Robyn Mapei | Photo: Press Image Photo: Fredrik Skogkvist Peter, Bjorn and John Photo: Marguerite Seger Photo: Johan Bergmark Lykke Li Mapei | Hit Facts <strong>Sweden</strong>
“ABBA with balls” Love Is All myspace.com/loveisall8 A five-piece indie-pop band from Göteborg, Love Is All first hit the scene in 2004 when they got to make one of the last Peel Sessions for legendary DJ John Peel (1939-2004). Love is All is fronted by singer Josephine Olausson and is currently on contract with US independent label What’s Your Rupture? A Love Is All track is included on Rough Trade’s prestigious collection Rough Trade Shops: Indiepop 1. Lykke Li myspace.com/lykkeli The 21-year old from Stockholm who has been compared to such diverse artists as Feist, Björk and Alicia Keys. Lykke Li shares a manager with Shout Out Louds. Her debut album was recorded in New York with Björn Yttling from Peter, Bjorn And John as producer. In one interview, Lykke Li said that she “likes all music with feelings, pain and cock in it”. It’s an attitude that makes her music what it is. Maia Hirasawa myspace.com/maiahirasawa Japaswedish Maia Hirasawa’s technicolour pop has been compared to Björk’s It’s Oh So Quiet and artists like Rufus Wainwright and Regina Spector. Maia Hirasawa doesn’t only write, arrange and produce all her music; on her debut album she also plays most of the instruments. As a singer she has just as much mastery of jazz as she does pop. Has toured and played with Hello Saferide. Mando Diao myspace.com/mandodiao A garage rock band group from Borlänge that lists John Lennon and Mohammad Ali as its chief influences. Another comparison is early Oasis, not least when it comes to self-confidence. At gigs, Mando Diao has been whipping up a hysteria amongst its young fans of near-Beetles proportions. Breakthrough in Japan and Germany. The singer’s two younger brothers play in Sugarplum Fairy. Mapei myspace.com/mapei At the end of the 80s, it was Swedish born Neneh Cherry who personified the contemporary scene. Today it’s Mapei, Stockholm’s answer to M.I.A.. Under the heading Influences on her MySpace page, she lists “Pop politics. Flippin’ burgers. Characteristic cab drivers. Apathy. Dungen”. Despite not having released a record yet, Mapei has been nominated as <strong>Sweden</strong>’s best live performer. Melody Club myspace.com/melodyclub British NME has described Melody Club as “ABBA with balls”. The group was handpicked by Kylie Minogue to support her Greatest Hits tour. The latest to discover the band’s updated glam rock is skateboard legend Bam Margera, who has included them on his Viva La Bands, Vol 2 anthology (which also features The Sounds and In Flames, also from <strong>Sweden</strong>). The Perishers myspace.com/theperishers Low-key pop combo from Umeå whose mood-evoking music has been discovered by many US TV producers. The Perishers’ songs have featured in Greys Anatomy, Veronica mars, The O.C. and One Tree Hill. When the group toured with Sarah MacLachlan, they sold up to 600 CDs per evening. Currently on contract to the US company Nettwerk. Peter, Bjorn and John myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn The duet Young Folks, with its characteristic whistling refrain, has been called “the perfect pop song” and is one of the 21st century’s most played songs. NME named it their numbertwo single of 2006. The song has since been recorded by Kanye West on a mix tape and in German and Japanese cover versions. For the past few years, the trio has been on a non-stop tour. Björn Yttling is also one of <strong>Sweden</strong>’s most sought-after producers, and has worked with Taken By Trees, Lykke Li, Sahara Hotnights, Marit Bergman and Shout Out Louds. John Eriksson is one of the country’s most popular percussionists, and plays in the ensemble Kroumata. Peter Morén once played in The Plan, a band that won much critical acclaim in <strong>Sweden</strong>. Promise and the Monster myspace.com/promiseandthemonster Behind the name is 19-year old Billie Lindahl, who, under the heading Sounds Like on her MySpace page, has written “nightmares”. Her gothic ballads recall Mary Shelley’s 19th century and Stina Nordenstam’s 20th. Promise And The Monster has supported Jens Lekman and Mark Kozelek. Her label, Imperial Recordings, also discovered José González. Robyn myspace.com/robynmyspace It might seem strange to call a 28-year old artist a veteran, but Robyn has gone through several incarnations as an artist. Her debut album Robyn Is Here, which she recorded when she was 17, earned Robyn three Grammies in <strong>Sweden</strong> and two Top-10 hits in the USA. Since having been called the Swedish equivalent of R&B artists like Brandy and Monica, Robyn has re-invented herself as something of a futuristic Kate Bush for the Hit Facts <strong>Sweden</strong> |
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