What began as a mutual love of music (and dogs) led to the creation of acclaimed Swedish-British indie outfit The Franklys.
This all-female group of rockers have been on our radar for quite some time, and never fail to impress us with their sound.
Anthemic single ‘Mess’ coincides with the release of the band’s new ‘Dogma’ album (out now), and showcases a refreshingly raw style of garage-rock that is immediately captivating to experience.
The Franklys will celebrate the release of the album on the 16th March at London’s Lexington – tickets can be found here.
Emerging from the city of Uppsala in Sweden is musician and actor myie (aka Miriam Ingrid), who has just unveiled an impressive new single entitled ‘Mary’.
Written as an ode to self empowerment and personal freedom, the song’s captivating lyrics compliment a beautifully melodic and uplifting alternative-pop production.
“‘Mary’ is a song about freedom, liberation from ideas or people holding one down. The song’s main character convinces ‘Marie Antoinette’ to elope together, there’s a lot at stake but at least they have each other. ‘Mary’ encourages people to live by their own sets of rules- and if anyone cares: let them eat cake.”
‘Mary’ is taken from myie’s forthcoming debut album, ‘Feel Real’, which is out soon. With support from the likes of BBC’s Jack Saunders already under her belt, myie is one Scandinavian starlet to keep on your radars.
Acclaimed singer and songwriter Varas begins his year with anthemic new single, ‘Hell No’.
Through its raw and bold production, Varas addresses the mundane nature of life, and the desire to escape from it all.
“You know the feeling when it’s Friday and you’ve just survived another week full of snow storms and hurtful ingrown toenails. Your body is hurting, not because you worked out or anything but because you walked home with groceries and un-ergonomically only brought one bag.
After walking in a leaning matter you come home. A dear friend hits you up: ‘care for a beer?’. You care a lot actually. Anything to make you think about something else than this cycle of habits around work. You wanna talk about literally anything else. Your friend’s THINKING about CONSIDERING possibly getting a cat? Soon? No, in four years? Ah, still, you’d rather think about your friend considering possibly getting a cat in four years. Anyway, you change your clothes and head into town. Finally you manage to get to a bar with some friends. It’s cheap and smelly, just like you. Now it’s time to have a pleasant time of distraction. But before you even take the first sip it happens, someone at the table innocently asks you about next week’s work and duties. Right there, that moment you have to keep yourself from telling your dear friend to shut the f up, was our state of mind when we wrote ‘Hell No’.”
With his refreshingly original and distinct approach to music-making, Varas is rapidly becoming one of Sweden’s most hotly-tipped newcomers. Fans can look forward to a new EP, scheduled for release later this year.
Acclaimed Swedish singer, songwriter and artist Nea returns with one of the catchiest bops of the week.
Lifted from forthcoming debut album ‘TRANSPARENT’ (out later this year), ‘A Lover Like Me’ serves as a masterclass in Scandinavian pop, with its infectious melody, memorable lyrics and energising sound.
“’A Lover Like Me’ is one of those rare songs that just wrote itself. I had a lyric idea, Daniel [Ledinsky, co-writer & producer] played some chords and two hours later we had the song! I love the rawness of the vocals and the vibe, that there’s an edge to it.”
One of Sweden’s biggest pop successes in recent times, Nea (aka Linnea Södahl) has amassed more than 800 million streams under her own name, while also writing hits for the likes of Zara Larsson, Felix Jaehn, Tove Styrke and Axwell.
Fans of Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens will most likely fall in love with Swedish musician Tobias Arbo (aka Tobias Ekelund), who has just unveiled his latest single, ‘Within’.
In its quintessential Nordic style of sound, the song presents listeners with a production that is sparse, simple and minimal – yet somehow still feels warm, thoughtful and beautifully contemplative.
“A few years ago, I found a box of video cassettes that my dad had recorded throughout my childhood. I started watching them and was reminded of the cheerful and vibrant child I was. But at the same time, it made me experience a kind of sadness, as memories of the shy and sensitive person that I’d also been clouded the image. During my childhood, I experienced a lot of anxiety, at times having trouble being in school and hanging out with friends. I was five years old at the time my sister was born and it wasn’t until I’d grown up that I started to reflect on how it might have affected her – having an older brother who periodically pulled away.”
The track is taken from Tobias’ upcoming ‘Powerlines’ debut EP, which will be released on 31st March 2023.
“The EP is a contemplation on the self and its different parts, voices, and moods. It’s about listening to the noise of these voices’ endless dialogue and trying to connect with the many parts of oneself that want to be heard. For example, facing the inner child, whose early experiences shape us so much more than we tend to believe, or struggling with the inner critic, who raises self-doubt and prevents us from getting where we want to go.”
It wouldn’t a normal weekend at Alfitude without featuring some premium Swedish music, and today it’s the turn of Sofia Monroy.
Serving as the last single from her forthcoming ‘Telenovela’ EP (out in the spring), new single ‘Control’ presents listeners with a perfected fusion of future-forward pop, alternative R&B and soul.
The resulting sound is one that feels sleek, finessed and refreshingly experimental in tone.
“‘Control’ is about the fear of losing control in connection with the longing to be someone else’s everything. All of a sudden you find yourself there, tied behind and perplexed, perhaps in love or maybe just stuck.”
To date, this rising Stockholm-based starlet has accumulated more than 300k career streams on Spotify alone.
If you’re unfamiliar with Swedish-American artist Asy Saavedra, then today’s release of ‘Masterpiece’ could be your perfect introduction.
Refreshingly original in its approach to pop, ‘Masterpiece’ treats listeners to an avant-garde style of sound that feels eccentric and experimental, yet still maintains a playful essence.
As a vocalist, songwriter, producer and composer, Saavedra creates her own solo work while also serving as lead singer and keyboard player with acclaimed electro-pop outfit Chaos Chaos.
An artist already on the rise in Sweden, Edgar Homeros looks set to take on the rest of the continent by storm in 2023.
Following on from the release of his debut song ‘Centerfolds’ last year (which became an instant hit, amassing well over 80k streams on Spotify alone), Homeros returns with new single ‘Heartless‘.
Through its gorgeously emotive fusion of indie and electronic pop, the song presents listeners with a sound that feels both melancholic and energising in equal measures.
“When I released “Centerfolds” several people told me that it felt like a song for autumn, which was great to hear. In the same way I think ‘Heartless’ fits perfectly now after new years, where you have one foot still in the darkness of winter, but we still move towards brighter times.“
“Even though it’s more upbeat and dynamic in comparison to ‘Centerfolds’ it keeps the same theme, and it’s one of my favourite tracks from the EP.”
With such a strong start to the year, Homeros is one Scandinavian artist to keep on your radars.
Representing Sweden’s next generation of music talent is DOTO, whose new single ‘Peace of Mind’ serves as a masterclass in melancholic soul-pop.
Thoughtfully constructed in both it’s lyricism and composition, the song looks at our need for calm in the troubled world that we live in.
While still a relative newcomer (‘Peace of Mind’ is only DOTO’s second release), this talent has her eyes set for global domination, and is collaborating alongside acclaimed songwriters Jade Ell and Joakim Buddee on new material.
We recently came across Swedish-Turkish artist Izza Gara’s new single, ‘You’ve Done’, and realised that we’ve never actually featured this emerging starlet before… so now we are!
A talent of many crafts, Gara is not only a singer and songwriter but also a dancer and painter.
Songs like ‘You’ve Done’ demonstrate Gara’s unique approach to music production, which fuses elements of alternative pop with R&B, resulting in sounds that are distinctly unique yet still carry mainstream appeal.
Speaking on previous single ‘Come To Dance’, Gara eplains:
“Everything started with a jam after a pause from a session. We had so much energy and no one could focus. We programmed the beat and composed the chords and the bass through an old analog synth. After that we recorded it through the voice memo on the phone, so every instrument sound is from the iPhone mic.”
Gara aims to tour across Europe in 2023. In the meantime, fans can enjoy debut album ‘Lonely Too’, which is out now.
Swedish starlet Ellen Krauss returns today with a powerful new single that serves as a refreshing alternative to the festive sound that we are all accustomed to.
‘This Time Of Year’ is an emotionally-driven pop ballad that was inspired by those who feel lost and rootless during the season, and is a reminder that Christmas affects people around us in very different ways.
“‘This Time Of Year’ is a song I wrote from my ‘aunts’ perspective. She’s not really my aunt but she’s always been in my family because she no longer has a family of her own. Christmas is always a tough time for her as she’s reminded of those she’s lost and it’s all very moving to me.”
As one of Sweden’s most prominent musical exports to emerge in recent years, Krauss has not only become a critic’s darling, but also accumulated millions of streams and performed over 80 live shows to date.
Sharp-eyed fans of Scandinavian pop may already recognise singer and songwriter Sarah von Reis as a former member of Swedish pop phenomenon Dolly Style.
Since breaking with the band in 2018, von Reis has focused on her work as a solo artist, and is now setting her sights on becoming one of Sweden’s newest stars.
Written alongside Maja Francis and produced by Andreas ‘Hyena’ Söderlund, ‘All My Ghosts’ treats listeners to a dark yet playful sound that feels both haunting and intriguing in character.
“It’s the first love song I ever wrote. Maybe it’s not a classic love ballad, but it’s more about feeling naked, closing your eyes and hoping you’re good enough. The text is based on a love letter I wrote to a girl. When I realised I am gay, love suddenly felt a lot scarier. Like suddenly there was more at stake. I have something to lose if she doesn’t want me.”
Upcoming debut EP ‘Melancholia High Season’ is scheduled for release in March 2023.
An artist to watch from Scandinavia next year will be Afro-Swedish singer, songwriter and producer Felish.
A former recipient of the LACM Linda Perry Scholarship, this talented musician has been working alongside hitmakers and releasing songs since her 2016 debut, ‘A Dream’.
New single ‘Can I be sad too?’ further continues to showcase Felish as a pop star in the making, and treats listeners to a sleek fusion of melodic soul-pop and funky disco.
While Varas may be a name new to many of you, this emerging 25-year old talent has been gaining momentum across the Nordic region since the release of his 2020 debut EP,‘Set One’.
Hailing from Sweden, Varas is the musical moniker for self-taught Chilean producer, singer and songwriter Benjamin Muñoz Varas.
Signed to the legendary TEN Music Group,Varas constructs a style of alternative indie-pop that feels understated yet melancholic, sincere and emotive in tone.
Elaborating on the inspiration behind his latest release, Varas explains:
“‘New Light’ got created out of surprise and by getting to know new sides of myself. It was equally scary and relieving when I realised I’d always replace me with another me. I was convinced the person I identified as was a constant thing, a solid rock. I change each year and each day.”
“It doesn’t matter if I’ve convinced myself into a certain direction, all it takes is romances, friendships, losing and getting jobs, letting go of dreams or creating new ones to lose the sense of it. It’s dumb. But don’t get me wrong, it’s a positive and vital ability. Although when I think about it, scratch what I said. It could also just be a song about falling in love at the wrong time. Ask me again tomorrow!”
The track serves a taster to Varas’ forthcoming EP, which is set for release early next year.
Acclaimed Swedish indie outfit Janice Prix are back today with a new single entitled ‘Stone Love’.
Dark, haunting and atmospheric in tone, the song attributes its intensity to being written and produced during the pandemic. Elaborating on the lyrics, guitarist and producer MK explains:
“[The song] definitely revolves around destroying something beautiful and turning it into something awful. It happens in both love and friendship.”
Since releasing debut album ‘Waking’in 2020, Janice Prix have gone on to tour across Europe and South Korea, while also garnering critical praise from the likes of The Line of Best Fit and Hype Magazine.
Consisting of brothers Sammy and Johnny Bennett, Deki Alem is a new musical project emerging from Sweden that incorporates elements of drum’n’bass with hip hop, electronica and punk.
The resulting sound presents listeners with tracks that are refreshingly invigorating and energising in tone.
Rapidly gaining traction across Scandinavia, Deki Alem have already garnered praise from the likes of GAFFA Sweden and Kingsize Magazine.
Acclaimed Scandinavian singer and songwriter Ellen Krauss unveils a new single today entitled ‘Tie Me Down’.
Inspired by the inner conflicts that come with commitment, the song continues to showcase the beautiful fusions of indie and alternative pop that Krauss has mastered so well.
“The song is about not wanting to commit to someone because you’re convinced you’ll find someone even better. But you still stick around just because it’s good and exciting. I wrote this song this fall, I was out and about, dating round and it was great but it was always like ”she’s not you”.
Since her debut in 2019 (with LGBTQ anthem ‘The One I Love’), Krauss has garnered praise from the likes of Billboard, Earmilk, Clash, Fault and 1883 Magazine, while her catalogue of work has exceeded 47 million streams to date.
We’ve been following pop artist ISA’s work for quite some time, and if you’re as much of a fan as we are then you’ll be pleased to know that this Swedish starlet has today unveiled a new single and EP.
Serving as anthem for self-empowerment and liberation, ‘BLEED’ is taken from a wider collection of songs called ‘Anxiety Boulevard’, which is available now.
“‘BLEED’ is about evolving, breaking free and becoming the version of yourself who won’t be played with. If someone tries to hurt you they should be ready that you’ll bite back.
The EP shows more of me than ever before. By using more organic instruments, flirting with both punk, hip hop and R&B and combining it with honest lyrics, I’ve been able to find a new way of both writing and creating music. I’ve been inspired by artists like Eminem, Blink 182 and The Script which is the type of music I and my family listened to when growing up. This makes this it more me than ever before.”
Already an established name in her home country, ISA currently commands more than 62k monthly Spotify listeners and has accumulated millions of career streams to date.
Swedish one man-band The Sweet Serenades (aka singer and songwriter Martin Nordvall) unveils his new single today, entitled ‘Back in Your Arms’.
Created alongside producer Johannes Berglund (who has worked with the likes of Fever Ray and Shout Out Louds), the song presents listeners with a beautifully emotive and captivating fusion of indie, alternative pop and folk.
Fans based in Germany will be pleased to know that The Sweet Serenades will be touring the country from 29th Oct to 6th Nov 2022 – tickets can be found here.
Mikaela Stenmo continues Sweden’s proud tradition as being the home of electro-pop with the release of new single, ‘Heart Attack’.
Unmistakably Scandinavian in character, the song’s melancholic essence contrasts beautifully against an uptempo electronic production, while the lyrics tell of the stresses that come with being in love.
“The lyrics explore how I realise that I am the culprit in a fight between my ex boyfriend and I and try anything and everything to get him back. The song highlights the stress one feels when desperately trying to get a hold of someone they love.”
The song was originally conceived in 2020 with the help of Wille Enblad and Lucas Albrektsson, and has undergone two years of revisions before its release today.
