Swedish Music - NEW MUSIC

Bishat – PROBLEMS

Scandinavian pop starlet Bishat unveils a beautifully emotive new track today, entitled ‘PROBLEMS’.

Serving as the follow-up to her much-hyped previous single ‘MANNERS’, Bishat once again displays a finessed and well-constructed fusion of R&B and pop, while her candid and honest lyricism reminds lovers not to dwell on their partner’s negative traits.

“It might sound obvious but I think in reality, we’re not very good at it. I feel there are so many preconceived ideas of how a relationship should be and that sets us up to fail. I wrote it in the beginning of a relationship when we were trying to figure out how NOT to mess it up like we always had done before. We just sat there telling each other all our flaws and desires a few days later I wrote the song.”

Proving herself to be one of the Nordic region’s most promising talents, Bishat’s recent work has found her achieving a nomination for Rookie Artist of the Year at the prestigious Denniz Pop Awards.

Bishat

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New Music: Euro Cowboy

Hailing from Sweden are newcomers Euro Cowboy, who unveil their melodic debut single ‘420@hotmale.com’ today.

Through its refreshingly original mix of bedroom pop and alternative R&B, the song feels tastefully understated in tone – while also maintaining a strong sense of individuality and character.

The track is lifted from Euro Cowboy’s forthcoming EP, which is scheduled for release later in the year. In the meantime, be sure to follow this eccentric and loveable Scandinavian outfit on social media here.

Euro Cowboy

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist | Scandinavia Sound Playlist

Raindear – Rush

Scandinavian musician Raindear returns today with her bold new single, ‘Rush’. No stranger to these Alfitude pages, this talent has consistently proven herself to be one of Sweden’s most interesting pop artists from recent years.

With a beautifully intense fusion of electronica and dream-pop, the song presents listeners with an atmospheric soundscape that is truly quite captivating to experience.

Serving as a taster to Raindear’s forthcoming album, the track’s lyrics were inspired by the hardships and sacrifices that creatives have to endure – in order for them to continue with their artistry.

Raindear

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New Music: Sötnos

As you may know, Scandinavians take their summer vacations very seriously. Around this time every year, the volume of new releases from the region dips, which is why we haven’t been featuring much Scandi music lately.

But that’s all about to change today, with the release of ‘Pancakes’ by Swedish newcomers Sötnos.

Thanks to it’s charming and playful blend of garage pop, indie and rock, the track serves as an immediate mood-booster and a perfect anthem for the weekend ahead.

Sötnos consists of Stockholm-based bandmates Albin Eidhagen and Tore Bojsten, who proudly self-produce all their work. Fans can look forward to the duo’s forthcoming ‘Care About Nothing’ debut album, which is released in September.

Sötnos

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist | Scandinavia Sound Playlist

* And for those of you wondering, Sötnos roughly translates to ‘cutie pie’, and is pronounced sœ:t.n:ous!

Sofia Karlberg – Just For You

Swedish-Moroccan starlet Sofia Karlberg is no stranger to these pages, having first been featured back in 2016.

Since that time, Karlberg’s momentum has exploded – with the artist garnering over 1.5 billion catalogue streams, 1.2 million monthly Spotify listeners and a significant following across social media.

Today marks the release of Karlberg’s ‘Hold My Love’ EP (out now), alongside melodic new track ‘Just For You’. A masterclass in Scandi music, the song infuses subtle hints of melancholy into a thoughtfully-constructed pop production, and sets the tone for the EP.

“The journey of this EP started when I was contemplating what to do next, not only musically but in general with my life. The pandemic forced a lot of us to dig deep, ask ourselves questions we might not want to know the answers to and to revalue our purposes. I realised I needed to stand on new grounds so I decided to move to Berlin from my hometown Stockholm. I wanted to invite all the different parts of my new city into this EP, the darkness, the fun, the love but mainly the diversity. It’s such a weird and unique city with plenty room for everyone to be themselves in and I hope that this collection of songs can give you just that feeling, that there’s something for everyone, and that you’re all welcome into my world.”

Sofia Karlberg

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New Music: HAVET

Track of the week. Emerging from Bavaria are German-Swedish sisters Josy and Mimi, collectively known as HAVET.

Inspired by the likes of Billie Eilish, Tyler, the Creator and Bruno Major, this promising teen duo create songs that incorporate a multitude of genres together – creating songs that carry mainstream appeal while still maintaining a strong sense of individuality.

New single ‘Toxic’ fuses 90’s inspired indie-rock with current pop sounds, treating listeners to a sonic experience that feels both nostalgic and future-forward in equal measures.

“‘Toxic’ is about getting free from a toxic relationship and finally realising all the ways the other person treated you wrong.”

Listeners can look forward to HAVET’s forthcoming debut EP, entitled ‘Muma’s Lullaby’ which is out on 11th August 2022.

HAVET

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: JonathanBo

It wouldn’t be a normal week for us here at Alfitude if we didn’t feature some stellar Scandinavian talent, and this time it’s the turn of Swedish artist JonathanBo.

Tastefully experimental in character, songs like new single ‘Hit That Low’ delicately fuse a multitude of genres that include alternative R&B, jazz, indie and lo-fi pop.

This is a sound that feels unique and conceptual in its production, yet still maintains a human and soulful and essence at its core.

“This song is about learning to realise when to part from something. From a relationship or a piece of yourself. It can be just as hard. But sometimes the hardest decisions in life are the most crucial.”

JonathanBo

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New Music: Disco Arcade

Contrary to their name, Disco Arcade create powerful and anthemic sounds that consist of indie, electronic pop and synth tones.

Inspired by the 80’s, this outfit craft songs which feel tastefully nostalgic while still maintaining a current edge.

New single ‘Paint You Wings’ reminds listeners of those sporadic moments when you cross paths with someone on a night out and feel an overwhelming sense of connection with.

Disco Arcade

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LOUUD – Find An Island

Swedish songwriter and artist LOUUD unveils her latest single today, and it’s just as engaging as one would expect from Scandinavian pop.

‘Find An Island’ addresses those highly relatable feelings we all get – when we wish we could just run away and leave all our worries behind.

”I wrote ‘’Find An Island’ last year together with Jonas Peker and Robin Gustafsson. It’s a song about self-sabotaging and wanting to escape reality instead of facing my problems and hanging out with seahorses instead of people… ‘cause people can really suck sometimes.”

To date, this Stockholm-based talent has garnered praise from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, Ja Ja Ja and Radio P3, while her songs have been featured on flagship Spotify and Apple Music playlists.

LOUUD

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Boy In Space – A**hole

Swedish artist Boy In Space unveils one of the summer anthems of the year through the release of new single ‘A**hole’.

Lifted from his forthcoming ‘BACKYARD’ EP, the song treats fans to a sound that is reminiscent of Blink 182 and The 1975 – thanks to its unique mix of bedroom pop and punk.

“While the frontyard is what you’re happy for people to see, the backyard is everything else. It’s what you try to keep hidden. The backyard is where you can see the ugly stuff. ‘A**hole’ is about some of the lowest times in my life, and the behaviour and thoughts that come to you in those periods of time.”

Now commanding well over two million monthly listeners on Spotify, this rising Scandinavian artist has worked alongside the likes of Alan Walker and SHY Martin, and received airplay on BBC Radio 1.

‘BACKYARD’ is out 16th September 2022, while ‘FRONTYARD’ is out now.

Boy In Space | Follow the Scandinavia Sound Playlist

New Music: Daniella Binyamin

Rapidly gaining momentum across Scandinavia is rising artist Daniella Binyamin.

New single ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ showcases this talent’s extraordinary abilities at writing songs that feel gripping and moving, while still maintaining some pop sensibilities.

“The day I wrote ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ I remember feeling everything and nothing all at once. My heart felt like a rollercoaster and my head was a mess. I went to the studio, where me and my co-producer Oskar were supposed to write for another artist. But I just felt, I needed to write something else. Something real. To get all those feelings off my chest. All those feelings turned into the song toothpaste kisses. I think I needed to write that song in order to move on. It’s such a special one to me.”

With a style of music-making that features vivid lyricism over luxurious productions, it may come as no surprise to learn that Binyamin is already an accomplished songwriter, having written for the likes of Lukas Graham and Zara Larsson.

Now Binyamin is set to make her own mark as a solo artist – and the future looks bright.

Daniella Binyamin

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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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Ayelle – Breaking & Healing

Swedish-Iranian artist Ayelle returns with a gorgeously introspective and melodic piece of soul in the form of new single ‘Breaking & Healing’.

Every plan that I’ve made has crumbled
All the spinning makes me weak
I keep losing my grip
No one’s there when I slip

Ayelle

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Casper The Ghost – Cool Kids

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

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)

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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