The Local's top Swedish songs of August
The Local's music guru, Paul Connolly, has picked out Sweden's hottest new music to guide you through the rest of summer. Here's a selection of August's best tracks.
1. Kate Boy – Midnight Sun
This Stockholm band recorded one of 2012's best songs, Northern Lights, but fell away slightly thereafter. Midnight Sun, however, is a magnificent, full-blooded return to form, all muscular, precise electro funk and soaring melodies. Song of the year so far.
2. Seinabo Sey – Pretend
Another funk-driven electro classic. Sey may never eclipse the marvellous Younger but Pretend comes mighty close.
3. Tove Styrke – Baby One More Time
Styrke, who came 3rd in Swedish Idol in 2009, is roughly 20,000 times more interesting than the usual wannabe pop star detritus. And this cover of Britney's 1998 hit is fantastic - dark, sexy and exciting.
4. Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique – Set Me Free
Another track from Robyn's most recent collaboration and it's an instant stomping dancefloor classic.
5. Mariette – My Revolution
The official song of this year's Pride is an inspired choice - anthemic, inclusive and danceable.
6. Raye – Like Nobody Else
Don't know a great deal about this Stockholm singer/songwriter other than she's 21 and has a fabulously dramatic voice. An excellent debut.
7. Meel – Prisoner
Swedish songwriter Malin Johansson's first solo single is almost unremarkable electro R&B until the dark, melancholic chorus kicks in and sends the tingles down your spine.
8. MIYNT – Civil War
Not sure how many people will be trying to track down an artist called MINTY on iTunes or at their local record store once her deeply addictive brand of trip-hop catches on, but catch on it will.
9. Molly Pettersson Hammar – Something Right
Big, bold brash pop doesn't come much punchier than this. In your face.
10. Frida Sundemo – Stay Young
Another slice of winsome elegance from Gothenburg's Sundemo. We wait, impatiently, for her debut album.
11. Ida Redig – It Ain’t Easy
Hugely reminiscent of Depeche Mode’s Just Can’t Get Enough but that’s no bad thing. Perfect late summer fare.
12. Red Mecca – Skin
I somehow missed this in July. If you want your pop darker than an Arctic winter, try Skin's brooding majesty.
Listen here to the July playlist on Spotify and watch the videos on YouTube here.
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1. Kate Boy – Midnight Sun
This Stockholm band recorded one of 2012's best songs, Northern Lights, but fell away slightly thereafter. Midnight Sun, however, is a magnificent, full-blooded return to form, all muscular, precise electro funk and soaring melodies. Song of the year so far.
2. Seinabo Sey – Pretend
Another funk-driven electro classic. Sey may never eclipse the marvellous Younger but Pretend comes mighty close.
3. Tove Styrke – Baby One More Time
Styrke, who came 3rd in Swedish Idol in 2009, is roughly 20,000 times more interesting than the usual wannabe pop star detritus. And this cover of Britney's 1998 hit is fantastic - dark, sexy and exciting.
4. Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique – Set Me Free
Another track from Robyn's most recent collaboration and it's an instant stomping dancefloor classic.
5. Mariette – My Revolution
The official song of this year's Pride is an inspired choice - anthemic, inclusive and danceable.
6. Raye – Like Nobody Else
Don't know a great deal about this Stockholm singer/songwriter other than she's 21 and has a fabulously dramatic voice. An excellent debut.
7. Meel – Prisoner
Swedish songwriter Malin Johansson's first solo single is almost unremarkable electro R&B until the dark, melancholic chorus kicks in and sends the tingles down your spine.
8. MIYNT – Civil War
Not sure how many people will be trying to track down an artist called MINTY on iTunes or at their local record store once her deeply addictive brand of trip-hop catches on, but catch on it will.
9. Molly Pettersson Hammar – Something Right
Big, bold brash pop doesn't come much punchier than this. In your face.
10. Frida Sundemo – Stay Young
Another slice of winsome elegance from Gothenburg's Sundemo. We wait, impatiently, for her debut album.
11. Ida Redig – It Ain’t Easy
Hugely reminiscent of Depeche Mode’s Just Can’t Get Enough but that’s no bad thing. Perfect late summer fare.
12. Red Mecca – Skin
I somehow missed this in July. If you want your pop darker than an Arctic winter, try Skin's brooding majesty.
Listen here to the July playlist on Spotify and watch the videos on YouTube here.
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