Swedish Music - New Music + Unsigned Talent

New Music: Alva Lys

Alva Lys is an emerging singer and songwriter from Sweden, currently based in Copenhagen. This exciting artist caught our attention today with the release of her new single, ‘One Night in Berlin’.

Inspired by the German city’s notorious nightlife, the song blends dark pop with electronica, creating a soundscape that is both atmospheric and intriguing. The track feels sinister and tense but still maintains a playful pop sensibility.

“Driven by pulsing beats and atmospheric synth layers, the song captures the intensity of a fleeting connection on a Berlin dancefloor – the kind of night that feels endless until reality breaks through.”

You can explore more music by Alva Lys on Spotify, where she’s amassed thousands of streams from only a handful of songs.

Alva Lys | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

Lykke Li – Lucky Again

“To me it’s samsara in a song. The wheel of life; winning, losing, living, dying. Having had something and praying you’ll have it again.Whether it’s sex, money, vitality, love. I always said I wanted the Vivaldi song at my wedding or funeral but I think this is giving more revenge heist energy.”

Lifted from the upcoming album ‘THE AFTERPARTY’, out on the 8th May via Virgin Records.

Lykke Li | Nordic Sound Playlist

Lykke Li Live Dates 2026

10th April – Coachella Music Festival – Indio, CA
17th April – Coachella Music Festival – Indio, CA
22nd May – Vivo Rio – Rio de Janeiro
24th May – Parque Ibirapuera – São Paulo
19th June – Metronome Festival, Prague
5th July – Finsbury Park – London^
10th July – Pohoda Festival – Slovakia (Headline)
19th September – Palacio de los Deportes – Mexico City, MX*

* w/Robyn / ^Wolf Alice

New Music: Phoebe Isobel

We’re big champions of emerging Swedish talent, so we’re very excited to be sharing with you a newcomer who goes by the name of Phoebe Isobel.

Based in Stockholm, Phoebe is not only an aspiring pop artist, but she’s also a producer, songwriter, DJ… and classically trained opera singer.

Today is a big day for Phoebe, as she releases her debut EP ‘Bully’, from which ‘Clairvoyant’ is lifted. The sound is mysterious, distinct, and dark and offers a fresh perspective on the electro pop genre. Yet, despite its sonic character, the song’s lyrics encourage us to let go of the toxicity that surrounds us – and to aspire to better lives.

“Dreaming’s not naive, so what’s your vision?”

Make sure you check out the rest of the EP here, and if you’re based in Stockholm, then you can catch Phoebe performing at Spy Bar on the 19th of February.

Phoebe Isobel | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

Sebastian Rydgren – how i wanna die

Nordic artist Sebastian Rydgren first came to mainstream prominence in 2022 after a series of performances on Swedish Idol, culminating in an impressive fourth place at the finals.

Since then, he’s grown to become one of his nation’s most interesting pop talents, with his new single, ‘how i wanna die’, standing out to us in particular.

Alongside its polished production (courtesy of Simon Karlsson), this song has a familiarity with its lyrics, which are inspired by the best days of our lives. Sometimes, we lose sight of the good things that life has to offer – and this track reminds us that the potential for joy is always out there.

“The song is about being in a phase of life where everything feels perfect. There’s nothing more you wish for or want to achieve. The track is about feeling content with yourself, your relationships, and the life you’re living. It captures a moment and a feeling you wish you could stay in forever. If the worst were to happen, at least you would die happy – ‘how I wanna die’.”

To date, Rydgren has amassed more than a million career streams on Spotify alone. A new EP is on the way, but in the meantime you can check out more of the artist’s work right here.

Sebastian Rydgren | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: Natalie Reigo

Natalie Reigo is a hugely promising newcomer from Sweden, who has already won us over with her charming style of R&B-pop.

‘Til The Moment’s Gone’ is Natalie’s anthemic new single and is inspired by the pressures of not missing out on life… and experiencing that all-too-familiar FOMO feeling.

“When I wrote it, it helped me through the feeling of FOMO and feeling like I should be somewhere else just because other people are!”

Natalie’s vocals are beautifully expressive and soulful, while the production is polished and sleek. Still only 19-years old and already amassing more than 1.5 million career streams on Spotify, it’s clear that this is a Nordic talent to keep an eye on.

Natalie Reigo | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

RIVER – Infected mind

Stockholm-based starlet RIVER returns today with a bold new release titled ‘Infected mind’, and it’s really quite something.

Alongside its refreshingly raw production, which blends dreamy pop with shoegaze, the song’s introspective and honest lyrics are likely to resonate with us all and inspire us to look at our younger selves in a different light.

“‘Infected mind’ is my attempt to recognize and engage in a dialogue with my younger, deceived self. It’s a passage between past and present, where forgiveness and separation can finally take place, simply by bearing witness to and understanding the harm I inflicted on myself out of ignorance. It reflects not only on the trauma of the past but also on the painful process of admitting how I’ve been deceiving myself – and ultimately surrendering to that deception in order to heal.”

Over the space of only a couple of years, RIVER has grown to become one of Sweden’s most promising indie prospects; her debut EP, ‘STILL IN LOVE’, has been streamed more than 1m times on Spotify alone so far.

RIVER | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: ALBA

TRACK OF THE WEEK

ALBA is the new musical project from Stockholm-based singer and songwriter Amanda Kongshaug.

Inspired by genres as diverse as electronica, alternative pop and indie, this musician crafts productions that feel unique in character while still maintaining a sense of sonic familiarity.

‘Runrunrunrun’ is a taster to the artist’s upcoming debut album and presents listeners with a melodic fusion of downtempo and dreamy pop. Speaking on the song’s lyrics, ALBA explains:

“The song is reflecting on commitment in relationships and the desire to feel free yet struggling with the guilt to not live up to expectations. It’s reflecting on the often times hard part of dating where people want to make sense out of things that are still very new and long before it’s yet ready to be put into a box. It’s written as a self reflective conversation to the other person admitting one’s own flaws while also asking for understanding that this might just be for the better.”

Aside from her solo work, Kongshaug has also written songs for the likes of Zara Larsson, Afrojack, Icona Pop andRudimental, so we’re very excited to see how 2026 shapes up for her ALBA project!

ALBA

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New Music: OK Alva

This weekend’s alt-pop banger comes courtesy of Sweden-based newcomer OK Alva and her brilliant new single, ‘Yet’.

Starting minimal, the production evolves with intensity to mirror the song’s heart-wrenching lyrics that tell of the moments when we struggle with emotional closure. It’s never easy to let go of someone you love, and this track perfectly encapsulates those emotions.

“‘Yet’ is about leaving everything unsaid, hoping that means it isn’t really over. Trying to move on with one foot in the door seems easier but us humans were never made like that, we need closure. This song almost wrote itself during a time when I was experiencing a situation like that. Kind of proves my point, trying to not think of something, someone, ultimately leads to thinking about them even more.”

We still don’t know much about this promising artist, but if their upcoming releases are as finessed as ‘Yet’, then we’ll have a new Scandi favourite to fall in love with!

OK Alva

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Augustine – Fumbling

We’ve featured Nordic musician and producer Augustine so many times on this site, and we still can’t get enough.

Today this hugely loved Swedish talent returns, after quite some time, with a song that has definitely been worth the wait. ‘Fumbling’ is a thoughtfully crafted indie pop song that was inspired by the desire to seek the things in life that allow us to grow and evolve.

The track serves as a preview for Augustine’s upcoming EP, which is out soon. In the meantime, you can join the other 218k listeners who enjoy this artist’s music on Spotify here.

Augustine

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RIVER – I AM CANCER

Swedish songstress RIVER has just unveiled a powerful new single that showcases some of the finest alt-pop currently emerging from the Scandinavian nation.

‘I AM CANCER’ is lyrically raw and is complemented by a production that is full of interesting sonic textures. This song blends fuzzy indie rock with nostalgic pop in a way that is really quite unique, and in doing so, evokes a multitude of emotions for the listener.

“‘I AM CANCER’ reflects an infected mind trying to love and receive love through a wall of defence protecting it from vulnerability — and therefore love itself. It communicates frustration around the inability to cure or hide an ugly mind stuck in false self-beliefs, believing it’s unworthy of true love.”

RIVER cites her inspirations as Portishead, FKA twigs and Prince, and you can hear this come through on her songs. If you’re now a fan, then be sure to check out her other songs here.

RIVER

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SHY Martin – l.o.v.e

TRACK OF THE WEEK

Alfitude has featured SHY Martin so many times that we should just call ourselves her biggest fans at this point. With that in mind, it won’t come as a surprise to know that our Track of the Week comes from this hugely acclaimed Swedish artist and songwriter.

‘l.o.v.e’ weaves elements of alt-pop with indie and adds a touch of shoegaze into the mix, creating a sound that feels raw and organic, while the melody evolves from understated verses to anthemic choruses.

SHY’s next full-length record is due for release next year. Oh, and fun fact: to date, SHY’s work as a songwriter has amassed her more than six billion streams. Beat that.

SHY Martin

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist

LOVA – It’s Alright

One of our favourite Swedish pop talents from recent years has been LOVA. This starlet has yet to disappoint us with her releases, and while her new single, ‘It’s Alright’, is a little different from her usual sound, it’s still just as mesmerising to experience.

The production is sonically sharp and minimal, while the lyrics tell of the temptations to settle for just ‘fine’ and inspire us to make the most of our situations in life.

‘It’s Alright’ was produced by Oskar Wildén, who is also known for his work alongside other Scandi pop icons like Dagny and Tove Stryke, and showcases LOVA’s continued evolution through her music.

“I was a really shy, introverted kid, and I tended to keep myself in the background, but I had a lot on my mind,” she says. “I needed music as an outlet to express myself, so I learnt a few chords and wrote a few ideas down in my own invented language.. The more I did it, though, I started to come out of my shell.”

LOVA

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Varas – Eaten By Worms

Varas is no stranger to these pages, so it won’t come as a surprise to regular visitors that we’re featuring the incredibly exciting Stockholm-based producer and songwriter once again.

He’s back this week with a brilliant new EP and single that both share the same name, ‘Eaten By Worms’ (stream the full record here).

As always, Varas presents us with sonic art that melds genres together in a way that only he can create so perfectly. Speaking on the lead track, the artist explains:

“The lyrics are loosely inspired by Geryon from Anne Carson’s long poem Autobiography of Red, where Geryon is a boy who is also a red, winged monster. In the song, he longs for the safety of a cage after crashing to the ground when his wings stop working. The track explores themes of self-preservation using whatever resources are available. The idea to write it likely came from the bittersweet nostalgia I felt when realizing I used to handle certain situations better.” With nuanced lyricism and intricate musical layering, ‘Eaten By Worms’ doesn’t just introduce the EP – it demands the listener’s complete emotional investment, setting a provocative tone that echoes throughout the entire collection.”

To date, Varas has found praise from outlets like The Line of Best Fit, Under the Radar, and Earmilk, while his songs have amassed more than 1.5 million streams on Spotify alone.

Varas

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Sarah von Reis – Nest

If you’re in the mood for some sweet indie pop, then we’ve got the perfect song to share with you today, courtesy of rising Scandinavian starlet Sarah von Reis.

‘Nest’ is a beautifully warm track that starts slow and hazy, gradually evolving into a euphoric climax that epitomises the emotions we experience when we’re deeply in love.

“‘Nest’ is a steamy, dreamy makeout song about one of those nights you wish would never end. There is this running joke in the lesbian community that a typical first lesbian date lasts until you break up. You meet at a bar, have drinks, go to her place and then you just never leave. You ‘U-haul’ and move in together in the first week and talk about the wedding on the second. Nest is about a first night like that, when you put down your sword and cease to exist beyond her arms. Hope this will be a song to keep the heat going through this winter!”

The track serves as another example of this Swedish singer and songwriter’s exceptional talent. Fans can expect Sarah’s debut album to drop next March, with a tour in her native homeland to follow. Exciting times for an exciting prospect!

Sarah von Reis

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist

Vilhelm Buchaus – My Mistake

Track of the week. The mighty Vilhelm Buchaus is back with yet another big song to remind us just why he’s becoming one of Scandinavia’s hottest musical prospects.

‘My Mistake’ is an energising slice of pop-rock that is impossible not to enjoy. The melody is anthemic, the vocals are captivating, and the lyrics are likely to resonate with anyone who’s ever loved the wrong person.

“’My Mistake’ is about a complicated relationship where two people are stuck in a destructive cycle, constantly coming back to each other, even though they both know it will end in disappointment. The song reflects emotional confusion that ultimately leads to pain.”

This track could easily get an arena crowd on their feet and goes to show just how much potential this rising talent has. Fans can look forward to Vilhelm’s debut EP, called ‘Quiet Rooms’, being released soon via TEN.

Vilhelm Buchaus

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Orlando Hotopf – Half Light

We’ve made no secret in the past about our love of Stockholm-based singer and songwriter Orlando Hotopf. This immensely talented artist returns with a new release today, titled ‘Half Light’.

Refreshingly raw in form, the song looks at the dynamics of caring for someone who needs help. The topic is approached with sincerity and emotion, and overall, this is a very moving song.

“Normally when I write songs they come out intuitively and I figure out the meaning later on, but this one was different. It is about processing the reality of supporting someone who is not well. It’s my way of saying that I will always be there, will stay strong and will guide them home even when the road feels long and the ending is barely visible.”

‘Half Light’ was recorded in Arcade Fires’ old studio in Canada, with production from Tyler Neil Johnson and mastering completed in London’s iconic Abbey Road.

Orlando’s music has gained good momentum in recent months, amassing several thousand streams on Spotify from only three singles.

Orlando Hotopf

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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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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

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist

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