Category: Swedish Music

Saint Djuni – Drifter

One of the most interesting collaborative projects to have emerged from Europe over the last couple of years has been Saint Djuni. With their eccentric and playful take on indie-pop, this outfit has consistently surprised and delighted with their choice of releases.

Uplifting new single ‘Drifter’ is one of those songs that leaves you with a smile you on your face, and reminds us that a positive mindset is something we can all achieve.

“We all seem to have the urge to see and follow what is trending. Yet we don’t stop and think how it would be if you choose to decide to drift away and live your own form of perfection. A song dedicated to the dreamers. The ones that dare not to let negativity cloud their journey.”

Saint Djuni is a musical duo consisting of musicians Rasmus Viberg and Clifford Goilo, who have each achieved notable successes in their own rights with various projects including Bakermat, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and Next To Neon.

Saint Djuni

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Casper The Ghost – Cool Kids

Photo / Yoye Lapogian

One of the catchiest songs of the week comes courtesy of Swedish cross-genre duo Casper The Ghost.

As is typical with their recent run of singles, ‘Cool Kids’ is a polished and well-constructed pop-rock sound that also feels grounded, relatable and genuine in tone.

The track is taken from their freshly-released new EP ‘Holding on for dear life’, of which they say:

“It feels great to release this EP since it really represents what Casper The Ghost has become, and ‘Cool Kids’ is probably the best example. Our sound has developed a lot and we’ve both grown, as artists and people, which we hope will be heard when listening to the EP. Something that hasn’t changed though, is our collaboration and love of creation, that’s been constant since the beginning.”

‘Holding on for dear life’ is out now via Asylum | Casper The Ghost

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New Music: Almost Orange

Just in time for the weekend, Swedish newcomers Almost Orange release an infectious slice of electro-pop with new single ‘Infatuation’.

Retro-infused grooves mix with a funky dance beat, as lyrics tell of those times when there is so much chemistry and love for someone that it spills over – leaving you unable to see any red flags.

Almost Orange

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Skott – Sunshine

Swedish artist, songwriter and producer Skott is undoubtedly one of the Nordic region’s most interesting musical talents to have emerged in recent years.

Garnering over 250k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, this rising Scandinavian star is representing a new era of female artists with a unique style of pop that is certainly resonating with a lot of listeners.

‘Sunshine’ was written by Skott herself, together with Peter St James and Martin Stilling (Charlie XCX, LÉON), and serves as a taster for her upcoming second album (out later this year)

“Let the ceiling cave in, stay open. The song is about daring to live life without a roof, without limits. Daring to be vulnerable and let both the sunshine as well as the rain in. If you over-protect yourself from potential bad things and stormy weather, that same shield could also block out the sun and some of the best things in life.”

Skott

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Bishat – MANNERS

Photo / CHAI

Acclaimed Swedish Ethiopian artist, songwriter and producer Bishat returns with an anthemic slice of R&B-pop perfection through new single ‘MANNERS’.

This self-empowering track tackles friendships, relationships and entanglements that no longer serve us:

“I think we’ve all been there, carrying all the weight, bringing all the vibes, doing all the work and getting nada in return. I’m just feeling really done with anything that doesn’t elevate me or sparks joy.” 

Bishat

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New Music: Hymner

Emerging Stockholm-based producer duo Hymner construct a unique brand of sad dance-pop that is really quite captivating to experience.

New single ‘Rivers’ features the vocals of Persian-German singer SamajAi, and delivers a subtly melancholic sound that feels haunting yet fragile in equal measures.

“We wrote ‘Rivers’ during the pandemic, and it became very symbolic; being so far away from people we loved, yet united in spirit.”

Hymner

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Jelly Crystal – I Tryyy (with Seinabo Sey)

Photo / Lamia Karic

One of the most sublime slices of indie-soul this month comes courtesy of acclaimed Swedish artists Jelly Crystal and Seinabo Sey.

Conceptual new single ‘I Tryyy’ serves as a fervent love song, with soulful vocal deliveries, hotline bling-drums and swelling synth pads.

The track was produced by Simon On The Moon (James Blake, Jamie xx, Mahalia), and is the latest single to be taken from Jelly Crystal’s forthcoming EP ‘ILY’ which is out in June.

“I’m so happy I got the chance to make music again with my partner in crime from Kungsbacka, Simon On The Moon, and Sweden’s only voice, Seinabo Sey! We’re still not tired of writing love songs.” – Jelly Crystal

Jelly Crystal | Seinabo Sey

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Teddy Failure – Be My Guest

Rising Swedish outfit Teddy Failure return with another supreme slice of indie-pop. Lyrically, ‘Be My Guest’ reflects the duo’s philosophical attitude towards life, as it explores the idea of a romance that’s easy come, easy go.

While the song initially comes across as a simple acoustic ballad, the duo also add an element of surprise as they suddenly veer off-road, with a jittery trap beat and a meandering guitar line:

“It was weird, because we added that trap beat, and then we couldn’t listen to it without laughing – we thought it was so goofy.” – Teo, Teddy Failure

Teddy Failure

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New Music: Alissa Reah

Hailing from Southern Sweden, Alissa Reah is a pop artist who is still only 18-years old. Today sees the release of her new single ‘YOU’, marking Reah as one of Scandinavia’s most exciting emerging talents.

Beneath the catchy melodic surface the song is a serious subject matter, about growing up and finding yourself:

“It’s okay to feel like you’re growing, evolving and maybe not wanting the same things as before. ’YOU’ is about progress but also about freeing yourself from the influence society and other powerful figures have on you.”

Alissa Reah

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flyckt – Jonny Boy

If you’re a fan of Swedish outfit Urban Cone then you’ll already recognise singer flyckt.

Today sees the release of his cover of Nordic indie classic ‘Jonny Boy’, and it is without a doubt one of the catchiest pop anthems you’re likely to experience all week.

“‘Jonny Boy’ is a song written by the band Kite and is somewhat of a cult classic in Sweden. The song really resonates with me. I can relate to going out to escape everyday life and I felt like the song got another dimension with the pandemic. Like a lot of people are going out to numb the pain and all of a sudden they couldn’t do that anymore. To me going out with Jonny Boy means that all the bad emotions are turned off, and that you are in a headspace where no one can touch you. Hope you will like it.”

flyckt

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Tove Styrke – Hardcore

Forward-thinking musical starlet Tove Styrke consistently pushes the boundaries of pop, and new single ‘Hardcore’ is no exception.

Taken from the upcoming album ‘HARD’ (out 3rd June), this dramatic yet playful song was produced and co-written by Max Martin’s young protégé Elvira Anderfjärd (Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran) and Jakob Jerlström (Tove Lo, Lorde).

“‘Hardcore’ is definitely one of my favourite tracks on the album. It’s about wanting someone hardcore. I took the term from gaming, if you die you die but it’s all in. I also wanted to make the track sound drunk, like when you’re lost in a person. That’s why we made the temposhifts before each chorus. The production is so good on this one, it blows my mind.”

Tove Styrke

Tove supports MARINA on tour in May:

  • 9 May – Copenhagen, Denmark (Vega)
  • 12 May – The Hague, Netherlands (Amare)
  • 14 May – Brussels, Belgium (La Madeleine)
  • 15 May – Paris, France (Bataclan)
  • 17 May – Edinburgh (Corn Exchange)
  • 20 May – Manchester (O2 Apollo)
  • 21 May  – Leeds (Refectory)
  • 22 May – London (O2 Brixton Academy)
  • 25 May – Dublin (Olympia Theatre) 

Jelly Crystal – Happy Ending (feat. Alice Boman)

Swedish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jelly Crystal collaborates with Alice Boman on hypnotising new single ‘Happy Ending’.

Timeless in style while also reflective of the contemporary underground scene in Scandinavia, the song is a bombastic declaration of a love story that never existed.

“A love story with no happy ending… about a person that only exists in your head and a relationship coming to an end, even though you’ve never met her. It’s a live recording from the studio in Stockholm, that has many flaws and hasn’t been polished but still has a luxurious sound”. – Jelly Crystal

Jelly Crystal | Alice Boman

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New Music: garbagepink

Hailing from Sweden is newcomer garbagepink. With an invigorating approach to punk-pop, this talent constructs music that could easily serve as a soundtrack to Gen-Z life, while also maintaining a certain nostalgic flair for the 90’s.

‘San Francisco’ tells the story of an on and off relationship, the longing of a different place and how to suck at parallel parking.

garbagepink

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Graham Lake – Run em Down (feat. Avelino)

Track of the week. Emerging Swedish newcomer Graham Lake joins forces with UK rap star Avelino on the release of massive new single ‘Run em Down’.

The Stockholm-born singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist presents a sleek production on the track as he threads clean guitar through energetic synths, serving listeners with a sound that is immediately captivating and hugely exciting.

“‘Run em Down’ was made during a part of my life when many people influenced my decisions, dreams, and ambitions. My music was the thing keeping me grounded and this song came to be my freeing from all those attachments. ‘FOCUS’ came to life quickly but ’Run em Down’ was even quicker. That proved to me that I was on the right track and that this song was meant to be the follow-up. I never intend to speak on what my song’s true meaning is because it’s different for everybody but to me, it’s a celebration of knowing what you deserve and that nothing besides yourself can stop you from reaching that.”

Graham Lake | Avelino

New Music: Ten Times

Ten Times may well be the next big Swedish EDM-pop export to watch out for. With over 650k monthly listeners on Spotify and platinum-selling songs like ‘Changes’ and ‘All Star’ under their belt, these two brothers are creating sounds that clearly resonate with a huge audience.

A perfect addition to your weekend playlists, new single ‘Let You Go’ is catchy dance anthem with an emotionally relatable story that is sure to win you over.

Ten Times

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New Music: Leyonclou

Inspired by the likes of Lady Gaga and P!nk, Swedish artist Leyonclou mixes music, art and image with playful expressions.

While on the surface, new single ‘Hindsight’ is a fun electro-pop bop, the song’s lyrics focus on her struggles with mental illness, with the hope to one day ‘see it in hindsight’.

“My biggest wish with ‘Hindsight’ is that it reaches the person that needs to hear that life is worth living, and it gets better. You’re not alone, and it’s ALWAYS worth the fight. You’ve got so much more to experience and so much more to give. Music is a huge part of why I’m still here, and I hope that me and my music can be the change and support that so many other songs and artists have been to me.”

A portion of the song’s revenue will be donated to Swedish non-profit organisation Suicide Zero for their work in preventing suicides.

Leyonclou

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Amanda Alexander + VAAAL – I don’t talk about you

Swedish artist Amanda Alexander teams up with LA-based producer & writer VAAAL on new single ‘I don’t talk about you’.

Together, these two talents created a raw piece of music that seems to fulfil the entire spectrum of emotions – blending dark and industrial sounds with dreamy tones of euphoria.

Since the song was originally constructed years ago, Amanda decided to also collaborate with singer, songwriter & producer frogi on rewriting some of the lyrics and adding some final touches, creating the superb song that you are listening to now.

“It hurts when you meet someone who really fills you up. It’s like a part of you has changed forever, and you know it will never be the same again. And when it ends, that part of you can never belong to someone else because you have saved it for them – for another world or universe where the relationship still exists.” – Amanda Alexander

Amanda Alexander | VAAAL

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Rhys – Butterflies

An artist who has never been afraid to experiment with her work, Rhys seems to have finally found her sound through the release of new EP ‘Thanks a lot now I can’t smile’ (out now).

Featuring co-production by Elias Kapari, this creative and playful record takes inspiration from growing up in the hipster nest that is Portland.

“This EP is a projection of my frustration in life and relationships; filled to the brim with passive aggressive jokes, defence mechanisms, pettiness and sadness. It’s me looking back and admitting my flaws and worst tendencies, but also realising i’m not always fully responsible for how things turned out. You can’t predict how people will treat you, or how you’ll react to situations in life. You don’t always have to be reasonable or grateful, sometimes things just feel shitty. Relationships end, they leave, you leave, depressions happen. I found myself asking everyone I met if my feelings were normal, seeking some type of solace in that others could relate to my lows, but that’s never really enough. So instead I wrote songs, hoping they in turn could help others. I’m just writing about life and every teeny tiny emotion in between.”

Rhys

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Brother Leo – Hello Life

Described by Music Week as ‘a non-conformist creating his own lane in the world of pop music‘, Swedish pop royalty Brother Leo has finally unveiled the first part of new album ‘PoP Poetry’ – and with it the release of ‘Hello Life’.

“In a way I’d say ’Hello Life’ is about me searching for answers, both inside and outside of my body. A search that in many ways became the start of Brother Leo and a more unafraid, playful, creative freedom. So it just felt right to open the album with that song. Some songs just come to you in an almost magical way. ‘Hello Life’ is definitely one of them.”

The album introduces star-studded collaborations with the likes of Neiked, Fat Boy Slim, Björn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John), Fred Gibson (Fred again…), London Community Gospel Choir and Steve Mac.

‘PoP Poetry’ [pt.1] is out now.

Brother Leo

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