I recently found out I’m studying abroad in Sweden, which got me really excited for all the cool musicians in that area. Scandinavia is rich with unique and fresh artists, some of whom have taken over the spotlight in America. Though they have loads of EDM artists, like Avicii, Scandinavia also has some pretty amazing and unique acts that may catch your ear. You may not have heard of some, while some are already popular in the U.S., but all these artists have created a cool brand of music that deserves some recognition.
Oh Land
Danish artist Oh Land has quite an interesting story. She began as a professional dancer, then suffered a spinal injury, making dancing near-impossible. During that time she took up music. In the time since, she has released four studio albums and has a pretty stable career in Scandinavia. Also, she has gone through major physical therapy to help her dance again. I’ve been a fan for quite some time. Her electro-pop style and beautiful, soft voice made me fall in love with her work. Her energetic song “Pyromaniac,” her sweet ballad “Love You Better” and the dreamy “White Nights,” (which is partnered with an equally wistful music video) are definitely worth a listen.
MØ
Also from Denmark, MØ is a quite unconventional artist. I wouldn’t say she has a beautiful voice; it sounds scratchy and rough at times, but there is something entrancing about it. Similarly, her lyrics are emotional and feel very meaningful, like her song “Fire Rides.” She also has her fair share of upbeat dance music like “Don’t Wanna Dance” and her cover of the Spice Girls song, “Say You’ll Be There.”
The Royal Concept
You may already know The Royal Concept from their thumping pop-rock song “On Our Way.” This Swedish alt-rock group, similar to acts like Walk The Moon and Atlas Genius, creates energetic, uplifting rock jams. They only have one EP and a single currently in the US, but have a full-length album released in Sweden. Hopefully we will get a taste of that album soon. For now, we have great songs like “Gimmie Twice” and “D-D-Dance.”
Lykke Li
Lykke Li is a Swedish native who creates a unique blend of indie pop, alternative and
electronic music. People have always told me I needed to listen to her music, but I’ve never taken the time to check her out. Now that I have, I regret not doing it earlier. There is a very eerie nature to her music that draws you in. She also takes advantage of many different sounds; her song “I Follow Rivers” uses African drums to add a rhythmic underline to the verses. Her song “Gunshot” begins with a chant-like verse that explodes into a loud, piano-driven chorus. Check out her hit, “No Rest For The Wicked” as well.
There is almost too much talent in Scandinavia for me to list. There’s Swedish electro-pop queen Robyn, Swedish import Tove Lo, hip experimental singer Miike Snow and many more. With only one quarter and a summer sitting between Sweden and me, I’m obviously getting a little excited. Hopefully I’ll be able to go to some awesome live shows while I’m there and maybe see some of these artists’ in action.
https://open.spotify.com/user/dutastyjams/playlist/4ckxPJ9GZoS99GxdilZ6qZ
