It’s been six years since we last heard from Swedish outfit Anwai, so we’re delighted to see their return today with a beautiful new single, called ‘SOMETHING NEW’.
This melodic track is part of the double-single feature titled ‘4ever HD’ (listen here) and showcases an interesting fusion of indie, electronica and dreamy pop. The sound is distinctive and original but also immersive and emotionally sincere.
Over the years, Anwai have never failed to surprise us with their innovative pop productions, and this new single is no exception. So, welcome back… we’re happy to hear from you again.
“‘WEIGHT’ is about being lost together, the strain a relationship carries, and the choice to stay anyway. It’s two people holding the heaviness side by side. The song lives in that tension between exhaustion and devotion.”
OFF MIC is a new Swedish project that we don’t yet know much about, but we’re very excited about what we’ve heard so far.
‘Unseen’ is inspired by themes of ’emotional distance and slowly fading presence’ and presents listeners with a bold and arresting mix of indie and dark pop.
Despite the minimal approach to its production, this song is deeply intense. It evolves as you continue listening, culminating in an emotionally charged and sonically abrasive climax.
It’s a brave style of sound and one that we’re absolutely hooked on.
We’ve long believed that Isak Danielson is one of Sweden’s best songwriting talents, and his new single, ‘Always You’, only makes us affirm this even more.
This is a classic heartbreak song that reminisces on the ‘what ifs’ of a failed relationship. It’s a deeply moving track that could relate to anyone healing from a wounded heart.
“The guy I wrote this song about was not the one I was supposed to end up with, and I’m so glad I didn’t, but it’s interesting to look back and reminisce on the what ifs. What if I had stayed with this person? Could it have turned into something amazing? Has the love of my life passed me by? And of course, I don’t feel that all, but thinking about that sort of Sliding Doors scenario got my imagination going. I remember I had taken this video of the guy dancing to ‘Bette Davis Eyes’. The sun was coming into the room and he looked so happy. It was good times. ‘Always You” reminds me of one of those romantic movies where two people who’ve broken up do come back around to find each other in the end, like The Notebook or One Day… only nobody dies.”
The song features acclaimed pianist Litens Anton Nilsson, as well as the Stockholm Studio Orchestra.
We’ve long been fans of Swedish artist Menke. As a singer, songwriter, and producer, this talent crafts some of the most profound and sincere indie-pop songs to come out of the Nordic region.
New single ‘Only When In Motion’ (co-written with Nick Hahn) was inspired by a challenging time for Menke, when life and its direction felt uncertain. Elaborating on the song’s theme, she says:
“The only thing that brought relief and helped my thoughts to rest was setting my body in motion and letting my heart beat harder. When we move, our thoughts become clearer, fear softens, and what has been can wash away. It’s a reminder that life is not something we hold on to, but something we move through.”
Menke has achieved a series of acclaimed releases – from 2018’s debut EP ‘Till havet’ to 2024’s ‘Elver’ (listen here). She has amassed more than 15 million streams on Spotify and was featured by the likes of Clash and Gaffa magazines.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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!
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.
