Tag Archives: Norway

Weekly Gems 179

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girl in red – hornylovesickmess

girl in red by Jacqueline Landvik

girl in red by Jacqueline Landvik

Norwegian grammy-winning artist, Marie Ulven – aka girl in red – shares the video from her album favourite, ‘hornylovesickmess’.

A directorial debut from Euphoria star, Hunter Schafer, the video sees Ulven laying in a bus bed, savaged by self-reflective flashbacks depicted through tangles of red tape amongst a construction site.

Sounds like: Clairo, Mallrat, Wallows, Conan Gray, Frances Forever

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Suave Punk – Petals

Suave Punk by Caitlyn Phu

Suave Punk by Caitlyn Phu

Los Angeles-based Korean artist Justin Kim – aka Suave Punk – releases the deliciously grungy ‘Petals’, out now on Pack Records.

He brings his full bodied shoegaze in the new single – thick, crunchy guitar layers and sultry effect-laden vocal lines. Addictive stuff.

Sounds like: My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Cocteau Twins

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Magsy – Truth Is

Magsy by Alek Blik

Magsy by Alek Blik

Rising pop artist Magsy releases ‘Truth Is’, out now.

Firmly routing himself nicely amongst the pop heartthrobs of 2022, it follows on from the phenomenal ‘Noisy Mind’ and once again showcases Magsy’s passionate vocals over a plush instrumental of relaxing synths and groovy beats. A recipe for pop perfection.

Sounds like: Majid Jordan, Years & Years, Troye Sivan, No Rome, LANY

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Meagan De Lima – Queen

Meagan De Lima

Introducing Meagan De Lima, a Toronto-based singer-songwriter who crafts heart-centred R&B that spans from her family’s rich cultural and musical heritage.

Forming a natural affinity for music at a young age, her new single ‘Queen’ is dedicated to her mother.

Sounds like: Ariana Grande, Jojo

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Celestial North – When The God’s Dance

Celestial North

Delve into the cosmic world of Celestial North.

Lake District-based, Scottish-born, her musical world is an ethereal-pop landscape bathed in folklore and soaring cinematic melodies. You can listen to her spell binding new single ‘When The Gods Dance’ below.

Sounds like: Niki & The Dove, Bat For Lashes, Kate Bush, Oh Land

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Weekly Gems 135

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milk. – I Hate the Way You’re Looking at Me (Lately)

milk.

Hot on the heels of The 1975 is Dublin-born alt-pop quartet, milk.. Their bright new offering, ‘I Hate the Way You’re Looking at Me (Lately)’ is full of looping synths, catchy riffs and lulling vocals that immediately lure you in for more.

Sounds like: The 1975, The Japanese House, No Rome

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Benji Lewis – Stay Around

Benji Lewis

Benji Lewis has been busy songwriting during 2020. Written with his new friend Tom Eggert and bonding over their love of home-made smoothies, ‘Stay Around’ is about the progression of love in every subsequent relationship.

Sounds like: The 1975, The Kite String Tangle, Antony Hegarty, Active Child, Gallant, Sam Smith, Solomon Grey, James Blake, Yazz, Jack Garratt, Disclosure, Lauv, Boy In Space, Zachary Knowles

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Asha Gold – Oscar

Asha Gold

UK R&B artist Asha Gold shares new single ‘Oscar’. It’s written about award-winning liars and cheats who deserve to be called out for their deception and good-for-nothing behaviour.

Sounds like: Nakala, Frank Ocean, Rosalia

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Solå – B Mine

Solå

Norwegian songwriter Solå strongly encourages us to value ourselves in new single ‘B Mine’. It’s a hazy piece of electro-pop that perfectly showcases her talent as both a intricate songwriter and performer.

Sounds like: Shura, Dagny, Chvrches, Empress Of, MUNA

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whatshisface – Magic Disaster

whatshisface

Intriguing newcomer whatshisface is on the precipice of jumping into our hearts. His new single ‘Magic Disaster’ is a gloriously melancholic invitation, brimming with dense and warming aesthetics, creating an altogether sweeping atmosphere.

Sounds like: James Blake, George Gretton, Billie Eilish

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Mungbean – Slow Motion

Mungbean

Introducing eclectic Ohio-based outfit Mungbean. Performed as only seasoned performers would, new single ‘Slow Motion’ has layered and heavy synths to accelerate the track’s dreamy and kaleidoscopic intention.

Sounds like: Snarls, The Naked And Famous

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Weekly Gems 134

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Caspian Pool – Insider

Caspian Pool

French synth-dance duo Caspian Pool likes to keep us on our toes with their wide-ranging selection of electronic music. Cue the colour-fuelled visuals for the foot-thumping ‘Insider’.

Sounds like: Nimmo, The Chemical Brothers, Hercules & Love Affair, Goldfrapp, Joe Goddard, Chvrches, Digitalism, Holy Ghost!, Boys Noize, Little Dragon, Cut Copy, Icona Pop

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Psyence – Retrospect

Psyence by Mark Vyse

Psyence by Mark Vyse

Anthemic alt-rock band Psyence returns with psychedelic sensibilities in rousing new single ‘Retrospect’, reminding us that every bitter end has a new beginning.

Sounds like: Queens of the Stone Age, Kasabian, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, The Blinders, Wolfmother

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Beharie – Me & My Lonely

Beharie

Distinctive Norwegian voice, Beharie shares his soulful, folk and ambient blend in the form of ‘Me and My Lonely’. Pastoral and beautiful, the track orbits a peaceful finger-picked acoustic riff.

Sounds like: Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Bombay Bicycle Club

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Flechettes – Chasing Youth

Flechettes

Wigan-based four-piece Flechettes share the radio-ready and uplifting ‘Chasing Youth’, with blazing indie-pop guitar riffs and catchy vocals, making for a seriously dynamic record.

Sounds like: Sea Girls, Red Rum Club, The Blinders, Stanleys, Garden Party

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Chillhum – Dancing (Alone)

Chillhum

22-year-old producer, songwriter and musician Ethan Bedell – aka Chillhum – shares ‘Dancing Alone’, a stripped back and melodic blissed-out track that celebrates the joys of being alone.

Sounds like: Gaspar Narby, Couro, Flume, Ed Sheeran, Flume, Louis The Child, Petit Biscuit, Troye Sivan, Robotaki

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Bre Kennedy – Where Did Summer Go

Bre Kennedy by Lindsey Patkos

Bre Kennedy by Lindsey Patkos

Songwriting heavyweight Bre Kennedy winds down for the cooler months with her acoustic track ‘Where Did Summer Go’, a nostalgic ballad that symbolises the passing and loss of time and dreams that never got to see the heat of summer.

Sounds like: Charli Adams, Taylor Swift, HAIM, First Aid Kit

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Izza – Lows

IZZA by Sam Rockman

IZZA by Sam Rockman

Dark-pop artist Izza chronicles the ups and downs of dealing with anxiety and depression in a world where people are obsessed with the perceived perfection of their online selves, in new single ‘Lows’.

Sounds like: Dua Lipa, Gracey, Call Me Loop, Mabel

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Weekly Gems 133

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Beau Turrentine – Animals

Beau Turrentine by Jessica DiMento

Beau Turrentine by Jessica DiMento

Nashville-based singer and songwriter and all-round rock’n’roller Beau Turrentine shares his new single ‘Animals’, taking a closer look at how unpredictable and animalistic human nature can be.

Sounds like: Tame Impala, Jack White, Orville Peck

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Kip Macklejar – The Coal Miner’s Daughter

Kip Macklejar

Continuing the rock vibes is Kip Macklejar and his new single, ‘The Coal Miner’s Daughter’. Surprisingly, Kip is from Copenhagen, and this is not your usual Scandi-music affair – you won’t find any ethereal dreamscapes here.

Sounds like: Jack White

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Lazy Queen – Last Call

Lazy Queen by Fabian Framdal Fjeldvik

Lazy Queen by Fabian Framdal Fjeldvik

Reckless Norweigian punks, Lazy Queen shares ‘Last Call’. Reminiscent of raw garage demos recorded in garages in the early Noughties, the track sees lead singer Henrik take an objective view on personal struggles surrounding addiction & mental health.

Sounds like: Nothing But Thieves, The Hunna, The Amazons, Nirvana, Death Cab for Cutie

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SHARDS – 2020 (I want to go home)

SHARDS by Giles Holroyd

SHARDS by Giles Holroyd

Time for some authentic indie from Liverpudlian four-piece SHARDS. Their new single ‘2020 (I want to go home)’ sums up how we’re probably all feeling about the year in a hazy and nostalgic manner.

Sounds like: The Charlatans, Sundara Karma, Black Honey

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Weekly Gems 129

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jens – Tough Love

jens

Rising Norwegian pop songwriter jens shares ‘Tough Love’, taken from his new EP, ‘Call Me Back When You Get A Moment’. It’s another feel-good pop anthem, firmly rooted with a potent chorus hook and instant danceability.

Sounds like: Troye Sivan, Myylo, Charlie Puth, Dagny

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Lazy Queen – Gutted

Lazy Queen by Fabian Framdal Fjeldvik

Lazy Queen by Fabian Framdal Fjeldvik

From one Norweigan act to another. At completely different ends of the spectrum, alt-rock outfit Lazy Queen shares brazen new single, ‘Gutted’. Discussing the topic of self-destruction, addiction and recovery, it’s spirited punk rock with an upbeat pop hook throughout.

Sounds like: Nothing But Thieves, The Hunna, The Amazons

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j. pastel – Senegal

j. pastel - Senegal

Chicago producers Chase Durrett and Casey Bruce – aka j. pastel – formed in the summer of 2019, and have been fusing 80’s synths and dreamy guitars with funk moves in their bedroom ever since. Listen to ‘Senegal’ below.

Sounds like: De Rien, gvn, Gaspar Narby, ford., Akurei

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Phil Good – Falling

Phil Good

Los Angeles Phil Good is back with a new breakup-inspired track called ‘Falling’. Despite being laid-back, the music video manages to convey the emotion of the song.

Sounds like: Honne, Joseph Salvat, Miike Snow, Glass Animals, Joywave, Just Kiddin’, San Holo

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Gillian Heidi – Fray

Gillian Heidi - Fray

At just 16, it’s hard to believe that pop singer-songwriter Gillian Heidi is already creating such raw and emotive tracks that reflect about relationships in a poetic eloquence not often seen of this age group. Listen to ‘Fray’ below.

Sounds like: Kelly Clarkson, Vanessa Carlton

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Weekly Gems 118

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Wild Horse – Don’t Want You To Go

Wild Horse

Kickass trio Wild Horse shares the slow-burning, yet anthemic single, ‘Don’t Want You To Go’.

With it’s soaring and dynamic energy, it gives us a snippet of what’s to come from their upcoming album, ‘We Are In An Identity Crisis… But We Love It!’.

Sounds like: Somebody’s Child, Sam Fender

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CRi x Jesse Mac Cormack – Never Really Get There

CRi

Montreal-based electronic artist CRi is quickly becoming a household name within the ambient electronic scene.

Having already released on TOKiMONSTA’s label, Young Art, and Anjunadeep, his new single ‘Never Really Get There’ is driven by his anxieties and desires for introspection, represented in expansive synths and Jesse Mac Cormack‘s elegant vocals.

Sounds like: Ford, Ben Böhmer, Cubicolor

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Motion Cntrl – EROS

Motion Cntrl

Bi-coastal synthpop duo motioncntrl shares the dreamy and elegant ‘EROS’.

A nod to the spirit of the 80’s and throwback pop, they’ve managed to fine-tune a sound that evokes a future where technology and humanity collide.

Sounds like: Beach House, Chromatics, The XX, Karen O, Joy Division

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Rangleklods – Like That

Rangleklods

Danish artist Esben Nørskov Andersen- aka Rangleklods – shares his beautiful electro/house fusion, ‘Like That’.

Complete with deep club grooves, intended to make you move, the opening track, ‘Like That’, taken from his new EP, is a euphoric rave of melancholy.

Sounds like: WEIRDO, Caribou, Kashmir

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The Endorphines – Home Feat. AMAYA

The Endorphines

Stockholm siblings Alva & August Heldt – aka The Endorphines – continue their fresh take on nostalgic R&B in new single, ‘Home’.

Featuring the vocals of AMAYA, it’s set with a dreamy and euphoric backdrop, as they croon about finally not being lost anymore.

Sounds like: The Magnettes, Banks, Fabich, Pastel, Midnight Pool Party, Keljet, Caswell, JUJ

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Lazy Queen – Sober

Lazy Queen by Lukka Fogie

Lazy Queen by Lukka Fogie

Oslo-based alt-rock/punk outfit Lazy Queen share the potent new single, ‘Sober’.

Discussing the complex nature of addiction – a subject close to lead singer Henrik’s heart – it’s a frenetic and unpredictable beacon of sound as the band explore to find balance and normality.

Sounds like: Nothing But Thieves, The Hunna, The Amazons

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Weekly Gems 116

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XY&O – Left Alone

XY&O - Left Alone

What a way to kick off the gems this week! Welcome back XY&O.

Teasing a debut album (finally!) comes ‘Left Alone’ – another slice of hazy pop with simple and effective melodic structures, and of course, Skip Curtis’ luscious vocal mix.

Sounds like: Kid Astray, Sir Sly, Lost Boy Crow, Nonaphoenix

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Limón Limón – Barcelona

Limón Limón

Future indie duo Limón Limón is taking us back to sweeter times in ‘Barcelona’.

Conjuring up dreams of warm summer nights sitting on the beach drinking wine, as the salt air drifts over our warm bodies. Perfect!

Sounds like: Midnight Pool Party, La Felix, All The Rest, argonaut & wasp, Goldroom, Pastel, 90’s Kids, Empire of the Sun

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Jamws – Toronto

Jamws - Toronto

When you are in flow, you are completely engrossed in the task in hand. Hours can pass without even noticing. This appears to have happened to South London multi-instrumentalist, performer and bedroom producer Jamws whilst working on his debut EP ‘Toronto’.

The five heartfelt tracks describe various stages of heartbreak, starting with a separation, following his partner of ten years moving to Toronto.

Sounds like: Summer Heart, The 1975

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Max Alexander – Stay Where You Are

Max Alexander - Stay Where You Are

Max Alexander is a new alt-pop singer/songwriter from London.

Originally an acoustic artist by heart, he’s decided to go straight in with the electric guitar, to create an all together fist-to-chest sound in ‘Stay Where You Are’.

Sounds like: WEIRDO

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Victor Perry – What I Observe

Victor Perry

It’s always worthwhile to take a step back sometimes, and reflect.

NYC-based singer-songwriter/vocalist Victor Perry does exactly that in his lyrically mature new song ‘What I Observe’. As he croons in a poetic form of self-expression, we witness a subtle electro-pop space in which the track really starts to breathe.

Sounds like: Rhye, Rationale, Jacob Banks, James Blake, The Weeknd, Labrose

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dekleyn – Who We Are

dekleyn - Who We Are

Australian duo dekleyn fuses electro-pop with pop-leaning dance in the catchy single, ‘Who We Are’.

It touches on the topical subject of mental health and the sense of vulnerability that comes with almost every relationship.

Sounds like: LANY, joan, LAUV

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PELA – South Of

PELA

South London duo PELA share ‘South Of’, the first song they wrote together.

Amalgamating differing musical influences, it’s another stellar example of the duo’s sonic trajectory into a moody, melodic melodious song.

Sounds like: Kudu Blue, James Blake, KAYTRANADA

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Amy Milner – Wildside

Amy Milner

Singer/songwriter Amy Milner shares her new single, ‘Wildside’.

Written about catching yourself before you lose control, facing those demons and welcoming the dark side of your mind, it’s energetic commercial alt-pop at its finest.

Sounds like: Birdy, Emma McGrath, Florence + The Machine

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Jens – Nocturnal

Jens by Sigurd Fandango

Jens by Sigurd Fandango

Bergen-born Jens could be the next big Scandi-pop superstar.

His off-kilter single ‘Nocturnal’ has all the makings of a pop banger – upbeat, catchy vocal hooks with a carefree bass line.

Sounds like: Troye Sivan, Myylo, Charlie Puth

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School of X – Forgot Me on the Moon

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School of X

School of X (aka Rasmus Littauer) shares the visuals for new single, ‘Forgot Me on the Moon’.

What starts off as a sombre beginning, soon turns into an uplifting slice of pop.

Ten years ago, a much younger Littauer first wrote the chorus to an unfinished song out of anger, unable to take the initiative of moving on from a fading love. However, the song now shows a newfound sense of resolve in the face of heartbreak and confusion.

His debut album ‘Armlock’ is out next week.

Sounds like: Augustine, MØ, Máni Orrason, Soleima, Goss, Mura Masa, Clairo, Röyksopp, Lo Moon, Mew, Thomas Azier

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Dagny – Somebody

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Dagny - Somebody

The wonderful Dagny drops the video for ‘Somebody’ – possibly the ultimate love song to exist.

Strong words…but that’s how much we love her.

It’s a dance-floor-ready rhythm with bubbling synths open up around Dagny’s magisterial pop vocal. A song written with a goal of conveying the ultimate “in-love” experience, Dagny explains,

“It’s the all-consuming and exciting feeling when everything is still new. I’ve been lucky to experience it. I find that when I’m in love I feel everything ten times more than usual. With ‘Somebody’ for me it’s not just the lyrics but the whole vibe of the song that represents that: when I listen to it I get a lot of positive energy and I just wanna throw myself into something new and exciting.”

Dagny will release her long-awaited debut album this September.

Sounds like: Evvy, Tove Lo, Icona Pop, Sigrid

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Jouska – Born In Cash

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Jouska

Contemporary Oslo bedroom duo Jouska – aka Marit Othilie Thorvik and Hans Olav Settem – shares ‘Born In Cash’.

With an underlying driving beat, the introverted club banger takes influence from the likes of The Internet, Grimes and Sassy 009, and is written about the internal conflicts associated with being in a toxic relationship.

Sounds like: Grimes, Sassy 009, The Internet

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