Scandinavian Music: November 2018

As the last couple of months of every year approach, record labels have traditionally used the period to launch new singles and albums from their absolute biggest hitting artists, in an effort to capitalise on gift-buying season. But while no one is really buying CDs anymore, mercifully this hasn’t ground my favourite Christmas tradition to a halt. The big guns are out in force this winter.

Two of Scandinavia’s biggest exports of the last few years are both out with brand new tunes. Zara Larsson launches her new album with the release of Ruin My Life, a relentlessly catchy song in which she beckons heartbreak into her life, so long as she can experience all the good stuff that happens before it. Tove Lo, on the other hand, teams up with Major Lazer for Blow That Smoke. As if we were in any doubt before, we now all know Tove’s preferred way to relax and unwind.

The next wave of Nordic exports are also out with new music to charm even more of the rest of the world than they already have. Norway’s Sigrid does not mess around with the sucker-punch of a chorus contained within her new single, conveniently titled Sucker Punch, while Finnish artist Alma switches up her sound and style to an even more radio-friendly one than before, on her new track Cowboy.

Two recent Scan Magazine cover girls are not resting on any laurels, and have commenced the last quarter of the year with two of their strongest singles to date. Astrid S and Tove Styrke are out with Emotion and Vibe respectively, with both songs well worth setting aside some of your time this season for.

And finally, I’ll switch to albums but I’ll stick with the girls (for no other reason than the undisputed fact that they simply do it better in Scandinavia than the guys). Danish artist MØ has finally gotten around to releasing her sophomore album Forever Neverland (head to Sun In Our Eyes on there, for the big highlight). And Sweden’s pride and joy Robyn is out with her first album in eight years, Honey.

Now that should be enough to give you enough of a break from the endless rotation of the same old Christmas tunes, I hope!

www.scandipop.co.uk

TEXT: KARL BATTERBEE