Swedish Music - NEW MUSIC & UNSIGNED TALENT

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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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