Finally we’re getting closer to the end of the year, so it’s time to sum up all the fantastic releases of 2015 in one list: the 20 Best Scandinavian Songs of 2015. This year was a balanced mix of good old mates such as Blaue Blume, Duvchi, Mø, but also completely new faces such as Elias, Vaz, Wangel, Chinah and Mavrick. We note, Scandinavia is not standing still when it comes to good pop music. And now, let’s start: here is our personal list of the best Scandinavian songs of 2015 and hej, good news: A woman is the winner!

 

20. Unfamiliar Love - Duvchi

‘Unfamiliar Love’ is a chilly and sentimental tune. You hear an up and down wave of beats, Duvchi’s tender and androgynous voice and soft string instruments which intensify the track. It is atmospheric and dreamy - like an undertow that ropes you in this tune.

 

19. Duvan - Amason

What do you need for a dreamy and solid indie pop song? A catchy melody, a deep and expressive voice, like Amanda Bergmans and this unique airiness of this band!

 

18. Snowboy - Emmecosta

This track is a mixture of dreamy hypnotising synths and frail vocals, all sounds are unobtrusive and smooth and at the latest when the trumpet come in this tune and hover above all the constituents you will love it. Emmecosta is one of our discoveries of 2015, signed to the Swedish label ICEA.

 

17. Kamikaze - Mø

Mø’s and Elliphant’s “One More” was selected as best song of 2014 by us. Also this year Mø has landed in the top positions. Her song ‘Kamikaze’ doesn’t need many words. It is catchy, cool and a good one for high spirits. Try to keep still your feet…Impossible. Just a haunting melody that will stay in your mind for a long time.

 

16. Remedy - Mavrick

‘Remedy’ is the result of the soulful voice from Mavrick, a lot of frustration and sound explosions on the chorus. You can hear a special rise on this track , the background gets more and more intensive and when Mavrick sings: ”You’re Remedy” the song explodes with a fast drum beat, a deep bass line and a huge choir, it sounds dramatic but absolutely danceable. After 3 minutes the track begins again with new tunes and dies away with a gospel choir sound.

 

15. Eternal History - Wangel

The basis for ‘Eternal History’ consists of a regular beat and tropical synths, the crown is the fragile, penetrative voice of Wangel. It’s so easy to put yourself in his position, because this song conveys impressive Wangels despair and uneasiness. The surprise act of 2015 for us.

 

14. Dream - Mountain Bird

‘Dream’ is absolutely the right title for this track, soft vocals and dramatic beats and synths. Everything becomes blurred what generates this great dream atmosphere. Let yourself be carried away by this sweeping tune.

 

13. Sky - Blaue Blume

Listen to fantastic dream pop and be captured by the unique voice of Jonas Smith, singer of Blaue Blume. ‘Sky’ shows the enormous creativity of this band, it’s dramatic, fancy, adventurous and a bit especial and it’s worth to watch the video from this song.

 

12. All skit kommer tillbaka - Min Stora Sorg

In this song you can hear the strong electro influence on Min Stora Sorg right in the beginning. The Swedish songstress sings fairylike in contrast to the more rigid electronic tunes. But also the vocals get twitchy in the course of this track, it’s varied and exciting. Caution! It’s in Swedish language.

 

11. Know Me Better - Mabel

Here we have a thrilling mix for you. A rhythm and beat, which reminds you on latin or salsa, short old school rap parts and melancholic and touching parts, where Mabel sings with her tender voice and you hear soft and harmonic piano chords. For all who didn’t know: Mabel is the daughter of Neneh Cherry.

 

10. Lace - View/LCMDF

Luckily we have at least two rap songs in our list. One of them comes from View & the ladies from LCMDF. The smooth, vibrant synths, the calm and deep voice of View and the exciting transition of the distorted vocal parts from LCMDF, which getting more and more natural and then again distorted, make it hard not to get captured.

 

9. Cézanne - CTM

‘Cézanne’ is dark and gloomy and very special. The contrast between the orchestral sound, the manipulated, destroyed voices, the soft background choir and the inapt sounds, is weird but also just enthralling. When CTM is releasing a song, it’s very likely to end up in one of our best of lists.

 

8. Sofie - Leslie Tay

This is so emotional with all its simplicity. The lyrics are very direct and there are no underlining subjects. It doesn’t need much to beautify this song with it’s unique atmosphere, only an African drum rhythm and the charming voice of Leslie Tay.

 

7. Sunshine - Vaz

We really like the mixture between the wide Scandinavian sound and the African influences. On the one hand their vocals and the electro tunes, on the other hand the African inspired clapping rhythm and the natural, cheerful choir. We prophesy you will want to sing along!

 

6. The Void - RA

‘The Void’ by Swedish band RA is dark and a bit chaotic and filled with a Nordic-noir punk attitude and it draws you into a world of horror and beauty at the same time. These guys performed at our Midsommar Festival this year.

 

5. Lucifer - XOV

There is obviously a reason why XOV has been so hyped for this song. He picks the best parts of early 90’s R&B, west coast hip hop and combining them with a dramatic pop sensibility. Pulsating beats and this catchy voice will go under your skin.

 

4. Minds - CHINAH

Listen to fast electronic synths, neat beats and high and pure vocals. More and less balanced, but always bodacious. Watch out for Chinah in 2016!

 

3. Tänd Alla Ljus - Silvana Imam

Heavy and super cool, that is what Silvana Imam exudes. Deep menacing synths mixed with simple drums and her powerful rap part. The icing on the cake is the manipulated counterpart. A tune to freak out and we have to say it again: SUPER COOL!

 

2. Revolution - Elias

It’s a combination of electronic and organic music and mixes soulful tunes, a deep lyric and Elias’ tender, powerful voice. ‘Revolution’ has moments of reflectiveness and silence and moments of drama and passion. We cannot stop to be touched and amazed. Oh, and by the way: we are presenting Elias’s German tour in 2016.

 

1. Running With the Wolves - Aurora

Enjoy freedom, follow your instincts and run. This is what Aurora suggests in her song to escape from modern society. With ‘Running With The Wolves’ she got well-known not only because of the Vodafone commercial! Aurora doesn’t need much with her tender and bewitching voice to get a magical tune in her tracks. ‘Running with the Wolves’ begins reticent, but the chorus of this song is so rousing that you wish you could leave everything behind if you just run. We are convinced this song has topped everything we heard this year and we are happy that Aurora is doing so well these days.