The last time I spoke with Malou Prytz, we were in a Stockholm hotel for the media day leading up to the Melodifestivalen finals. After defying the odds, Malou broke out as a newcomer and qualified direct to the finals and has consequently outdone many of her competitors with her follow-up material.

Exclusive Malou Prytz interview here:

Malou's new single is called "Left & Right and the music video draws creative inspiration from Wes Anderson's 2012 film "Moonrise Kingdom." Wes Anderson conceptualised a story about young love between two 12-year-old protagonists, Sam and Suzy. The film also covers other topics including mental health, family dissolution, and alludes to the Genesis flood myth. "Moonrise Kingdom" is an age-appropriate source of inspiration for Malou's new music video, as "Left & Right" features a melancholic melody soundtracking a narrative about young love. Sam and Suzy both act out and engage in reckless behaviour due in large part to their difficult home lives. Sam is an orphan in the foster system and Suzy's parents have a failing marriage further exacerbated by infidelity. Sam and Suzy find solace in one another and run away from home together, seeking refuge in nature.

"Left & Right" doesn't address as many of these themes as "Moonrise Kingdom" but does utilise certain aesthetic elements and key imagery from it. "Moonrise Kingdom" has a distinct visual presentation, including it's use of symmetry, a warm colour palette, and a unique movement style of camera work. These details don't only enhance the aesthetic value of the film, but serve the world-building by blurring the lines between realism and fantasy. "Left & Right" has some shots that recreate Wes Anderson's propensity for symmetry, though not to the same degree, as well as a similarly designed colour aesthetic. All things considered, this music videos gives a respectable effort in paying homage to a very technically detailed film. Considering that Wes Anderson had to pitch "Moonrise Kingdom" on a lower budget and still managed to put together such an artistic, aesthetic film, it goes to show that having less money is never an excuse to people with an actual work ethic.

"Left & Right" music video:

READ MORE

Ukrainian sensation Alekseev has had a highly successful 2016 in which he broke out big not only in the Ukraine but kicked off a successful series of touring and appearances in Russia and the Eastern European block in general. Alekseev's latest single "Океанами Стали" is another melodramatic power ballad with great energy and momentum and once again he has collaborated with director Alan Badoev to create a superb music video. The narrative consists of Alekseev using telekinetic abilities to rescue his lady-love and escape the facility in which she is held captive with only a single minute to do so. The visuals and special effects are stunning, and overall it's Alekseev's greatest music video to date.

Watch our full review of Alekseev's "Океанами Стали" here:

Watch the full music video of Alekseev's "Океанами Стали" here:

READ MORE

French-Romani singer Kendji Girac is one of the biggest, hottest artists in the French music scene at the moment. Following the success of Kendji's "Ensemble" album, he is re-releasing it in a deluxe edition with new singles including his latest single "Ma Câlina" which premiered on his VEVO page with a music video compiling footage of Kendji enjoying the fruits of his labour from meeting adoring fans, performing to massive crowds, and shooting the music videos that span his career.

Watch our full review of Kendji Girac's "Ma Câlina" here:

Watch the music video for Kendji Girac's "Ma Câlina" here:

READ MORE

Egor Kreed has released a new single that bodes promising for his new album - whenever he gets around to releasing it, that is. "Мало так мало" is a fun, Latin-infused pop track with the urban sprinklings that are typically found in a Egor Kreed release. Despite his start as a "rapper" it's only been as a pop artist that Egor Kreed has found his footing with a highly commercial sound that is highly accessible to international audiences, even when all of the lyrics are in Russian.

The music video spins a tale of Egor discovering Eris, the goddess of Chaos, and unleashing her on the world or perhaps it's simply Moscow that is falling prey to her antics. There's some quality imagery and colour schemes (consistent with the Eastern European pop industry), but some questionable ones too that needlessly exploit women (consistent with the Black Star label's tendencies).

Watch the "Мало так мало" music video in full here:

READ MORE

Ukrainian soul-funk-dance-pop artist Monatik has released the music video for his latest single "Вечность" which is the first up-tempo single from his latest studio album to not feature his dance skills. Though some may see this as a risky move, it would seem that Monatik is determined to assert his artistic presence and its ability to stand on its own without relying on his dance background. If anyone had doubted that Monatik was more than just a 'dancer-turned-singer' then they will have been quickly silenced after hearing the magnificent "Звучит" album in which he brilliantly fuses various genres and styles of music to create a cohesive and exciting package that will have people dancing and their spirits soaring.

Check out the full music video here:

Watch our thoughts on his latest music video here:

Also enjoy the latest release from Ukrainian pop-duo Tamerlan & Alena which we also featured in our latest music review:

READ MORE

There was little doubt in anyone's mind that Molly Pettersson Hammar would return to Melodifestivalen after her controversial elimination in 2015 due to the Swedish public's unfamiliarity with the show's new app. While "I'll Be Fine" was a perfectly commendable debut to introduce the public to a post-Idol Molly, "Hunger" sees her fulfil her potential and then some.

"Hunger" is a soulful dance-pop track with a sleek and modern production, having been co-written by Molly herself along with Lisa Desmond and Melodifestivalen & Eurovision-winning composing team 'The Family', comprised of Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, and Anton Malmberg Hård af Segerstad. There's some excellent backing vocalists in the chorus to be the response to Molly's call, and her vocal delivery on the night was more confident in tune than her 2015 attempt. Though Molly has displayed a propensity for soulpop, this is a more revamped take on that style that puts Molly in a position to work well across several countries as opposed to just Sweden.

The staging and presentation is what elevates "Hunger" to an even higher standard. We've already seen that Molly can work some serious hand and arm movements. But she emerges as our very own 'girl on fire' as the number begins with Molly surrounded by pyrotechnics on her platform before moving into some killer clicking camera work and finally some sparkling explosions to climax the experience.

It's really quite shocking that this number was only an Andra Chansen qualifier and that SVT didn't bump this to be the semi-final 2 show-closer. But as Molly's reaction to the news of her AC qualification will show you, she's already had one victory and "Hunger" is a successful redemption story for her.

Molly Pettersson Hammar will next compete in the Andra Chansen round on SVT on 5 March.

If you don't live in a geo-restricted location, you can watch Molly's performance of "Hunger" here:

If you can't watch the performance, the song is still available for listening here:

READ MORE

David Lindgren last competed in Melodifestivalen with "Skyline" in 2013. The number was the best presented and performed in the entire final line-up, as it combined David's seasoned showmanship with groundbreaking camera work, lighting, and clever choreography. But now we see him return to the contest to deliver all of his strengths that make him such a strong competitor.

"We Are Your Tomorrow" is less hard-hitting of a song than "Shout It Out" and "Skyline" as the melody is less aggressive and the production is more subdued to reflect the song's message which subtly addresses ongoing current events. But when performed live, David's showmanship paired with the choreography, numerous lasers, and journey of the number all elevate it to the point that it was one of the strongest numbers of the semi-final. Sweden saw this clearly as they voted David Lindgren through direct to the finals for the third time, despite his only having been predicted to qualify to Andra Chansen.

With a background in musical theatre, David Lindgren displays great stamina when performing, as his voice never waivers even when the choreography kicks in. He performs to the people in the back of the arena just as much as those closer to him. He fully embodies the character of the songs he sings and "We Are Your Tomorrow" is no exception to this. He is far more polished in his performances than the male 20-something-year-old 'heartthrob' pop artists often seen in Melodifestivalen. Any newcomer viewer would never know that David had been on hiatus from making pop music for the past three years. David Lindgren is back and better than ever. Hopefully more of his own music, perhaps even an EP, will follow his run in the contest.

David Lindgren will next perform at the Melodifestivalen finals on SVT on Saturday, March 12.

READ MORE

Ace Wilder's Pyramid-Climbing, Clone-Generating, Funky-Dance-Moves-Filled Number Breaks New Artistic Ground

It was only a matter of time before Ace Wilder made her return to Melodifestivalen after being narrowly robbed of a victory back in 2014. But regardless of a second-place finish, "Busy Doin' Nothin'" would go on to be certified triple-platinum and hit number one on the Swedish charts. Even the biggest Ace Wilder fans were anxious to see how she would follow up such an impressive debut. Little did they know the level of impact Ace was about to drop on the Scandinavium stage.

"Don't Worry" finds its origins from a foundation track put together by composer Beshad Ashani and then was worked on by the Eurovision-winning composing team "The Family", comprised of Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, and Anton Malmberg Hård af Segerstad, along with Ace Wilder herself. Wilder has already displayed her prestigious song-writing skills on the entirety of her back catalogue, including her "The Wild Card" EP. "Don't Worry" has a straightforward narrative about not letting the ups and downs of one's life get to oneself. But in a sea of songs all spouting tired old narratives of love and heartbreak, Ace Wilder brings an entirely unique and authentic flavour to Melodifestivalen.

Right from the start, listeners are treated to an immensely catchy piano groove that grows in size with the assist of brass instrumentation in the chorus. As Ace begins the number, we see her entirely confident as she sings with greatly improved vocals since 2014. She is encompassed in a large boxed pyramid set that would put Hollywood pop divas' tour staging to shame, particularly when the generations start up of multiple Ace Wilders displayed on every box. The number is even an upgrade relative to Måns Zelmerlöw's "Heroes" as the number carries on being formidable after the technology is removed when Ace emerges from the box to drop some fresh choreography with her squad of back-up dancers. It is worth noting that Ace's back-up dancers are so fierce in their performing that their star-power outdoes many of the other competing acts in this year's Melodifestivalen. This song and number are the complete package. "Don't Worry" will undoubtedly leave an impressive legacy in Melodifestivalen regardless of the results in the finals, and hopefully Ace Wilder will use this as a stepping stone to release more new music and embark on touring in and out of Sweden.

Be sure to watch our interviews with Ace Wilder from the first semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2016 here:

Also check out our interview with the co-writers of "Don't Worry":

READ MORE

Måns Zelmerlöw has kicked off his European tour with style and grace. We were able to catch his show at the famed London gay club, Heaven, and it was just the sort of show to satisfy old fans as well as bring on board plenty of new ones who were in attendance just as friends of Eurovision/Måns fans, the likes of which were not about to miss his first solo tour performance in London.

Similar to the set list of his Swedish "Heroes" tour, Zelmerlöw kicked off the show with the cinematic and chic "Someday." As we've written before, "Someday" is one of the stand-out tracks of the album, "Perfectly Damaged," and an ideal choice to rev up an already eager crowd.

The set list brought an eclectic mix of songs from all of Zelmerlöw's studio albums. From "Miss America," "Brother Oh Brother," "Impossible, "Children of the Sun," and "Run For Your Life," the full spectrum of his development as an artist throughout his career was on display. He even delivered some covers, such as "Shut Up and Dance," "Human, and "Sunday Bloody Sunday." It's more clear than ever that Zelmerlöw has found his stride as an artist and as a vocalist, as the covers were all stamped with his style, and his more classic hits were revamped with a rockier edge more in tune with his current sound.

As Zelmerlöw's songs off "Perfectly Damaged" have more of an electro-pop infusion, it begged the question of just how he would pull off performing so many songs from this album using just a live band and no backing track. But any skeptics were silenced upon hearing the quality of each live performance, as Zelmerlöw has surrounded himself with a team of musicians that are more than up to the task of delivering high-quality interpretations of the studio versions.

There was never any doubt that Zelmerlöw would perform his three most popular songs, all of which he competed in Melodifestivalen with. His older entries were revamped with such gusto, "Hope and Glory in particular," that it had us downright craving for these newer adaptations to be recorded and made available for purchase.

"Heroes" may have been the song many concert-goers were most craving to hear, but Zelmerlöw actually ended the night on a more intimate note, with a performance of "Barcelona Sessions" single, "Broken Parts." Perched on the end of the stage, Zelmerlöw simply sat and poured out a performance drenched in emotionality.

Zelmerlöw also took the opportunity during his show to promote his ZB foundation, which works to build schools in various African nations, and also spoke up to offer his support for Syrian refugees.

We were able to briefly meet Zelmerlöw before his show, and he offered up a few snippets about his artistry. In discussing his songwriting, he doesn't mind being a bit more forthcoming in drawing inspiration from his personal life as he is a firm believer that it makes for better songs. "Something About This Town," a song off of "Barcelona Sessions," was written about his hometown in Sweden, Lund. He still says that winning Eurovision was a more surreal experience than winning Melodifestivalen, and remains coy about whether or not he will be a host for Eurovision 2016. Only time will tell till the big announcements start rolling in. But until then, don't miss out on the opportunity to catch this show on any one of his European tour stops.

READ MORE

Måns Zelmerlöw is making the most of his Eurovision win. While many a winner to come before him have quickly faded back into relative obscurity, Zelmerlöw is capitalising instead. Following a tour throughout Sweden that saw him perform in front of hundreds of thousands of people by the tour's completion, promotional trips to many other countries including Israel and China, the release of his follow-up single "Should've Gone Home" and its music video, he is now on the verge of beginning the European leg of his "Heroes" tour.

There are many big-name stops indicative of having 'made it' in Sweden, including summer shows like Allsång på Skansen (which Zelmerlöw hosted for several years during his solo-career hiatus), Lotta på Liseberg, and the Rix FM festival, all of which Zelmerlöw made appearances on this summer. Another stop of significance is Radiohuset, a 'radio house' in Stockholm's bougie Eastern neighbourhood where many artists perform mini-concerts that typically consist of a multi-track set list.

Zelmerlöw paid a visit to Radiohuset on 4 September 2015 and began his show with the ethereal, spiritually divine, "Kingdom In The Sky." The song clearly draws musical influence from Zelmerlöw's time spent in Africa doing charity work with his "Zelmerlöw & Björkman" foundation. Following this, Zelmerlöw unleashed the explosive "Someday" onto the audience. Audience members unfamiliar with Zelmerlöw's non-single tracks were still undeniably affected by it, a testament to the song's raw power.

After slowing things down with a stripped back, acoustic take on the sunny and summery "Live While We're Alive," Zelmerlöw spoke with the radio program's host and was entirely charming and charismatic. With humour and wit delivered in spades, there was no room for doubt as to why so many rumours are swirling about Zelmerlöw being a potential Eurovision host for 2016.

To close off the show, Zelmerlöw next performed his most recent single "Should've Gone Home," the music video of which was released early due to extensive streaming of the song on Spotfiy by his fans, (who have been affectionately dubbed "Månsters"). Naturally, the biggest crowd-pleaser was saved for last, as his rousing rendition of "Heroes" had the crowd on their feet (no easy feat to elicit amongst a Swedish audience).

Throughout the performance, Zelmerlöw made good use of the space on stage, and interacted with both his band and the audience. If the quality songs and spot-on vocals weren't enough for you, the other thing to appreciate about the performance is the way his expressive movements demonstrate his oneness with his songs. Having now developed his own artistic identity has enabled Zelmerlöw to better connect with the material he performs and thus makes for a more moving show. See it for yourself at one (or more) of the stops on his upcoming European tour. If you have yet to do so, check the dates here.

Watch Måns Zelmerlöw's Radiohuset show here:

READ MORE

We should've known better than to doubt the unrelenting work ethic of Måns Zelmerlöw. After reading the ever-loving daylight out of the ghastly single cover and then the lyric video (though in our defence, that was when we thought that this was all we'd have as opposed to a proper music video), Zelmerlöw has delivered a solid visual narrative to his follow-up single, "Should've Gone Home."

While the lyrics spin a tale of a man regretting his foray into infidelity, the music video delivers a surprisingly eerie twist on what could have been an echo of songs already sung by others. Much of the video shows Zelmerlöw moving in reverse from his confrontation with his jilted lover back through his drunken shenanigans to his decision to go out for a night on the down. That, or he is moving at a normal pace while those that surround him, be it Swedes or raindrops, move in reverse. The eeriness climaxes with Zelmerlöw's sit-down with himself as his lover's voice delivers whispered words, still in reverse. If the video-makers had only upped the ante a bit more, we'd have had a full-fledged horror classic on our hands.

We always have to commend Swedish artists for getting a video out to go with their singles, as Swedish labels are rarely willing to cough up the budget to get one made. But if a 3rd-highest-points-ever Eurovision victory isn't enough to get you a music video, then what is? (Though we'll forever be waiting for a music video for "Heroes" ~ Darin took years to get one out for "Nobody Knows" so there's still room for hope, people).

Only time will tell as for what other singles (and hopefully more music videos) will be released from "Perfectly Damaged." Of course our greatest hope is that "Someday" will be one of the elite, chosen ones. Come on now, "Fire and Gasoline"? That video concept has all but written itself!

Check out the "Should've Gone Home" music video here:

READ MORE

Our favourite new Swed-pop diva, Molly Pettersson Hammar is back with a vengeance following her falling out of Melodifestivalen 2015 in the show's biggest scandal of the year (a voting app glitch saw her being knocked out of the contest in the first round of voting). But just as we predicted, Molly P H is fine and dandy.

Her new single, "Something Right," is right in the same soul-pop genre as her debut single, "I'll Be Fine," indicating that Molly P H has something that even Swed-pop artists with 10x more experience than her have yet to find: a clear musical and artistic identity. Despite being a mere 19 years old, Molly has strong signatures in place, including killer vocals, an ever-present smile, and a more vibrant attitude than anyone else currently making waves in the Swed-pop industry. Are the more seasoned Swed-pop artists worried? We reckon they should be; this girl has what it takes to make a run for the throne.

Yet another thing Molly P H has done right is have a music video to accompany her single (we'll stop moaning about Swed-pop artists releasing singles without music videos when they put a stop to that ghastly habit). Like a pro, Molly P H has some product placement to afford her the luxury of putting the video together, courtesy of Polaroid, and then Molly's off! With a fruity-themed room including pineapple walls and watermelon pillows, Molly dons a few outfits and her stick-in-the-mud friends only sign off on her final outfit, despite her looking perfectly lovely in all of her wardrobe ensembles (upgrade your squad, girl!) Then it's off to the city to start a spontaneous dance party with some unsuspecting Swedes. Follow this up with some cake in the face while maintaining smouldering eye contact with the camera, belting on a lollipop microphone, and shameless dancing on a party-bus and even on the top of the bus itself. Watch out world, Molly P H is taking numbers! This video exemplifies that Molly P H is unapologetically herself and despite only having just begun her career, she's doing far more than just 'something right'.

Watch the music video and enjoy the track below:

READ MORE

Måns Zelmerlöw Follows Up Eurovision Victory

With Glossy-Indie "Perfectly Damaged" Album

The third time was the charm for Måns Zelmerlöw in Sweden's Melodifestivalen contest, and he was able to live up to the hype surrounding his "Heroes" number by winning the Eurovision Song Contest with the third-highest points total of any song in the competition to date (Zelmerlöw received 365 points following the likes of Alexander Rybak with 387 points and fellow-Swede Loreen with 372 points). But in this day and age, it's not enough to simply win Eurovision, as a lack of follow-through would amount to a career that is essentially a one-hit wonder as far as wide-reaching traction goes. Thankfully for pop music fans, Måns Zelmerlöw is no mere one-hit wonder.

Zelmerlöw has released his latest studio album, "Perfectly Damaged," and true to what he stated to us back during Melodfestivalen, the album combines the mainstream style and production value of "Heroes" with the musical indie qualities and creative integrity of his previous studio album, "Barcelona Sessions." There isn't a single bad track to be seen in the 12-track line-up but we've selected a few of the stand-out songs that would make for the best singles on a wide scale. (Though we're still astounded that a real music video for "Heroes" has yet to be made).

"Live While We're Alive": Bright, summery, and brimming with warmth, this track is a feel-good hand-clapping, foot-stomper that can uplift the listeners and bestow a positive aura unto them.

"Let It Burn": Måns Zelmerlöw has truly found a comfortable balance with his musical evolution and this track is exemplary of that. While the verses maintain that singer-songwriter feel with strong lyrics and minimal synthetic influences, the chorus infuses EDM sounds and a more simple lyrical aprproach. This eclectic mix shows Måns Zelmerlöw's eclectic understanding of varying musical genres.

"Fade Away": With excellent momentum and percussion to propel the song forward, the song starts off slower and less flashy before exploding into one of the best damn choruses you'll see on this stellar Swed-pop album.

"Someday": While some may debate that none of the "Perfectly Damaged" tracks can out-do "Heroes," if there is one that can give it a run for its money, it's "Someday." With powerful lyrics that create downright cinematic imagery, a backing instrumental arrangement intricately woven together, a groovy break-down in the bridge, and genius hybridisation of electro pop and organic pop, this is the song that could make us curse the Swed-pop deities forever if it's not chosen to be a single. If you love yourself, treat yourself and put this track on a loop and let loose.

There's something for virtually everyone on this album, with a couple morose ballads and some additional mid-tempo tracks that are also solid if that's your preferred flavour of pop. The tracks also neatly fit together without sounding like twelve copies of just one song. This is by far one of the best Swed-pop albums we've seen in the last decade and is an excellent pre-cursor of what will hopefully be a brilliant pop journey and post-Eurovision career for Zelmerlöw.

~

Catch Måns Zelmerlöw on the European leg of his tour:

22 September 2015 ~ Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland

24 September 2015 ~ Heaven, London, UK

25 September 2015 ~ Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands

26 September 2015 ~ Kesselhaus München, Munich, Germany
27 September 2015 ~ Ottakringer Brauerei, Vienna, Austria
29 September 2015 ~ Große Freiheit 36, Hamburg, Germany
30 September 2015 ~ Volkshaus, Zürich, Switzerland
02 October 2015 ~ E-werk Köln, Cologne, Germany
04 October 2015 ~ Capitol Offenbach, Offenbach, Germany
07 October 2015 ~ Fabrique, Milan, Italy
09 October 2015 ~ C-halle, Berlin, Germany
11 October 2015 ~ Lucerna Music Bar, Praque, Czech Republic
15 October 2015 ~ Logomo, Teatterisali, Turku, Finland
16 October 2015 ~ The Circus, Helsinki, Finland
26 October 2015 ~ VEGA, Copenhagen, Denmark
03 November 2015 ~ La Riviera, Madrid, Spain
04 November 2015 ~ Sala Razzmatazz 1, Barcelona, Spain

READ MORE

When last we wrote about Samir & Viktor, the duo had just released their current single, "Saxofuckingfon," but had yet to release the music video. Now that the peak of summer has been reached, the two have finally filmed and posted the visual narrative to one of the absolute catchiest summer bops.

Enter our heroes at a gathering of pretentious Östermalm-looking types. Just look at this group's hideously country-club-looking outfits and bougie champagne glasses and you know that trouble's brewing. They don't want Samir & Viktor to join in on their party. So how do S&V respond to this sort of exclusionary disrespect? Invite a bunch of crashers, gather up a few saxofuckingfons, and get the real party started!

Though some folks have been dismissive of Samir & Viktor and their ridiculously catchy singles, there is in fact plenty to like about this video. The platform on which S&V have built their success is a genuine love for having fun and bringing joy to the folks who will pay them any sort of attention (they also used their performance during this year's Melodifestivalen finals to speak out against cyberbullying) and this video is entirely befitting of this thesis. Sure, the video is utterly ridiculous with the terrible choreography and the ghastly outfits to be seen that are worn without an ounce of irony. But in the video's turning point and its ending we see a message of positivity that promotes unity amongst all people who are simply looking to have a good time. It's not about poking fun at those who dare to be different, or getting revenge against those petty Östermalmers who wouldn't let you into their party. Whether you're the type to wear too much hair product, or lip-synch along to the auto-tuned hook of your song, in S&V's world you'll always be welcome to let it rip and get down to the Saxofuckingfon!

Check out the video for yourself here:

READ MORE

Let's be real, here. It was only a matter of time before we talked about Max Barskih in our series of music reviews. Not only does this Ukrainian singer/song-writer deliver consistently solid pop tracks, the music videos to accompany his singles are always visually stellar. Of course it's entirely clear that Barskih never shies away from using his sexuality to spice up his videos, whether it's through the use of smouldering gazes into the camera, flashing of flesh, or all of the above, but upon closer inspection, Barskih's videos show a level of understanding of visual artistry that never ceases to impress.

As a follow-up to his last single, "Хочу танцевать," the music video of which served up late 80s/early-90s aesthetic tripping on acid, Barskih has released "Подруга-ночь." Though the single was made available on iTunes back in May, it's only just now at the end of July that we're getting the accompanying music video. Once again, Barskih has collaborated with director Alan Badoev, who has directed a vast majority of Barskih's music videos throughout his pop career. "Подруга-ночь" sees Barskih engaged in a dance of seduction with a model surrounded by confetti bombs, disco pineapples, and streamers galore. The video also combines some visual inspirations from both the 1970s and the 1980s and adapts it for the 21st-century Euro-pop scene. We truly admire Barskih's willingness to wear any and every outfit he's slid into for both this and the "Хочу танцевать" video, as it shows a fearlessness to commit to his art. With Barskih's confidence and piercing gaze, he could wear a giant potato sack and still convince us it's the hottest must-have frock. The track itself bears some stylistic similarities with his previous single but with that sultry R&B backing vocalist, we can't help but reminisce about early 90's dance-pop. Considering that he has yet to release an album to include these singles, we are buzzing with anticipation to hear the full line-up of this sound and era. But until that album is bestowed upon the world, feast your eyes and ears on "Подруга-ночь!"

Max Barskih can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and his main website.

READ MORE

Our favourite Pink Lady, Dinah Nah, is back with another single to get us shaking it in all the Swedish clubs. Dinah Nah's Melodfestivalen song, "Make Me (La La La)," was the stand-out banger of the whole contest and was utterly robbed by coming in last place at the finals. Swedes struggle to know what to do with a banger (how else can we explain the whole Slayce Wilder Melodifestivalen 2014 debacle?), and there have been rumblings from Euro-pop fans clamouring for Dinah Nah to come gig at their local (gay) clubs so get on it, club-owners, and book this glamorous pop-Queen!

Dinah Nah's pink hair may be her signature at the moment but what she should first and foremost be remembered for is making killer tracks. "Taste Your Love" is an entirely on-point follow-up single. Dinah Nah is an excellent vocalist, something listeners might not expect considering the highly produced sound of her songs (unless you're listening to acoustic versions of those songs). "Taste Your Love" starts off with the levels low, before building its way up to its mainstream EDM chorus with a killer hook and potentially salacious lyrics, not that we're complaining. A little tongue-in-cheek never hurt anybody. The music video is also a commendable visual accompaniment, as Dinah and her back-up dancers dance out in the middle of nowhere, giving the glossy song a delightfully grungy edge.

This is just the sort of song we've been wanting to hear to get us pumped up for the Rix FM tour. Dinah Nah herself will be appearing on this tour so check out the full line-up to see which cities you can catch her at!

READ MORE

When we first heard that Darin would be releasing new music, we were thrilled. Ever since his debut on the first season of Swedish Idol, Darin has been one of the most consistent pop-stars in all of Sweden. With 6 studio albums under his belt, Darin has now brought the latest stage in his artistic development by transitioning to making music in the Swedish language. Upon hearing the title, "Ta mig tillbaka," we assumed it would be another weepy song about begging a girl to take her ex back. But shame on us for jumping to such a hasty conclusion when this is Darin 'King of Swed-Pop' Zanyar we're dealing with here. Instead of another cliched song about love/relationships that you've heard a million times before, Darin has delivered the sleeper-hit of Swed-pop for the season. With a 'Simon and Garfunkel'-esque folksy feel, "Ta mig tillbaka" is a song reminiscing of the simplicity of childhood and earlier stages in life, referencing MTV and 8-bit amongst other mementos. The melody is incredibly beautiful with harmonies and layered vocals giving stunning texture. Though we normally prefer to look at the more up-tempo, schlager-esque Swed-pop, Darin is one of the strongest artists in Sweden. This is a man who knows how to develop a vision for the next stage in his career and follow through with it. If "Tag mig tillbaka" is any indication of what's to come from his next album, we'll be first in line to get it. Sure, that's not even a thing anymore, but Darin has believing we've been transported back to the time where we'd do such a thing.

The music video is a lovely accompaniment to the song, as it combines shots of Darin enjoying parts of Stockholm city, Swedish nature, and raw footage of childhood videos. For once, we are treated to a music video that feels genuine and not a poor imitation of concepts done by artists with bigger budgets. Darin is serving up an indie single but still makes it work for the masses. Bravo, Darin, bravo.

READ MORE

Swed-pop-rebel Ace Wilder has returned with another slamming track, "Stupid," that combines lyrical mischievousness, a dancey hook, and Ace's signature laid-back but no less committed vocal delivery. Though the song makes use of instrumentation and percussion clearly influenced from South Asia, it still maintains Ace's flavour that won her so many fans since she burst onto a wider scene in Melodifestivalen 2014. There's a youthful exuberance to Ace's singles without isolating a wider demographic. This zest for life that is often a running theme in her music is one that can appeal to anyone, given the right outlook. Stupid may be as stupid does, but Ace is one smart songwriter. This pop gem should be added in to any 'adventure-seeking' playlist!

Check out Ace Wilder's "Stupid" here:

READ MORE

Our favourite mischievous Swedish duo, Samir & Viktor, are back following an impressive Melodifestivalen debut. Though you may remember that we had our initial reservations about the folksy-infused stylings of "Groupie," the song and number came to grow on us and eventually became the sleeper hit of the contest, even going platinum in Sweden.

But now that the summer is here, it was only fitting that Samir & Viktor would release a new single for many a Swede to attempt to dance around to. "Saxofuckingfon" sees Samir & Viktor return to the clubby roots planted in their first single, "Success." Also similar to their previous singles is the use of just one set of lyrics for both verses. Samir & Viktor's songs have always flirted with the line between 'repetitive' and 'catchy' but they've always managed to come out the side of the latter. At this point, we've come to realise that this a smart move on their (team's) part, as it allows for listeners to cut down the time it takes to learn the lyrics and thus join in and sing along, by half. Sure, at first glance, the lyrics of "Saxofuckingfon" are largely about partying, but if you dig a little deeper, you'll find that they're promoting unity and connectedness, which piggy-backs off of the 'deeper' message of "Groupie." "Saxofuckingfon" also takes the musical trend of saxophone-hooks in pop music and amplifies it to the point of being an expensive-sounding charicature. Come on, people, that's some quality parody right there!

The melodic content of "Saxofuckingfon" also outdoes its predecessors, and the rhythmic syncopation of the switch to triplets at the start of each 'dance break' is a brilliant move by the song's composers. We would be remiss if we didn't also note that a large part of why Samir & Viktor work as a duo is their unfiltered joy that radiates through every line. You can't help but get the sense that these two believe every word of what they're singing and this level of genuine emotion and energy is highly contagious. This can also account for why we reviewed the song when there is no music video out yet; the song was just too good to wait! So feast your ears on "Saxofuckingfon"; we dare you not to be consumed by it.

READ MORE

Swedish ex-quiff master and two-time Melodifestivalen runner-up, Danny Sauceo, has finally decided to put his quarter-life crisis aside and return to the Swedish pop scene with his first original Swedish-language single, "Brinner i bröstet," which roughly translates to "Burning in the chest." But despite the power of that imagery, the single and accompanying video are often just lukewarm at best.

Danny Saucedo has always been an excellent vocalist. For every E.M.D. (the boyband-trio of which he was a part) single, the grandest vocal lines were always reserved for Danny. It's no surprise that on this latest single, he sounds just as good as he always has. But if the song had started at lower levels to offer up more contrast with the song's climax(es), the greater range would have allowed for more of an impact. The song also could've benefited from more deep percussion throughout the song as well as a more expansive lower register, be that from synthetic bass or cello perhaps. In fact, the greatest point of the song is Danny's emotive vocals which carry the song far more than the production itself. Critiques aside, it is a perfectly competent song and pleasant enough to listen to, but perhaps we were just expecting a more explosive comeback single. Two years is a long time to keep folks waiting...

Final point of analysis is the music video. Before we get to it, perhaps we should revel in the fact that there is a music video at all, particularly when you consider that Danny's greatest single to date, "All In My Head," never had an official music video made and had hardly any promotion for it.

The "Brinner i bröstet" music video starts off with Danny and his back-up dancers in all-white outfits and Danny is wearing some sort of veiled apron attached around his front, making viewers subconsciously reach for their dishes for Danny to wash. With his band of all-white-wearing misfit-waiters around him, I half-expected him to start spouting, "I am Jack's complete lack of surprise." Speaking of lack of surprise, the instant the sneak-peek was posted, revealing that the video would be black and white, I was left flabbergasted at why such a choice would be made for a song with the word "burning" in the title and jumped to the prediction that there would be some done-a-hundred-times-before transition to colour towards the video's end and guess what? It totally does. Little about this video is innovative. The effects (the best-looking of which look virtually identical to Måns Zelmerlöw's "Perfectly Damaged" album cover), lowest-setting wind machine, unconvincing attempts to pantomime playing the song's piano hook by guest-artist Malcolm B, the uncomfortably blank Stepford-gaze of the video's female lead (with whom Danny doesn't even interact with once), and the dollar-store-eyedrops teardrop as part of some contrived attempt to emote the song's actually decent lyrics made this a just-okay video. Have we seen worse? Yes. But were we hoping for more? Absolutely.

But before we leave you thinking that the video has no redeeming qualities, we will note that the second set of outfits (the black-and-white outfits) are overall a much cleaner and stylish look. The use of sign language to communicate the lyrics, as there is no lipsynching at any point during the video, was genuinely touching. The choreography is decent, save for the out-of-sync execution of the moves that go down to the ground and back up again. The moving camera angle at the video's close is also a visually eye-catching point that had us thinking that when combined with the song's decent success on iTunes in Sweden, perhaps Danny is on the right path to getting his career back into a groove. We certainly hope so! We're more so befuddled by the choice to make the lead single of his big comeback be a ballad, particularly so close to the summer season, which is when Swedes tend to drop their biggest party singles. But we're happy to welcome back one of our most cherished blonde bombshells of Sweden. Hopefully, he'll build his momentum back up and return to Melodifestivalen. After all, Måns Zelmerlöw's six-year-gap away from Melodifestivalen led him to the complete and utter slayage of Europe!

What are your reactions to "Brinner i bröstet"? Does the music video ignite your fiery fangirl adoration? Check it out on Aftonbladet and let us know!

READ MORE