If you’ve never experienced ‘stoner rock’ before then we’ve got a very special treat for you.
Swedish band Repeat have been gaining steady momentum in recent months thanks to their distinct style of sound, which is bold, vivid and energising in character.
Today marks the release of the group’s self-titled debut album, along with a thumping new single called ‘Out of control’. The track is immediately arresting, and sets the sonic tone for the rest of the record.
“The idea behind the album is to provide a short and explosive experience of repetitive aggressive songs. We really prefer the short formats and a direct presence. The mix of stoner rock and alternative rock with loud very fuzzy guitars, rumbling bass and aggressive yet stiff drums, gives its own unique progressive style.”
Track of the week. At the forefront of emerging Norwegian electronic talent is Oslo-based Fig Tape, who has just released an impressive new single called ‘Boundaries’.
While the track presents listeners with an experimental and future-forward style of production, it also maintains a playful pop sensibility that makes it feel relatable and fun to experience.
With more than 425k career streams and recognition from national heavyweights like Norway’s P3 Radio, it’s looking likely that Fig Tape will become one of Scandinavia’s newest musical exports.
Danish-Faroese musician and songwriter Brimheim (aka Helena Rebensdorf) returns with her first release since 2022’s debut record, ‘can’t hate myself into a different shape’.
The wait has been long – but worth it, as the artist’s new single ‘Literally Everything’ showcases Scandinavian alt-pop at its very finest. Explaining the inspiration behind the track, Brimheim says:
“Throughout my life, I’ve behaved in a lot of self destructive ways, attempting to fill this deep, barren void inside of me with everything from drugs to self-harm. But more than anything else, I’ve had to reckon with an unquenchable desire for other people’s approval and adoration, both as a human being and as an artist. That’s what ‘Literally Everything’ is about – the overwhelming impulse to sacrifice everything, including my self respect, in exchange for a moment of admiration.”
“When I started receiving a lot of attention for my music on my local scene, it was a pivotal time for me. My lifelong dream of being a successful artist was becoming a reality, but I felt more insecure than ever. That small glimmer of fame was so enticing, I foolishly attached my entire sense of self to it. I remember reading a single negative review of my debut album, amidst an array of positive media coverage and heartfelt fan messages, and it completely obliterated me. It was brutal to confront how brittle my self-esteem actually was.”
Brimheim is rapidly marking her name as one of Denmark’s brightest newcomers. To date, this musician has picked up four Faroese Music Awards, and was a nominated entry for 2021’s Hope of the Year at the Danish Music Critics Award. The artist has also received support from the established outlets as prominent as BBC, The Line of Best Fit, KEXP, NRK and DR.
Track of the week. Acclaimed Swedish singer-songwriter, producer and artist Dajana has just released one of the most breathtaking singles of the year, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
Written as an ode to life, ‘I Say Yes’ presents listeners with a spellbinding fusion of gospel, soul and hip hop.
The sound is bold, joyful and cinematic, and reminds us of the transformative powers that music possesses. If you have time to play only one song today, make it this one.
‘I Say Yes’ is lifted from Dajana’s inspiring new EP of the same name, which is out now.
If you’ve ever wondered what an indie-rock Bond theme would sound like, then pressing play to ‘I Can’t Stop the Rain from Falling’ by rising Danish band CAROUSELS should give you a sweet glimpse.
Through its impressive production, the track transports listeners to a mysterious sonic universe that feels melancholic, moody and reflective in tone. Lyrically, the song addresses the challenges that life throws at us – as the band explains:
“It’s about going through a series of difficult life events, and many friends and family trying to rationalise and spiritualise the reasons for why. Meanwhile, few acknowledged and tuned into the pain and hardship experienced, making the whole situation more difficult to go through.”
Despite forming only last year, CAROUSELS have already begun to generate hype across Denmark. The group have played iconic venues like BETA and Råhuset, and collaborated with musicians as noted as Fyfe.
Swedish artist Sarah von Reis is no stranger to these pages, so we’re happy to announce see that she’s back today with a stunning new single that deserves your attention.
‘Phenomenon’ is an intimate and seductive piece of music that fuses lo-fi jazz and pop with strings and horns, resulting in a sound that is sultry and entrancing. Elaborating on the song’s lyrics, von Reis says:
“The song is a lesbian declaration of love and the sexiest thing I’ve written so far. I chose to use a bass clarinet because it is the hottest instrument out there. I expect a lot of people – both queers and straights – will make out to it.”
To date, Sarah’s music has garnered support from the likes of respected Swedish broadcaster Fredrik Strage, and has also landed placements across several flagship playlists including Spotify’s New Music Friday.
Acclaimed indie-pop talent Vorsen (aka Oliver Halvorsen) returns with one of the catchiest songs of the summer.
‘Looking Back’ finds the British-Norwegian musician and producer casually reminiscing over his past relationships – and in doing so, reminds us that with every failed romance comes an opportunity for personal growth.
“‘Looking Back’ was written from an impartial viewpoint of reflecting upon old love. Everyone has at some point romanticised past relationships and wondered how things would be in the present given the amount you have both evolved over the years. However, it’s a paradoxical way of thinking because you wouldn’t be who you are now without the learning and change (bad or good) that undergoes during those relationships, which is a beautiful thing in its own right. So ultimately, that way of thinking is in some ways flawed and that’s a large part of what this song is about – recognising and accepting things that have happened in the past rather than tirelessly picking them apart and countless ‘what ifs’”.
Impressively, the song was written, performed and produced buy Vorsen himself in East London. Fans can look forward to an upcoming EP, which is scheduled for release on the 20th October.
Vorsen will also join Christof van der Ven on tour across Europe later this year – more details can be found here.
Orions Belte have well and truly marked themselves as Norway’s favourite indie-rock trio, and today’s collaboration with emerging Scandi starlet Louien will only further boost their popularity.
Interestingly, ‘When You’re Gone I’ll Be Gone’ portrays a spectrum of emotions. On the one hand, the song feels fragile, melancholic and sombre, while on the other it displays subtle hints of innocence and playfulness.
Orions Belte‘s popularity has risen sharply since their 2019 cover of Ghostface Killah’s iconic ‘Cherchez La Ghost’ (listen here). Fans can look forward to the band’s next album, ‘Women’, which is scheduled for release on the 6th October.
If you miss Daft Punk as much as we do, then playing ‘Your House’ by Danish electronic powerhouse Rangleklods should put a smile on your face.
The song blends that classic, timeless French disco sound with hints of indie and pop, resulting in a piece of music that feels familiar but also very fresh at the same time.
Complimenting the release of the track, Rangleklods has also unveiled some spellbinding visuals that feature footage from a show which was filmed at the Avernax Festival.
Fans in Europe can catch Rangleklods live on tour across several countries, beginning later this month at Panoptikon in Vridsløselille Fængsel. Dates and venues listed below.
We’ve got a phenomenal new Scandinavian talent to share with you today, who is almost certain to hit the global mainstream very soon.
Hailing from Stockholm, NOEL is a Norwegian-Swedish singer and songwriter who transitioned into the world of music after a knee injury halted his progress into becoming a footballer.
‘When You’re Not Mine’ serves as a powerful anthem for the broken-hearted, and is sure to resonate with huge swathes of listeners across the world.
“‘When You’re Not Mine’ was one of the first songs I wrote on my songwriting journey, and it has sort of progressed over time, just like me. It started as a break-up song, but it didn’t feel honest since I haven’t really been in love before. After rewriting the lyrics, it evolved into a personal story about longing for a special someone. Now, over a year later and after many late nights, I think we finally got it right, and I’m very proud of it. This song is for my future person.“
The song was written alongside prominent songwriters Johan Lindbrandt and Freddy Alexander, as well as Alfitude favourite Clara Mae.
Danish artist Astrid Cordes is back with a shimmering new single for us all to enjoy.
Despite originally being written on a harp, ‘Surrender’ serves listeners with a vivid alt-pop production that is rich in sonic texture and character. Conceptually, the song contrasts a vivid and euphoric style of sound with lyricism that tells of someone entering your life and turning it upside down.
“’Surrender’ is about living your life instead of longing for another. If you lose yourself to dreaming, you wont go anywhere in reality. On the other hand, I believe that if you surrender to reality, no matter how unfair or chaotic it may seem, you’ll find, that there’s an actual possibility to grow, play and live – and for dreams to come true.”
Fans can look forward to an upcoming EP called ‘Baby’s Still Asleep’, which is scheduled for release on the 13th September. Cordes will also embark on a nationwide tour across Denmark this autumn – dates will be announced soon.
London-based Swedish artist, producer and vocalist Tilda Allie has just unveiled one of the most sonically spectacular releases of the summer, in collaboration with Portuguese filmmaker Maria Nunes and composer Laura Lesourd.
‘Theme II’ showcases a conceptual style of sound that is luxuriously textured and cinematic. Allie builds a mysterious musical universe that is rich in character, while the track’s lyrics focus on themes like existentialism and capitalism.
“Inspired by the raw landscape of Sweden the strings and the contemporary but classical piano takes you on a cinematic journey into the Nordic wilderness.”
Aside from her ever-growing fanbase, Tilda’s work has also caught the attention of prominent tastemakers as noted as BBC Introducing andA&R Factory as well as VENTS, Wordplay, GAFFA and DNÜ magazines.
Acclaimed musician and producer Oliver Malcolm marks his comeback today with a bold new single.
‘What Am I To Do?’ presents listeners with an energising mix of alternative pop, indie and rock, while the lyrics look at the times in our lives when we are uncertain of how to shape our futures.
“I made this song kind of by accident; one of those things where I only created a hook and decided to tease it on the internet, and boom; it reacted so I knew I had to finish it. It’s quite literally a song about not knowing what to do, not being sure of what the next move is.”
The track is Malcom’s first release in over a year, and sets the tone for what fans can next expect from this hugely exciting artist.
Despite his recent absence, Malcolm’s music still commands an impressive 270k monthly listeners on Spotify. The artist has also amassed more than 25 million career streams to date, thanks to hit releases like ‘Switched Up’ and ‘Baby Don’t Go’.
British-Norwegian singer and songwriter Vorsen (aka Oliver Halvorsen) unveils his latest single today, called ‘Evil’.
The song was written and produced by the artist at his London home, and is lyrically inspired by the concept of ignorance. Additional vocals are provided by The Staves member Camilla Stavely-Taylor,
“‘Evil’ is a shimmering vignette about yearning for blissful ignorance in the face of harsh reality. A hopeful longing that evokes feelings of warmth and nostalgia.” – Vorsen
Vorsen plans to release a new EP soon. In the meantime, listeners can explore his other songs here.
We are starting the week with an absolute banger from rising Norwegian pop starlet, Kissimjau.
‘2 HOT 4 THIS (let’s do shots!)’ is a song that’s just as wild as its title implies. Sonically fusing drum’n’bass with electronic pop, the track serves as an anthem of empowerment for anyone who is stuck in a toxic relationship.
To date, Kissimjau has amassed more than three million likes on TikTok and over 600k streams on Spotify from only a handful of releases.
With an ever-growing fanbase, as well as support from tastemakers all across the world, Kissimjau might just end up being one of Scandinavia’s biggest musical exports this year.
We’re launching into the weekend with a blissful slice of Scandinavian pop from emerging Swedish composer and conductor The Fur.
‘We’re going under’ was co-written and performed alongside fellow Stockholm artist YVO (aka Yvonne Dahlbom), and delivers to listeners an uplifting blend of synth and shimmering power-pop.
“My music is a process of returning to my roots and to enjoy my everyday life. The foundation is the love of creativity and the joy of being in music” – The Fur
While the real identity behind The Fur is still very much a mystery, this talent has already crafted sounds for operas and musicals, while also working on his own solo music.
To date, he has amassed more than a million streams on Spotify alone, and is finalising the release of his first debut album – which will be out soon.
Readers in Scandinavia will most likely have already come across Cuban/Swedish songstress LUCIIA at some point over the past year – and once you press play on her new single you’ll understand why.
‘SAME THING NEW MAN’ is taken from the artist’s forthcoming ‘WITH II EYES‘ EP (out in October), and showcases a finessed production that seamlessly fuses 90’s inspired R&B with pop. Explaining the lyrics behind the song, LUCIIA says:
“My self-confidence is starting to emerge, and the lyrics are written with a sense that what I receive in relationships is never enough. I feel misunderstood again and again, and with that comes men who don’t quite know how to approach me. In the song, I express that frustration.”
LUCIIA has become one of Sweden’s most hyped newcomers in recent times, with acclaim from outlets as prominent as Rinse FM, Reprezent, Wonderland and BBC, as well as recognition from the Swedish Grammis and Manifest awards.
LUCIIA opens for Coldplay at the Ullevi Stadium in July.
Swedish pop artist Noak Hellsing is becoming a regular name on these Alfitude pages, and for good reason.
The 20-year old emerging talent returns today with yet another impressive new single, called ‘Die Without Letting You Know’.
The track was lyrically inspired by Noak’s struggles with committing to a relationship, and showcases a style of sound that is beautifully melodic and sincere in tone.
“‘Die Without Letting You Know’ is a song that is very close to my heart. It’s an honest song, maybe the most honest I’ve released so far, which makes it all the more exciting, but also scarier. The song is produced by Jacob Werner and written by me, Jacob Werner, and Benjamin Roustaing.”
The song follows on from Noak’s summer anthem ‘When The Shadows Go Home‘ (listen here), and serves as taster to artist’s upcoming ‘YESTERYEAR’ EP.
It’s a special day for Norwegian-British group amilost, who have just unveiled their debut EP, entitled ‘Introspective Souvenirs’ (listen here).
Among the collection of beautifully written tracks on the record is new single ‘Maybe It’s You’, which explores our inner strengths – and how they can help us overcome life’s challenges.
Through its distinct approach to indie-pop, the song presents listeners with an energising and invigorating sonic experience.
The trio describe their new EP as ‘an inner journey and the emotional souvenirs we pick up along the way. It’s a collection of songs centred around four themes: anxiety, love, escapism and aspiration.”
We first featured amilost back in May with their stunning Parallax Orchestra collaboration, ‘The Good Kind of Love‘ (listen here).
amilost is the London-based musical collaborative project of musicians Sigrid Zeiner-Gundersen, Ross Craib and Charlie Fowler.
Hailing from the Faroe Islands is singer, songwriter and poet Dania O. Tausen, who has just unveiled one of the most gorgeous Nordic releases of the summer so far.
While sung entirely in Dania’s native Faroese language, ‘kann eg hava armin soleiðis her?’ (‘Can I have my arms like this?’) carries with it a unique sense of charm which makes it instantly captivating to any listener.
The track’s production beautifully fuses folk with soft tones of pop and indie, resulting in a sound that is warm and welcoming in tone. Elaborating further on the song’s inspiration, the artist says:
“You may have asked someone this question at some point in your life. Maybe on a crowded aeroplane, in a small car or on a tiny sofa. Sometimes there’s just not enough space for our arms! Where do we put them? ‘Can I have my arm like this?’ said by the right person, can be a very sweet sound”.
The single is taken from Dania’s forthcoming double album ‘ja/nei og restin av vikuni’, which is released on the 21st July and 12th October. Until then, you can immerse yourselves in Dania’s debut record ‘gonguteigatúnatos’ here.
