and nothing’ that I am. The Jungian Archetypes profoundly influenced my journey of self-exploration to such an extent that they became the foundation of the songs. Together, they represent ‘the four faces,’ with each song telling the story of a character.”

In addition to the release of the EP, Sirola has also unveiled a corresponding visual world that compliments each of the four songs. Blending sustainability with antiques and armoury, the collection can be found through Basic Space.

Erika Sirola

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New Music: OWZA

We’re really excited to be sharing with you an emerging talent from Scandinavia called OWZA.

Born in Iceland and now based in Sweden, this gifted singer, songwriter and producer creates beautifully melodic pieces of alt-pop music that feel almost ethereal in tone.

Hypnotic new single single ‘hush hush’ thoughtfully presents listeners with melancholic sounds and vulnerable lyricism. Elaborating further, the artist explains:

“I wrote ‘hush hush’ alone in bed, and later co-produced it with a friend. It’s a sonic embrace with a melancholic blend of synths and drums, perfect for road trips or moments on a bus/ train. ‘hush hush’ is more than a melody; it’s my personal reassurance. The lyrics echo a conversation with myself during tough times, urging the strength to persevere.”

You can experience more of OWZA’s music on her Spotify here.

OWZA

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boerd + Boko Yout – Lavendel

We’re so excited to be sharing with you the second collaboration from Swedish artists boerd (aka Bård Ericson) and Boko Yout (aka Paul Adamah).

‘Lavendel’ (Swedish for ‘lavender’) is the latest teaser from the musicians’ forthcoming ‘Griot’ EP (out 15th March), and presents listeners with a melancholic fusion of alt-pop and downtempo. Speaking on the song’s lyrics, Adamah says:

“Since high school, I have struggled with my sleep. I wake up several times during the night and feel restless as if someone or something is waking me up. Lavendel resembles my sleep; it mixes nightmares with dreams, restlessness with deep sleep, and ghost stories with lullabies.” – Boko Yout

Alongside boerd’s established popularity, Boko Yout is also carving a name for himself as one of Sweden’s most promising new stars, garnering more than 78k monthly listeners on Spotify.

boerd | Boko Yout

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Aleks Grey – Sunset Cigarette

One of our favourite songs of the week comes courtesy of Norwegian alt-pop artist Aleks Grey.

New single ‘Sunset Cigarette’ looks at those moments in life that remind us previous events and people.

In the case of this song, the scent of a cigarette burning on a summer’s day brings back memories of a cherished person for the musician.

It’s not always easy with relations and relationships, whether it’s a partner, friend or family. But through the highs and lows, love will always be a big part of those nostalgic feelings.

The track continues to prove that Grey is one of Norway’s most interesting alternative talents. His likeable style of sound has not only amassed a significant number of streams online, but the artist has also found support from the likes of Jammerzine and BBC Merseyside.

Aleks Grey

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Flora Cash – Baby I Love You

Acclaimed Scandinavian duo Flora Cash return today with a beautiful slice of country-tinged pop that deserves your attention.

‘Baby I Love You’ is a classic love song that we can all find some type of connection with. It’s a track that symbolises the unexplainable feelings we encounter for the ones we love – through the good and the bad. Elaborating further, they say:

“Lately, we find ourselves unexpectedly drawn towards a metamodern approach in our songwriting. It seems to be a natural progression of our thinking. Through that lens, ‘Baby I Love You’ explores a concept of love that doesn’t need reasons or explanations. From the lowest lows to the highest highs, it just is. It’s messy and confusing. And sometimes not making sense makes the most sense.

We tried to capture this in the production as well, mixing different styles in a way that feels right for the message we’re conveying. Dakota Holden’s pedal steel performance adds a unique country flavour but the song doesn’t settle into a single genre. It’s different from much of what we’ve done in recent years, with a brighter, more upbeat feel that came as a bit of a surprise even to us.”

Flora Cash have recieved praise from tastemakers as respected as Noisey, Paste, Earmilk and Interview Magazine, while their songs have amassed more than 550 million streams collectively on Spotify alone.

Flora Cash

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New Music: Limandi

Track of the week. Swedish artist Limandi is already one of our favourite Nordic newcomers this year.

As a nominee for the prestigious Denniz Pop Awards, this rising starlet is not only building a fanbase among listeners, but also acclaimed industry professionals.

‘Hopin’ You’ll Be Fine’ is taken from the musician’s latest album, which is called ‘F*CK.IT.’ (listen here).

The song showcases an eccentric style of alt-pop which is beautifully melancholic, but also refreshingly experimental in character. Explaining the lyrics, Limandi says:

“About saying goodbye to someone who’s going down a destructive spiral, and realising the best you can do for them and you is let them go – and wishing them the best on their journey.”

Limandi

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boerd + Boko Yout – All My Life

Critically acclaimed Swedish artists boerd (aka Bård Ericson) and Boko Yout (aka Paul Adamah) have just joined forces on an impressive new single called ‘All My Life’.

Sonically, the track was inspired by the trip hop movement from within the 90s’s UK music scene, as Ericson explains:

“Last year, I joined Paul’s Way Out West gig as a bassist, and during the journey back to Stockholm, we found ourselves immersed in a conversation about music. It became evident that we shared a mutual excitement for crafting music inspired by the British trip-hop scene of the ‘90s. Soon after, we met in the studio, and ‘All My Life’ essentially came together that day.” – boerd

Alongside its rich soundscape, the song’s lyrics are equally captivating. Sung by Adamah, the words invite listeners into the musician’s thoughts and emotions:

“The song was written during a phase of intense work where I questioned if I was doing enough to achieve my dreams. I distanced myself from friends and family, rarely took breaks, and assessed my worth based on productivity. I mention my mom, who constantly reminds me to stay grounded and savor life.” – Boko Yout

The song serves as a taster to the artists’ upcoming collaborative ‘Griot’ EP, which is out on the 15th March.

boerd | Boko Yout

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Theresa Rex – BAD BLOOD

The new year has begun, and with it comes a new swathe of Nordic bangers – the first of which is by Danish star Theresa Rex.

‘BAD BLOOD’ focuses on themes of betrayal, and presents listeners with an anthemic electro-pop sound that is as bold as it is punchy. On the lyrics, Rex explains:

“‘Bad Blood’ is the story of two friends – a close friendship in that ‘blood pact’, ride or die-kind of way. But also, the song is about the ultimate betrayal, because she stole my boyfriend. I quickly forgot about that guy who cheated, but the loss of that friendship was heartbreaking. She stabbed me in the back and found it extremely hard to realise that this forged bond, I thought we had between us, was so easily broken. Friend break-ups are just one of the things that hurt the most.”

Alongside her own work, Rex has also collaborated with the likes of Wankelmut, Martin Jensen, Jonas Blue, MORTEN, and the legendary AFROJACK – resulting in a catalogue of releases that have amassed more than a billion streams to date.

Theresa Rex

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Yune – Cake

One of Denmark’s most interesting alternative outfits in recent years has been Yune. Throughout their career, the acclaimed rock quintet from Aarhus have consistently delivered bold and experimental songs, and today’s release of ‘Cake’ is no exception.

This 90’s inspired indie masterpiece looks at the random moments in life when we get a sudden urge to break away from the mundane, and ‘want everything all at once’.

The track serves as a taster to the group’s forthcoming ‘Lemon Sweet Perfection‘ sophomore album, which is out soon. You can experience more of Yune’s music right here.

Yune

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New Music: Gamborg

Track of the week. Gamborg is a rising Norwegian artist who looks certain to hit the Nordic mainstream in 2024.

New single ‘Burdens’ is a beautifully intense piece of music that not only features refreshingly raw lyricism, but also showcases an epic pop-rock production.

“This world feels so overwhelming. Feeling anxious like all the time. Wait, is it self-indulgent for me to talk about my problems when people obviously suffer much worse problems than I do? You know what, I’ll just carry on and not tell anyone. That usually makes things a lot better”

Gamborg’s music has amassed close to 100k Spotify streams, from just 4 songs. Be sure to keep this kid on your radars!

Gamborg

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Brimheim – Brand New Woman (feat. eee gee)

Two of our favourite Scandinavian artists have teamed up together on a powerful new release that deserves your attention.

‘Brand New Woman’ is a musical collaboration between Brimheim and eee gee, and questions the societal expectations of women – as well as the roles that they’re pressured to fulfil in life.

A glass of wine / Might calm me down / Am I foaming at the mouth? / Scratch marks on the bed frame / And tears in the new towels

“The song addresses the pressure of trying to live up to the myth of the perfect woman – a devoted and obedient dog who never complains. Tail wagging for attention. Unfortunately, I’ve been that woman in past relationships. Society’s expectations of women have definitely shaped that ideal, but ultimately I have only myself to blame. It is a violence I’ve inflicted on myself when I valued comfort over authenticity.” – Brimheim (aka Helena Rebensdorf)

The track serves as a taster to Brimheim’s upcoming sophomore ‘RATKING’ album, which is out on the 22nd March 2024. You can also catch the artist performing at various locations across Europe next spring – dates are listed below.

Brimheim | eee gee

Tour Dates 2024

Sat, Feb 17, 2024: Nordklang Festival, St. Gallen – CH
Fri, May 17, 2024: Kantine Berghain, Berlin – DE
Sat, May 18, 2024: Orange Blossom Special, Beverungen – DE
Sun, May 19, 2024: V11, Rotterdam – NL
Tue, May 21, 2024: Merleyn, Nijmegen – NL
Wed, May 22, 2024: The Lexington, London – UK

EMI WIDE x Jaydev – Feels

Danish pop really has had one of its finest years in a very long time. And with that in mind, we’ve got one more bop to share with you today from the Nordic nation, called ‘Feels’.

Created as a collaboration between rising talents EMI WIDE and Jaydev, this song delivers a style of sound that effortlessly blends R&B and pop with rap.

While sonically the track gathers its inspiration from the Y2K era, it still feels fresh and exciting to listen to. Elaborating on the lyricism, the artists say:

“‘Feels’ is about the longing and frustrations that can easily arise in a relationship in 2023; a time when it’s never been easier to communicate with each other – and yet it can often be extremely difficult, even though you may ultimately want the same thing.” – EMI WIDE

“It’s so easy to misunderstand each other. ‘Feels’ depicts how, even in the most challenging moments of love, there’s always a way back to each other if you’re willing to give it a try.” – Jaydev

EMI WIDE | Jaydev

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[PREMIERE] Watch HunBjørn’s visuals for latest single ‘In The Eye’

We are so excited to be sharing with you a first glimpse of Scandinavian artist HunBjørn’s new music video, ‘In The Eye’.

Marking the return of this much-acclaimed Danish indie starlet, the visuals represent HunBjørn’s new style of sound, and serve as a taster to her upcoming suite of releases.

If you’ve yet to listen to the song itself, it’s a beautifully atmospheric piece of electronica that also incorporates other genres like dance and alt-pop, while the lyrics take their inspiration from the concept of ‘forbidden desire’.

“It’s that moment you didn’t see coming, but suddenly find yourself in, where the rush of temptation really threatens to overthrow all reason, and it takes serious strength not to give in.”

For listeners who are new to HunBjørn, this rising talent is not only a singer but also a songwriter, producer and arranger, and a key originator of industry community WeProduce.

HunBjørn

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New Music: Kitty Mack

Track of the week. Kitty Mack is a rising Norwegian artist who recently caught our attention with her latest single, ‘Movies’.

Contrasting with its charming jazz-pop production, the song’s lyrics tell of a personal circumstance that the artist experienced while she was in a toxic relationship that affected her self-worth.

The sound feels nostalgic yet modern, and is sure to connect with many listeners. It’s been a while since we’ve been this excited about a Scandinavian talent, and we can’t wait to hear what comes next!

Kitty Mack

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MALU – Heavy Baggage

One of our favourite Scandinavian starlets has returned today, and boy, was it worth the wait.

Danish artist MALU’s new single ‘Heavy Baggage’ treats listeners to a melodic and finessed fusion of alternative R&B and soulful pop.

As charming as it is emotive, the track looks at the concept of self-awareness, and the desire to move forwards in life without carrying previous traumas.

“‘Heavy Baggage’ is an ode to self-realisation and explores the art of moving forward without being held hostage by your past. It’s about finding that rare individual who doesn’t just share your load but teaches you how to lighten it.”

To date, MALU has amassed more than 1.5 million career streams on Spotify alone, while also commanding an impressive 23k monthly listeners on the platform.

MALU

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New Music: GUZO

Track of the week. Danish newcomer GUZO (aka August Fogh) has just unveiled his debut single ‘Radical’, and it’s a spectacular piece of music from a very promising artist.

By fusing elements of indie with pop, the song invites listeners into a soundscape that feels bold and rich in sonic textures.

Alongside its cinematic style of production, the track also features soulful vocals that tell of the ‘wild, unfiltered emotional turmoil that arises from radical love.’

I wrote it as a confidence booster at a time in my life where I really needed that. I hope you will feel a little stronger, taller and braver listening to ‘Radical’

When he’s not developing his own music, GUZO is also a well-known songwriter who has worked with established Danish names like ArtigeArdit x Lamin, Goss, Jada, Saint Clara and Phlake.

GUZO

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New Music: Mörmaid

It’s been a hot minute since we featured top-rate Scandinavian electronica, but that dry spell is well and truly over with the introduction of Norwegian artist Mörmaid.

‘Manicfest’ is a banger and an anthem in equal measures. This is a bop that reminds you the weekend is just around the corner, and deserves to be on everyone’s playlists!

“‘Manicfest’ is a reflection piece on the increasing trend of manifesting, and how I feel like it’s mostly a trend amongst people who already have a lot but still want more. It’s not really a criticism of the practice, but rather a question mark. The song also touches on the themes of overconsumption and the ambition to always climb higher, never being fully content even when you reach your goals.”

Alongside her own compositions, Mörmaid has also worked with the likes of Ben Alexander, Tobi Duchampe, Jenny Alien and Brand New Moon. We think this is one Scandi talent whose momentum will continue to grow over the coming months… one to watch!

Mörmaid

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Loreen – Is It Love

Iconic Swedish pop star Loreen unveils her first new single since her triumphant Eurovision win at Liverpool this year.

‘Is It Love’ is sonically inspired by Loreen’s Moroccan Berber roots, while the elevated vocals provide listeners with style of ‘spiritual pop’ that is really quite phenomenal to experience.

“‘Is It Love’ was born from a place of seeking clarity, it’s a song describing and contemplating a love thats so deep but at the same time filled with confusion. It’s about realising that to create a deeper understanding of yourself you need to accept the duality of life, that distortion and clarity goes hand in hand and are equally as important. And to experience the depth of true love, both to the self as well as to others, you have to accept and experience the depth of pain.”

The song was written by some of the industry’s biggest names, including MTHR, Dag Lundberg and Maia Wright, while production personnel includes Albin Nedler and Josh Gudwin.

Loreen shortly embarks on a tour across the UK and Europe, with all dates sold out. If you were lucky enough to get some tickets then we’re very jelaous!

Loreen

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New Music: Sofie Mathiasen

Sofie Mathiasen is an emerging American-Danish singer and songwriter who is currently building considerable traction across social media – particularly on Tik Tok where she’s already amassed more than 50k followers.

‘Smile’ is a captivating dark-pop song that was lyrically inspired by the effects of social media on people and society. Mathiasen explains:

‘Smile’ is a song about that discrepancy. The fable of a clown, but also a mirror to society in the age of social media.

Alongside her growing presence online, the artist has also garnered thousands of streams from the release of just four singles. This is one talent to keep on your radars in 2024.

Sofie Mathiasen

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NOEL – Headed North

Swedish singer and songwriter NOEL is back today with one of the biggest Scandinavian releases of the week.

‘Headed North’ treats listeners to an anthemic fusion of indie and alternative pop. The sound is impassioned and bursting with raw emotion, and continues to mark this hugely gifted 20-year old musician as a superstar of the future.

“Writing ‘Headed North’ was like a therapy session. In the past I’ve found myself leaving a potential relationship before it got too serious, and I never really knew why. It sounds like a cliche, but the conversations in the studio made me realise I might be running away from the possibility of getting hurt. I’m such an over-thinker which often leads me to finding wrongs in everything, even when it might not be there…”

This single follows on from NOEL’s debut release, ‘When You’re Not Mine’ (listen here), which has already amassed more than 10 million views on TikTok alone.

NOEL

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