Scandinavia, you beautiful endless reservoir of great music. Scandinavia, I love you for making the sun disappear for a few months each winter making young people stay in their own homes with too much alcohol, their instruments and their creativity. Women of music, I love you because you grace us with so much talent and music that I feel like an incredibly dull little boy with my acoustic guitar and my stupid teenage songs about my sad sad love life. This article is a dedication to the girls in pop that make everyone giggle in excitement at the moment.
Sadness is a profitable tool in pop. I don’t know how many songs are out there about broken relationships, lost love or cheating exs. Rob Fleming pops the question: ‚What came first, music or the misery?‘ in Nick Hornby’s novel ‚High Fielity‘ very early on and it’s true. Could pop music exist without misery? I really doubt it. But the great thing about music is that it gives us comfort. Emilie Nicolas‘ sadness gives us comfort. Her brilliant voice and the minimalistic production add up to a perfect pop song.
When I stumbled across Naomi in a meeting with the brilliant people from Nordic by Nature, I was mesmerized by the cool vibe of the song. I guess that’s in big parts down to her driving a Delorean through the desert, but the other reason is definitely the music. ‚It’s All Good‘ should be on every summerplaylist on every streaming service or radio station out there. There’s no obvious pop hook, no fishing for effects. The song meanders around a simple synth line with a low bass and descending single notes. It captures the summer heat perfectly – don’t do to much in the sun. Her voice is the popsicle in your hand, the bass is the cooling shade and her voice the happy sunray that puts a smile on all our faces. Damn this is a near perfect song!
She will remind you of some music you’ve heard before. Charli XCX was one of the names that popped up immediately when I was listening to Beatrice for the first time. This is darker than the other songs on this list, which has to do with her voice, but it’s not any less beautiful. Serenade me Beatrice! You’re music is beautiful!
Well ok, she’s not Scandinavian, but I added her to this list anyway. Her album is not out in Europe yet and I really wonder why? Since this song has been haunting the blogosphere out there she’s been a star in the making. I’m not talking Taylor or Bae here but a damn cool powergirl. At Eurosonic we couldn’t get into the venue she was playing at, but German music-hipster-monthly Intro did and touted her as one of the best acts to see there. I just love the finger snapping, piano and drum driven song. The effects for a change are not annoying but actually put in a song to add to it (I think that makes for a change). Radio: start playing this song already!
18 this girl is! Bloody 18! Can you believe it? She’s signed to Universal and that’s not a surprise. There’s great hooks, great beats and that haircut she copied from Sia – well, at least she can see through them. Probably the most epic and broad produced track in this list and that shows she (and her label) is aiming for the big stages. Roskilde, Melt! Festival, Coachella – you’ve got a new act. You’ve heard it here first!
