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
Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram
Rising Los Angeles DJ/producer duo Hotel Garuda take a slightly more commercial direction with their nu-disco led single, ‘Dancing On The Moon’ featuring Oslo-bred electro-pop duo Lemaitre.
The single has surprisingly been two years in the making with all parties being heavily involved in the process – Hotel Garuda adding their classic dance flair stamp, and Lemaitre providing the funk.
It’s out on Mom+Pop.
Sounds like: Gryffin, Goldroom, Le Youth, Jai Wolf
Hotel Garuda
SoundCloud | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Lemaitre
SoundCloud | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
‘Someone’ is the lead single taken from Anna Of The North‘s debut album, ‘Lovers’.
From the get go, ‘Someone’ is a spellbinding explosion of 80’s inspired synths, and is set to be the soundtrack to your summer.
Speaking about ‘Someone’, the band say,
“We think almost everyone has woken up after a big night, instantly regretting something that happened. It’s about how easy it is to break your promises when you’ve had a couple of drinks. Going deeper, the song is about accepting that you’re only human and to learn how to forgive yourself for your own mistakes and accepting that sometimes we need someone to save us from repeating any old habits.”
‘Lovers’ is due for release on 8 Sept via Different Recordings / Honeymoon / +1 Records.
Anna’s vocals also feature on Tyler, The Creator’s new single ‘911’, alongside Frank Ocean, out last Friday.
Sounds like: Shura, Grimes, Ballet School, Claire, MØ, Lykke Li, The Chain Gang of 1974, Chvrches, I Am Karate
Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram
Step back into time with ‘Second Souls’ by Nelly’s Crush.
The highly energetic Oslo based band, fronted by Nelly Marie Hansen and Karoline Garfjell, create sleek disco with a generous nod to 80’s pop music.
Their album ‘Rumours’ is out now.
Sounds like: Icona Pop, The Magnettes, Susanne Sundfør, Kylie, Miami Horror, ABBA, Madonna, Human League, Capital Cities, Elkka, Blondie, A-ha
Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Instagram
TEIP – Tipsy
Anglo-Norwegian producer collective, TEIP, return with a ‘Tipsy’ number.
It tells a story of youth and social axiety, cleverly portrayed with a combination of samples, synthesisers and unorthodox instruments.
It’s out now via daWorks.
Sounds like: Flume, Chet Faker, Glass Animals
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud
Anna Of The North
Oslo’s finest, Anna Of The North, shares her synth-fulled pop track, ‘Us’.
We’ve all been there before; met someone who we felt a real connection with, but the timing wasn’t right. This song is for us.
Sounds like: Shura, Grimes, Ballet School, Claire, MØ, Lykke Li, The Chain Gang of 1974, Chvrches, I Am Karate
Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram
TEIP – Fingertips
We are sharing ‘Fingertips’; a charming new track from a four-piece, Anglo-Norwegian producer collective based in Oslo called TEIP.
Merging music in the genres of indie electronica, pop, chillwave and elements of alternative R&B, TEIP have been making music for a few years now.
‘Fingertips’ is more of a minimalistic offering than their previous releases, but we can’t get enough of the fragments of synths and eloquent female vocals that we’ve not seen from them before.
‘Fingertips’ is out now on DaWorks.
Sounds like: Flume, Chet Faker
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud
Astrid S by Ole Marius Fossen
ZAYN has met his match, in Norwegian singer and musician Astrid S.
Following on from the epic ‘Paper Thin,’ is the video for ‘Hurts So Good,’ directed by the acclaimed screenwriter and director, Andreas Öhman at Naïve Studio in Sweden.
About the video, Astrid remarks:
“It was a very cool experience to do this music video. I went to Stockholm for two days, and we filmed it by a beautiful summer house outside of the city, as well as in a studio. It felt so uncomfortable doing the scenes with the actor which depict the aspects of a complicated relationship reflected in the song’s lyrics. But after seeing the final result it was so worth it. I’m very happy with the video, and I think it suits both the song and me.”
It’s the lead single from her upcoming, self-titled EP, and was written by Lindy Robbins (Jason Derulo, Demi Lovato) and Julia Michaels (Gwen Stefani, Selena Gomez, Little Mix) and produced by Max Martin Studios and MAG. That would explain the strong pop influence!
Of the EP, Astrid says:
“Until now, my fans have had to wait a long time to hear new music from me, one track a year! But, I’ve been in the studio, working hard, and now I have lots to share with you. This May, my first 5 track EP will be coming to you all to listen to whenever and wherever! I am so excited!”
The EP is set to be released on 20 May via Virgin EMI.
May Tour Dates
Monday 2nd – Alcatraz, Milan, Italy
Tuesday 3rd – Kaufleuten, Zurich, Switzerland
Thursday 5th – Backstage Werk, Munich, Germany
Saturday 7th – Ottakringer Brauerei, Vienna, Austria
Monday 9th – Live Music Hall, Cologne, Germany
Tuesday 10th – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Friday 13th – Docks, Hamburg, Germany
Sunday 15th – Huxley’s, Berlin, Germany
Tuesday 17th – Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
*Headline show – not supporting Troye Sivan
Sounds like: ZAYN, Zara Larsson, Rihanna, Evvy, Noosa
Website | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram
Highasakite
Highasakite return with ‘Golden Ticket’.
The track opens with “God, if you’re still watching” – a premise lifted from Gunvor Hofmo’s post-World War II poem, ‘Det er ingen hverdag mer’ [translation: there’s no more every day], or as vocalist Ingrid Helene Håvik describes it: “Norway’s funeral blues”.
“It’s a very famous verse, and was used a lot around the time of the Norwegian terrorist attacks [Oslo and Utøya, 2011],” she explains. “The song is very much about escapism, both escaping yourself and the world; just wanting to get high and get out, basically” – a surprising foundation, given the track’s uplifting and undeniable pop sensibilities.
Tour Dates
18 MAY 2016 | THE GREAT ESCAPE (UK)
22 MAY 2016 | WHELAN’S, DUBLIN (IE)
23 MAY 2016 | DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER (UK)
24 MAY 2016 | VILLAGE UNDERGROUND, LONDON (UK)
26 MAY 2016 | PARADISO UPSTAIRS, AMSTERDAM (NL)
18 JUNE 2016 | BERGENFEST, BERGEN (NO)
24 JUNE 2016 | HURRICANE FESTIVAL, SCHEESSEL (DE)
25 JUNE 2016 | SOUTHSIDE FESTIVAL, NEUHAUSEN OB ECK (DE)
28 JUNE | GLEIS 22, MÚNSTER (DE)
29 JUNE 2016 | BI NUU, BERLIN (DE)
30 JUNE 2016 | BRÅVALLA FESTIVAL, NORRKOPING (SE)
1 JULY 2016 | ROSKILDE FESTIVAL (DK)
17 JULY 2016 | LATITUDE FESTIVAL (UK)
30 JULY 2016 | TROLLROCK, BEITOSTØLEN (NO)
12 AUGUST 2016 | ØYAFESTIVALEN, OSLO (NO)
19 AUGUST 2016 | PSTEREO, TRONDHEIM (NO)
20 AUGUST 2016 | PARKENFESTIVALEN, BODØ (NO)
Their album, ‘Camp Echo’, is set for release on 20 May via Propeller Recordings and can be pre-ordered on iTunes now.
Sounds like: Lykke Li, Kate Boy, MØ, Raindear, Sóley
Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram
Lovespeake by Olav Stubberud
Lovespeake (formerly Eye Emma Jedi) was founded by Pav and Baya, but live, the duo becomes an electric six-piece and a force to be reckoned with.
Their debut album ‘DNA’ was recorded by Pav and Baya in a barn in the woods outside Oslo, where they enlisted the assistance of producer, Jonas Raabe.
Combining musical elements from the 60’s all the way to the 90’s, and with catchy hooks and lush vocals, the lead track from the album takes the listener on an incredible journey full of funky love and gospel highs.
One’s to watch for 2016.
‘DNA’ was out on 7 January via Toothfairy.
Sounds like: Harts, Tame Impala, The Levity, Arcade Fire, Goldfrapp, MGMT, CHAPPO, The Flaming Lips, Carl Louis, Karl Kling
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram