Nordic Music - New Music

New Music: HENRIKES

Swedish newcomer HENRIKES (aka Josefin Henrique) is a vocalist and songwriter who has recently appeared on our radars.

Inspired by old-school icons like Depeche Mode and Kraftwerk, as well as modern-day names like Lykke Li, Anna of the North and Susanne Sundfør, HENRIKES aims to create cinematic pieces of pop that are both nostalgic and current at the same time.

Melodic new single ‘Out Of The Blue’ seamlessly fuses power-pop with electronica and synth. The result is a sound that is punchy, bold and confident in character. Elaborating on the inspiration behind the song, Josefin explains:

“‘Out Of The Blue’ is an expression of that turning point when you least expect it and light reappears out of the blue. It touches on the energetic feeling of attraction when it strikes without warning.”

HENRIKES

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Loreen – Tattoo

Swedish pop trailblazer Loreen is not only a household name all across the Nordic region, but she’s also been revered by Eurovision fans globally following her iconic win at the contest in 2012 with ‘Euphoria’.

Loreen is back again to represent Sweden this year with a new song and performance that is nothing short of spectacular. So much so, that she’s already been tipped for a landslide win by the prediction polls. Written by the same people behind ‘Euphoria’, new song ‘Tattoo’ is exactly as you’d expect from this visionary artist.

This is a sound that is intense, dark and atmospheric, but also maintains a strong pop sensibility. Alongside the music is the performance, which as you can see from the video above, is flawlessly presented.

So whether you love Eurovision or not – be sure to tune in on the 9th May when Loreen competes in the first semi final.

Loreen

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Fricky – Nattbus

Acclaimed Swedish artist Fricky unveils a beautifully atmospheric new single today, entitled ‘Nattbuss‘.

While sung entirely in his native language, the song’s dreamy and hypnotic style of alt-pop is sure to captivate any listener from any part of the world. Elaborating on the track’s production and concept, Fricky says:

“The feeling I had in my body married perfectly with [producer] Joel Kiviaho’s hypnotising production. I wrote the lyrics in 30 minutes on my way home from the studio, on the night bus. I have a hard time describing what it’s about, but it’s a song that has given me light when the night has been cold and dark. In a way, the song means more to me outside the context of the content itself. It has led the way to a lot of life and joy and, not least, more songs.“

“‘Nattbuss’ becomes, in a way, a final farewell to Fricky as you know me before I fly off on a new adventure. It functions as a farewell to a past that I needed to let go of in order to move on to a freer form of expression.”

Fricky is the musical project of artist, producer and designer Erik Friman. A staple within Sweden’s underground music scene since the 2010’s, Fricky’s work grew in popularity and prominence over the years, and in 2019 he was named ‘Artist of the Year’ at the iconic P3-Guld Gala.

Fricky

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Mina Okabe – Talk to Me

Danish-Japanese artist Mina Okabe has well and truly become one of Scandinavia’s newest global stars.

While still only 22-years old, Okabe has already amassed almost 50 million catalogue streams while also commanding more than 700k monthly Spotify listeners.

Mina unveils her brand new EP today, entitled ‘Spinning Around’ (out now). Inspired by the ups and downs of life, the collection of songs serves as soundtrack to Mina’s personal journey over the last twelve months.

“The past year has gone by really fast – like a whirlwind of inspiration and creation in the best possible way. I feel that the many new and exciting experiences I have had can be heard in the songs I’ve written, expressing very different energies and emotions, from where I’m most vulnerable to a lighter feel of self-irony. And so, I thought ‘Spinning Around’ was a suiting title for this collection of songs.”

Lifted from the EP is Mina’s new single, ‘Talk to Me’. Interestingly, the song applies bossa nova notes onto a lo-fi indie production, which results in a sound that beautifully juxtaposes the dramatic intensity of Latin music with the controlled emotion of Nordic pop.

“‘Talk to Me’ is about the frustrating feeling that comes when someone you’re interested in is not opening up and is hard to read. I like how it stands out among my other songs – both lyrically and with the playful production – but most of all, because it gives me a feeling of confidence.”

Mina Okabe

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Daniella Binyamin – Abba

It’s an exciting day for Nordic singer and songwriter Daniella Binyamin, who has just released her debut EP and its lead single, ‘Abba’, today.

A masterclass in Swedish pop, the song applies feelings of intense melancholy over an energising yet haunting indie production. Sonically reminiscent of Lykke Li’s early work, the track’s cinematic sound is nothing short of epic.

“‘Abba’ is an energetic yet sad track, a crying-on-the-dancefloor anthem to listen to when you need to get all those hard feelings out of your system. It’s a jumble of hope, devastation, freedom and a touch of madness and set the tone for the feelings I had when writing both the song and the EP.”

Elaborating further on the creation of the EP itself, Binyamin explains that it came to fruition back in 2020, as a way to process all the pain that had built up following a break up.

“When I wrote ‘Abba’ it was only my voice and a piano. I was angry and sad, and felt left behind by people I loved. When we later started to arrange and produce the songs, I realised how much I needed to write it, in order to move on. For every tangle that was straightened out, I became more and more fearless and convinced I was doing what was right for me.”

Daniella performs at Stockholm’s Musikaliska kvarteret (Blinda Tigern) on the 31st March – more details can be found here.

Daniella Binyamin

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Pearly Drops – Feed The Fire

Hotly-tipped Helsinki duo Pearly Drops unveil another stellar new release today, entitled ‘Feed The Fire’.

As far as pop music goes, this track is refreshingly unpredictable and intriguing. Through its intelligent style of production, the song contrasts feelings of joy and euphoria, with melancholy and woe.

“This song can’t decide if it’s outgoing or shy, sad or upbeat, it’s like when you say someone is a ‘lost cause’ – not really having a proper sense of self or lacking a protecting barrier between yourself and the rest of the world.”

Pearly Drops (aka Sandra Tervonen and Juuso Malin) have grown to become one of Finland’s most hyped musical acts in recent years, and currently command more than 590k monthly Spotify listeners.

Pearly Drops

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New Music: hanna ögonsten

It wouldn’t be a normal Friday on Alfitude without sharing some premium Scandinavian pop, and this week it’s the turn of Swedish starlet hanna ögonsten.

An artist already on the rise, ögonsten’s style of sound is inspired by genres as diverse as alt-pop, indie, punk and hyperpop, while lyrically she focuses on issues that affect young people in their 20’s who are trying to navigate the world in this day and age.

New single ‘Big Teeth’ looks at our struggles with self-criticism, and is taken from ögonsten’s upcoming “have you seen my mind cause’ I’ve lost it” record (out 28th April). Speaking on the creation of her EP, hanna explains:

“I write a diary on my cell phone. Or at least I write lots of notes. They’re about a little bit of everything, mostly my feelings. I’ve been doing this since I was a young teenager, but this autumn I realised that the tone in my notes had changed. They weren’t happy and I almost sounded bitter. I was surprised, it didn’t really feel like me. But thinking about it, I realised it’s not that unexpected. Being a young woman in the music industry means to constantly be reminded that you are – a female producer – and that you therefore should be questioned. It’s exhausting. I realised that it was time to get this out of my mind and the result became this EP. Every song is written and produced together with Carl Goldkuhl (among others) and I’m so proud of how it turned out.”

ögonsten’s music has so far received support from the likes of Vogue Paris, Triple J, Pop Passion and Scandipop.

hanna ögonsten

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Hanne Mjøen – Hard To Love (feat. Ryland James)

Not many Norwegian alt-pop artists have made as much impact globally as Hanne Mjøen has over these last few years.

Today marks her return with a powerful new single that features the talents of Ryland James, entitled ‘Hard To Love’.

Beautifully melancholic and refreshingly honest in tone, the song looks at the emotional vulnerabilities that start to appear when we find ourselves connecting with someone special.

”’Hard To Love’ tells the tale of being a complex person. Everyone has bad sides and struggles and through the lyrics I wanted to put mine on the table, letting the one you love know that if you want a love of eternal sunshine, I’ll give you the opposite. I’ll make it hard for you to love me cause unfortunately I’m not a perfect person either.”

Mjøen has received recognition from international outlets and tastemaker publications as prominent as Fader, NRK P3, Line Of Best Fit and many more. Meanwhile, rising artist Ryland James already commands more than 250k monthly Spotify listeners.

Hanne Mjøen | Ryland James

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MIIA – Skin of a Fool (feat. Vaarin)

Fans of dark melancholic pop will be delighted with Norwegian artists MIIA and Vaarin’s new collaboration, ‘Skin of a Fool’.

Quintessentially Scandinavian in its production style, the song’s mystifying soundscape lures listeners in to a world that is haunting and tense, while the powerful lyrics encourage us to break free from the insecurities that hold us down.

“I didn’t know Vaarin that well, but I admired her. Her truth was just so clear to me. Not only are her melodies beyond special and sincere – she also takes risks and isn’t afraid to make the listener a bit uncomfortable. We wrote “Skin of a Fool” during a vulnerable conversation about feelings we had felt surrounding not being good enough. Our producer, Joachim ‘J RYGGS’, already had these enchanting chords that immediately spoke to us. You need to allow darkness to ‘get out’ of it. And sometimes, in order to do that, you need to know that you’re not alone. You need to let love in – and only when you do that – you can finally be free.” – MIIA

Both MIIA and Vaarin have had exceptional rises to fame within their home nation and globally. MIIA has amassed more than 150 million catalogue streams to date, while Vaarin’s work consistently draws over 14k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.

MIIA | Vaarin

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Augustine – Mary Cookins

Acclaimed Scandinavian indie artist Augustine has come to be known as somewhat of a musical chameleon, and today’s release of his new single ‘Mary Cookins’ proves that.

Serving as a taster to the Swedish Grammy-nominated songwriter & producer’s upcoming sophomore album, the track feels nostalgic and relatable, but also experimental and eccentric at the same time.

With its dreamy fusion of psychedelic cosmic pop and indie, the song’s lyrics look at the (all too relatable) feelings of anxiety that arise from worrying too much.

“This was the first song that came to me in this album process and we had so much fun making it in a little cabin in the south of Sweden. Everything just fell into place and I felt like it marked a new beginning after a break from the studio.”

Augustine performs at SXSW in Austin on the 17th and 18th March – more details can be found here.

Augustine

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Ponette – Fake My Feelings (feat. Torine)

Two of Norway’s biggest newcomers join forces today on the release of ‘Fake My Feelings’.

As expected, this collaboration between Ponette and Torine is nothing short of pop perfection, and treats listeners to an anthemic song that somehow feels both playful and melancholic at the same time.

To date, Ponette has amassed millions of catalogue streams while also receiving tastemaker support from the likes of NRK P3 (Norway’s national radio), Earmilk and Acid Stag.

Meanwhile, Torine continues to build on her impressive run of global hits (totalling over 45 million streams), and currently commands more than 600k listeners on Spotify alone.

‘Fake My Feelings’ is produced by Coucheron, and is lifted from Ponette’s forthcoming album, which is released soon.

Ponette | Torine

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New Music: The Jürgen Clubs

The Jürgen Clubs might just be one of the hottest new indie names to emerge from Denmark this year.

Initially forming in 2021, this group of rockers create punchy songs that are both sonically energising and lyrically vivid.

Inspired by the topic of male impotence, new single ‘Soft’ was written after a time when lead singer Magnus went on a Tinder date – with an empty stomach and a little too much booze:

“The song is based on an evening when I wasn’t too proud of myself, and in the attempt to get a second chance, I invited her out to a restaurant while she’s on her way out the door. Of course she turned down that invitation a few days later.” – Magnus Grilstad, The Jürgen Clubs

Alongside the release of the track, the band have also unveiled an accompanying 80’s style music video for fans to enjoy.

With praise from the likes of Danish heavyweight magazine GAFFA under their belts, The Jürgen Clubs look set to take on their biggest year yet.

The Jürgen Clubs

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JAYNIE – Own Advice

Rising Swedish talent JAYNIE is back today with an infectious slice of alt-pop that has to be heard!

Playful as much as it is melancholic in tone, ‘Own Advice’ was written alongside obi mani (aka Tobias Kihlman), and is inspired by that all-too-familiar situation when we choose not to follow our own advice.

“It’s like it’s so easy to give out advice to friends and family but when it comes to yourself it’s like the hardest thing to to do and you become a total contradiction.”

The song continues to shine a light on this promising singer-songwriter, who seamlessly finds ways to weave serious and thoughtful lyrics into creative pop productions.

JAYNIE

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Astronaut – Heartless

Acclaimed Danish outfit Astronaut return today with a haunting new single that is sure to captivate even the most discerning listener.

Produced by Claudius Mittendorfer (who has also worked alongside the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Temples), the song presents us with beautiful fusion of dreamy indie and alternative pop.

“It’s about anyone who is misunderstood in some way, and trying to see beyond that. If we could read how each other actually feel, almost like a comic book superpower, the world would probably be more empathetic” – Martin Zeppelin, Astronaut

Astronaut have grown to become one of Denmark’s most prominent indie bands since the release of their 2019 debut album, ‘Silence One’. They are currently working on their next project, entitled ‘Kintsugi’, which is out on the 24th March 2023.

Astronaut

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New Music: Nelly Moar

Track of the week. Hailing from the Norwegian city of Bergen is Nelly Moar, who rapidly building momentum as one of Scandinavia’s most exciting R&B newcomers.

A trained jazz vocalist, Moar delivers a style of music that fuses dark pop with dreamy, soulful R&B tones. The resulting sounds are atmospheric, intense and beautifully captivating.

Amassing more than 150k career streams to date from the release of just one EP, it’s clear to see that Moar is one Nordic star on the rise.

Nelly Moar

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Freddy Madson – Blue Rain

Rising independent artist Freddy Madson is back today with a sensational new release called ‘Blue Rain’.

Through an intelligent production process, Madson has somehow created a sound that is not only dreamy and soulful, but also cinematic, bold and future-forward. In short – you won’t have heard anything quite like this before.

“I was in a period where I was feeling blue on and off because my music career wasn’t taking off. I dwelled on it, started comparing myself to everyone else and talked about it, time after time. It affected myself deeply but most of all it affected the people I love. I realized I had to do something about it and turn things around.”

“I knew we were on to something in the studio when those big, wide piano chords hit and the beat came on. The chorus appeared quickly with me just repeating the words ‘Blue Rain’. When all the pieces came together I felt so empowered and I hope the listener will feel the same.”

Madson has spent the last six months in the studio working alongside acclaimed Danish producer Niels Christian Sommer Kjærgaard, and is currently finalising his debut EP, ‘Boys Never Cry’ (out 17th March).

Freddy Madson

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New Music: Great Park Avenue

Today we are introducing you to Stockholm’s Great Park Avenue, who are continuing Sweden’s long-standing tradition of exporting world-class indie rock to the world.

Inspired by iconic British rocker Pete Doherty, new single ‘Pete My Teacher’ treats listeners to an energising indie sound that is compelling and anthemic in character.

Taken from the group’s ‘Limitless Prolific Divineness’ EP, the song was recorded in a former women’s restroom, and mixed at the Kapsylen Studios in Stockholm.

“‘The bathroom with its tile walls is a rather unconventional room for recording but we’ve made it our own sacred place and we’re absolutely in awe of the atmosphere of this magic loo.”

Be sure to keep an eye on the song’s accompanying game, in which ‘you can take a step into the mysterious world that is some people’s everyday life. Might or not be Pete fighting paparazzis, you’ll have to figure that one out yourself.’

Great Park Avenue

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New Music: your hands

Danish newcomer your hands (aka Johannes Brandstrup) unveils a charming slice of mellow indie-pop with his new single, ‘down here waiting’.

Inspired by the small (but significant) surprises that come across us in our everyday lives, Brandstrup creates refreshingly authentic songs that are lyrically thoughtful and insightful. Speaking on his new single, he explains:

“I wanted to write a song about the youth and social life. My generation has become addicted to communicating with one another – which is good – but when you agree to meet up with someone it often creates a clash between expectation and respect of each other’s time. We rely on communication more than we rely on each other and I hope this catchy little pop song reflect those mellow thoughts and frustration of modern living.”

The track follows on from Brandstrup’s 2022 debut ‘floating’, which received acclaim from several music blogs from across the globe.

your hands

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The Franklys – Mess

What began as a mutual love of music (and dogs) led to the creation of acclaimed Swedish-British indie outfit The Franklys.

This all-female group of rockers have been on our radar for quite some time, and never fail to impress us with their sound.

Anthemic single ‘Mess’ coincides with the release of the band’s new ‘Dogma’ album (out now), and showcases a refreshingly raw style of garage-rock that is immediately captivating to experience.

The Franklys will celebrate the release of the album on the 16th March at London’s Lexington – tickets can be found here.

The Franklys

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New Music: jazzygold

The most exciting newcomer to emerge from Scandinavia this week has been jazzygold (aka Jasmin Mote).

Hailing from the Faroe Islands by way of Kenya, this R&B-soul starlet has just released a sensational new single called ‘boring like me’ that deserves your immediate attention.

“‘boring like me’ is the new soundtrack for your most self-sabotaging moments in life. You know you’re a 10, but you still settle with the bullsh*t from a 5. That’s what sparked a fire for the making of the track. The breakup leaves you in the exact position you knew it would, and the track captures the irony perfectly.”

Prior to her work as a solo artist, Mote was part of award-winning outfit JASMIN, who toured across the Nordic region and played at festivals as prominent as Uhørt and Sørveiv.

After leaving the group, Mote travelled to Stockholm and London to focus on her own sound, and has now finished a collection of ten songs that she is ready to share with the world. Keep an eye on this artist!

jazzygold

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