- Håkan Hellström: While I don’t speak Swedish, I wouldn’t be representing the Goteborg and Swedish music scene without mentioning the indie-pop star Håkan Hellström. Shuffling around between several bands in the 90’s and early 00’s, Håkan (pronounced ho-kahn) made his solo debut in 2000. Since then, he’s acquired quite the following. His performance at Way Out West in hometown Goteburg was easily one of the crowd favorites. Check out his 2000 breakout hit “Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg” (Don’t Feel Sorry for Me, Gothenburg).
01 – Känn Ingen Sorg För Mig Göteborg
- Robyn: When I first heard Robyn, I immediately dismissed it as ridiculously tacky pop music. Thirty seconds later, I was still listening and very much becoming addicted. Thirty minutes later I had listened to the entire album straight through. And 30 days later, it’s amongst my summer faves. Though Body Talk might draw references to a Swedish version of M.I.A. or Lady Gaga, that’d be unfair because Robyn has been making music for 15 years. Her latest remake of herself comes in the form of incredibly catchy dance beats, electronic elements, pop hits, work with Royksopp and an album that has both dance floor and headphone value. I might have felt weird/guilty for listening to it by myself, but when I got to Sweden and saw popular Robyn is, I assuaged those feelings. This is “Fembot” off of Body Talk Pt. 1.
02 Fembot
- Radio Dept.: Radio Dept. has actually been making music since 1995. But they’ve gained quite the international following with their Clinging to a Scheme LP this year (released on 4/20. And check out the album cover…). The Dept’s newest tunes offer sentimental thoughts wrapped in reverb and dream pop hooks. They simultaneously carry a heavy heart with upbeat rhythms. The track below–“Heaven’s on Fire”–has been listen on many “Best of” lists already. Likewise for their album Clinging to a Scheme.
02 Heaven_s On Fire
- Anna Ternheim: I have a really big crush on Anna Ternheim. But with the Swedish songwriter’s look, voice and persona, I would wager I am not alone. In the sea of acoustic singer/songwriters, Ternheim stands out for her charming “Swenglish” accent, jazzy roots and stylish swagger. Here is “To Be Gone”.
anna-ternheim-to-be-gone
- Jens Lekman: Though Jens is currently living in Austrailia, he’s got Swedish roots. And odds are this list is not the first you’ve heard of him. But he continues to shape the indie-pop scene he dove into back in 2000. With similarities to Belle & Sebastian and David Byrne, Jens carefully crafts love songs that are equally melancholy and witty. If you’ve heard of him, check out his new stuff. And if you haven’t, well check him out. “Put Your Arms Around Me”, below, is from Lekman’s 2007 Night Falls Over Kortedala album.
08 Your Arms Around Me
- Shout Out Louds: Along with Lekman, the Shout Out Louds have been doing work for a while now. And likewise, they’ve earned quite the following. The longtime, Stockholm friends have been churning out peppy, summery songs that seem to be just restrained enough to be Swedish. However, their new album features a new kick, as the track below, “Very Loud”, demonstrates.
Very Loud - Fever Ray: Fever Ray is the moniker for The Knife member Karin Dreijer Andersson. After The Knife’s 2006 Silent Shout album, Karin began work on her own. The product carried the same electronic atmospheres, yet with a darker, colder, more ethereal tone. “If I Had a Heart” below is off her self-titled album.
Fever Ray – If I Had A Heart
Eric Berglund is CEO - ceo: Eric Berglund shed off the secrecy surrounding his electronic project ceo after the debut album caught fire on the blogosphere. Berglund is behind the 28 minute White Magic album, released on Secretly Yours. He and fellow label mate Kendal Johansson recorded all of the instruments on the album, which includes a sprawling array of sounds on the album’s ambitious efforts. From Tropical sounds to marvelously catchy beats to airy, looped, backing vocals, the final work was one of 2010’s better results and a unique body of songs.
Come With Me | ceo
jj - jj: While Berglund eventually unveiled the details behind ceo’s music, fellow Swedes jj have shared little about themselves. That’s alright though, because the music speaks quite well on its own. The Stockholm duo was founded by the group Tough Alliance and joined Secretly Yours for the release of their 2009 album jj n° 2. Check out “Ecstasy” below for a taste of jj’s smooth, soothing, vibes.
“Ecstasy” | jj
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