Urszula Beata Kasprzak is a very popular Polish artist, born in Lublin in 1960. Her career spans more than 40 years, with 15 studio albums released and appearances in several TV shows and films. Check out her most recent single. In "O mnie, o tobie", a very interesting indie-pop which captivates you in a great melody.
Sounds European! has the honor of presenting one of the most entertaining interviews of our history. She is a very talented artist from Norway. And she has opened up and gone deep into the subjects we proposed as few have. And the result is amazing, as you can now see! These are our 10 questions for Carina Dahl:
Sounds European!: You have music running in your blood – your father, Morten "Diesel" Dahl, is the drummer of Norwegian band TNT. How was it to grow up living in the music environment? What are your earliest memories of your relationship with music?
Carina Dahl: My dad's band were super famous and they had their breakthrough right before I was born. My dad was touring around the United States during most of my mom's pregnancy, but he made it back home when I was getting born. He had all of his band members coming into the hospital... my mom said it was a bit chaotic.
When I look back, I think I had a kind of different upbringing, with a lot of trips. We stayed in Spain a lot before I started school, because that was closer to Norway than the United States. I had a normal school, and there were a lot of musicians from Norway in my neighborhood. I remember learning English really early. When I was five, if I picked up the phone and I heard something I couldn't understand, I would say "Hold on a minute" or something like that.
But I think one of my first big memories was with Paulen, who was the sound guy TNT has had for around 30 years, at a big concert in Spain. My mom was always sewing clothes for us, and she would always make the same for her and me – only mine was like a mini version. I think it looked very cute, a little family. So, I was sitting on Paulen's shoulders during a concert, and I see this guy in red speedos, with drumsticks and cowboy boots, in front of the stage, while the guitar solo was going on. Then Paulen said: "Carina, that's your dad". And I was: "OK, this is my life". So right there, I kind of understood what I was going into.
SE!: You had a solid career as a model when you started your transition to music. What made you decide to redirect yourself? And how was that process for you, how were your first steps into the professional music world?
CD: No, that's not true, actually. I did some modeling, some covers for magazines, just because I had the opportunity to do it. But I would never consider myself as a model. I've never been super skinny or tall or anything. I just did some fun stuff. I'm really curious and I like to have a lot of projects going on, so I always jump on to whatever I want to do. The modeling, the TV and everything else have just been projects on the side. Music has always been my main thing.
I've been making music since I was 15 years old – that was the first time I recorded an album. I recorded it together with the daughter of TNT's guitarist. I got a record deal right after I released some songs that I got from Stargate, around 2007 or 2008. Then, I took part of Melodi Grand Prix in 2011, and that's when people started to recognize who I was. I think 2011 was the year that everything started to get real, that I could live off it.
SE!: You took part of two editions of Melodi Grand Prix, in 2011 and 2013. How were those experiences, for you? What memories do you keep of them? And would you ever consider going for a third try?
CD: The experience was very good. It was something new to me. I had to do the choreography, but I also had the camera coreography. I had to sing, I had to dance, and I had to look to the different cameras, at different times, and it was all very planned. It was quite fun for me to be on such a big stage. It was a big step for people to know who I am.
In 2013, I actually got the wrong microphone stand. It didn't fit, so I was a little bombed out, because it kind of ruined my whole thing. I had three minutes to do everything on stage and then I got the wrong microphone stand. But, fortunately, I had done a lot of touring before I did Melodi Grand Prix, so I didn't get all messed up in my head. I was used to stuff not going as planned... maybe sometimes a sound didn't come through, or somebody played wrongly, or whatever. So I think I handled it pretty well.
It was a very nice experience. I got to meet a lot of people, and it was the cutest thing when girls were holding up signs with my name on and wanted to take pictures... it was fun.
If I would do it again, it would have to be the right song and the right time. I'd have to be really sure that this was right, you know. I got asked to do it last year, with a song that I didn't write, which they handed me, and I didn't like that song, so I couldn't do it. I don't have to write it myself, but I have to be sure that I stand for it and that I could say it's me.
SE!: As we see it, your music can be regarded as contemporary pop. Your releases are always very fresh, in tune with the most current tendencies in the world. How do you keep yourself so updated? And if it wasn't on us, but on you, how would you qualify your own music, in genre and style?
CD: Contemporary pop, fresh, in tune – thank you so much!
It's hard to put myself and others in boxes and genres. Normally, I like to write and make music that I listen myself. In the beginning, I did a lot of midtempo songs, and as the years went by, I've been making more upbeat and more danceable stuff. I would say that my style is pop. But nowadays, there are so many genres... Before, it was only pop; now, there are so many ways of doing pop. I don't know what I would call it! I wouldn't say tropical, but I would say, maybe, rhythmic pop. For me, it's important to have a cool beat, the kind that gets stuck, and then it's the melody lines that can't get out of your head. That's what I'm always trying to do.
Writing music is hard. So I do my best, and I'm very happy every time it works out. I released a lot of singles that didn't work out as well, and I have so many songs that I didn't even release! I work really, really hard, and I'm very happy when it works out and people like what I do.
SE!: There are several different moments in the daily life of a singer: songwriting, recording, performing live, promoting a new work, interacting with fans... How do you live each of these instances? And do you have a favorite one, among them?
CD: Yeah, it's a lot of things!
I've been working for myself since I was 19 years old. I have my own company, and I've been living off what I create since I was 19. I also have to do TV shows, events and other things, because being a musician isn't something you can always live well off.
I like every part: songwriting, recording, live performances, promoting, the whole process! Coming into the studio, not having anything and actually making a song from nothing. Listening to it the day after, playing it for a couple of friends and playing it for the label. You know, the whole process of working out the song, until it's like "OK, this is going to be released". Then preparing the photoshoots and the music videos... I love everything about it!
Performing live is one of my favorite things, because when I see people singing along, it means a lot. Performing was the main reason why I wanted to make music. I've been dancing and singing my whole life, always being on stage, always jumping around... Performing is my favorite thing to do, for sure.
But I'm really happy I'm a part of the entire process. Before, I didn't write songs. Now I do that as well, and all my songs are about something I'm going through at that time, or something I've gone through. Whenever I sing my songs, it takes me back to what I felt when I wrote it.
Also, it means a lot getting e-mails and stuff from girls, specially, but also boys, going through breakups, saying that a song of mine was helping them with what they were going through. For my song "NLTO (Not like the others)", I had a guy send me a picture, he tattooed "NLTO" across his heart. He has always felt he was different, and then he found that song, which says being different is a cool thing – and that's what I think too, when you're different, that's cool.
I always try to answer everybody that writes me on Instagram and Snapchat. I use a lot of time on that, but I think that if people take time to actually write me something, that's really big. So I have to get back, thank them and I try my best.
"I work really, really hard, and I'm very happy when it works out and people like what I do" (Picture: Johnny Wohlin)
SE!: For very long, Sweden was seen as the leading country of Scandinavian pop – and one of the most prominent nations across Europe. Recent years have presented a new panorama, with Norway getting more and more space in the scene. How do you analyze the current moment of Norwegian pop music?
CD: Over the last years, Norway has really made a standout in the industry. I lived in Sweden between 2006 and 2012 and I used to work with a lot of Swedish producers (and I still do). I find the Swedish producers and songwriters really good, and I always tend to go back to Sweden when I want to write. But if you look at the big [Norwegian] people, doing it big, like Kygo and all these other guys, they came along with music which is more electronic.
It's pretty cool that Norway is making a standout. In the '80s, when my dad was making music, a lot of good rock music came from Norway. Now, it's a lot of electronic music. Sigrid is really cool, Astrid S, Julie Bergan... It's fun to see that people can make it big out there. I'm still working on that. Also, everything is more viral now, so it's easier to get around.
SE!: You have just released a new single, "Waste no time". What can you tell us about it?
CD: I wrote my single "Waste no time" with a Swedish producer named Angus Logan. It was actually the first time we met and we worked together. My label put up the session, I flew out to Stockholm and I was like "Hi! I'm Carina!". We went into the studio, it was only the two of us, and we came up with that one. It's so cool that the first time we had a session, it already turned into a single!
It's kind of a sexy song. The lyrics are about when you go out, you see somebody and you think that person is interesting. So, instead of wasting time with not talking, you go and talk, get to know each other, get your bodies closer, whatever you want to do.
"Waste no time" is also one of my mottos in life. I travel and work a lot, and people ask me all the time: "How do you do it? Don't you get tired? You're always everywhere". I had 202 days traveling last year. But that's what keeps me going. I get a lot of energy from doing a lot of stuff. I did a jewelry line – three collections that got sold in 200 stores around Norway. Now, I'm going to do a bikini line and a sunglasses line. I do a lot of TV shows, I travel a lot for vacations, I do my music as well and I study Finance. So yeah, "Waste no time" is kind of what I live by. I'm so happy to have this life, everybody is lucky to have a life – and you have to take care of all the moments and just do everything you have the opportunity of doing. Waste no time!
SE!: Besides your new single, what can your fans expect from you in 2018? What are your professional projects for the near future?
CD: I was just telling you about the bikini line and the sunglasses line coming up. I'm going into the studio and hopefully I'm going to get some new songs to release after the summer. I think two songs a year is cool, and I've already released two songs – but I want to do one more, maybe in like August. I'm doing some more TV this year, and that's about it! New music coming out, some sunglasses and bikinis!
SE!: If you could choose anyone, who would be some Norwegian and international artists you would like to collaborate with?
CD: Oh my God, I can aim big here! I'm a really big Justin Bieber fan, so that would be sick. But there are so many! Zara Larsson, I think she's really cool. One of my first big role models was Madonna, actually. There are probably so many more people... I would love to work with Max Martin, the producer. Those ones, for sure!
SE!: We would like to finish this interview with a song of yours. What is your favorite song by Carina Dahl, and why?
CD: My favorite song by myself... I would say "NLTO (Not like the others)", because that was the first song that really hit the charts. It was in the 7th place after one day, and it's one of the songs that means a lot to me. "Champions" is also one of my favourite songs, because it's about being wherever you want to be, and how everybody can be a champion in whatever they want to do. When I wrote it and the first time I was singing it live, I was almost crying, I couldn't hold myself, because it meant so much to me.
Swedish singer Tove Styrke has just released a new single. And it's surely a must-listen! "On the low" offers a smooth, well-built melody which is set to make everyone hypnotized without even noticing. It's so addictive!
Updated on July 14th, 2018, with the official lyrics video.
Måneskin is a band formed by Damiano David, Victoria De Angelis, Thomas Raggi, and Ethan Torchio. Hailing from Rome, the band recently finished second on the local version of The X Factor (behind Lorenzo Licitra), and are now launching their national music career. Their most recent single is "Morirò da re", a very edgy classic rock.
It's time to remeet Spanish singer Lorena Gómez, and her new single "Vulnerable a ti". It's a pop song with captivating melody and a very memorable chorus. Lorena's voice fits it all perfectly!
Sarah Lombardi was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1992. She is known for winning the eigth edition of Deutschland sucht den Superstar, the local version of Idols. Her most recent single is entitled "Genau hier", and it is a soft pop that will have you relaxed in a matter of seconds!
British singer Liam Payne and Kosovar-born Rita Ora have gathered for a single together. And we can't get enough of it. "For you" is a super contemporary pop song that highlights both artists's musical styles in a magnific way. The uplifting chorus, the way their voices match... it has all the ingredients to be our song of the week!
Sounds European! remeets Macedonian singer Lozano and his brand-new single "Kilometri". The song offers a wonderful vocal performance by Lozano, wrapped by an excellent set of folk instrumentals. The result is highly contagious!
Russian singer Sergey Lazarev keeps releasing addictive singles. And our latest craze for his sounds is "You put out the fire", a contagious pop that mixes disco and electronic beats with a truly anthemic chorus.
EQUINOX are a group which was created to represent Bulgaria on this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The group consists of Bulgarian singers Zhana Bergendorff, Georgi Simeonov and Vlado Mihailov and American singers Johnny Manuel and Trey Campbell. Their entry is "Bones", a powerful song which has potential for keeping Bulgaria's excellent moment in the contest's recent history.
The Raven Age are a melodic metal band from Harlow, in the United Kingdom. They have just released "Surrogate", and we couldn't be more thrilled about it. It's such a powerful and intense song! It's a song to listen nonstop!
Finnish pop band Neljänsuora returns to Sounds European! with a great new single. We are talking about "Paratiisi", a tropical pop which anticipates the upcoming European summer in a super danceable way!
Maltese diva Ira Losco has just released a new single. And it's a great one! "One in a million" is a song which transits between piano and electronic influences very naturally. Ira's voice is the cherry on top of it all!
Robin Resch is an Austrian singer from the city of Rottenmann. He made headlines in 2016, upon finishing second in the sixth edition of The Voice of Germany. And now, he is presenting a new single of his own: "The great escape" is an anthemic pop-rock ballad that will send chills down your spine!
Danish singer Frederik Leopold returns to our site with his most recent single. The song is entitled "Bother you", and it shows a different side of the Dane: it's an instrospective, guitar-driven pop ballad.
It's time to remeet Swedish singer and songwriter Albin Lee Meldau. He has just released "The weight is gone", and it's as great as a single can be. It is a classy song, with perfect instrumentals and a wonderful vocal performance by Albin. We love it!
Robin Mood is the moniker of Jakub Lenz, a Czech singer hailing from the city of Liberec. His debut single is "Gravitace", an enticing pop with synth and electronic beats to make it sound super contemporary!
Italian diva Nina Zilli has a new single on offer. It's entitled "1xUnAttimo", and it's a very entertaining song. Its easygoing melody is delivered in a way that, when one notices, it's already too late: full addiction.
Fans of good music, great news: Florence + The Machine are back with a new work! And "Sky full of song", the first single coming from it, does not disappoint. It's music at its purest state, with an epic ambience only they know how to create.
German singer Sasha returns to Sounds European! with his most recent single. We are talking about "Du fängst mich ein", a touching and emotional ballad. The video helps creating a beautiful atmosphere around the song.
Jamai Johannes Loman is a Dutch singer who was born in Gouda in 1986. He rose to prominence after winning the first season of Idols in the Netherlands. His new single is "Geen tijd", a sweet and very enjoyable song which explores his voice greatly.
Maja Jakupovic is a singer born in Kosovo who is currently living and developing her career in Austria. Her most recent single is entitled "Cross my heart", an inspiring jazz ballad with a fantastic instrumentation which lets Maja's voice unravel beautifully.
German duo Glasperlenspiel are releasing a new album, entitled "Licht & schatten". And the first single to emerge from it is simply amazing: "Royals & kings" might mislead you for its English title, but the song brings a very cool pop in German.
Every new single Slovene singer and musician Neisha releases is one more gift for the ears. And the rule is kept with her new release: "Prihaja maj" is a wonderful song, mixing the best of Neisha's voice and delightful instrumentals.
British singer James Bay is finally back with new music! He is now promoting a new album, "Electric light", and his most recent single is entitled "Us". The song is a soulful and charming ballad that retains the folk-inspired sounds that made a name for James all over the world.
Look who is back! Swedish star Måns Zelmerlöw has recently released a great new single. It's "Happyland", a guitar-driven song with a smooth melody and a grandiose chorus. Its ambience is quite unique!
Look who is back with a new single! Norwegian star Carina Dahl has just released "Waste no time", and we are totally addicted to it. It's a sexy electronic pop song with an involving melody and a chorus which is extremely effective. It's impossible to listen to it only once!
He is one of the most talented new artists coming from France. He is great in several forms of art. And music is surely one of them: his single "Stop the rain", featuring Nilusi, which you see below, has dazzled us and became our song of the week. Now, we are having the chance of talking to him about his work! These are our 10 questions for Nemo Schiffman:
Sounds European!: You come from a family of artists. Your mom is an actress and director, your father is a director of photography and your grandmother was also a director. Was art an obvious path for you? How did it happen in your life?
Nemo Schiffman: I think art is part of my blood, because it's part of my family's history. Of course, my parents gave me a huge cinema culture since I was very little. So the actor path attracted me naturally. But the singing one, it came to me while watching a French TV show called Star Academy when I was two. I used to sing along to the songs from the contestants. And then came my love of dance. When I was a child, I wanted to play in musicals, because it was the only way for me to practice my three art forms at the same time. But growing up, I realized that I wanted to be fully independent in each art.
SE!: You took part of the first season of The Voice Kids in France in 2014. Under the guidance of Garou, you were the runner-up of the competition. What are your memories of that period? How was the experience overall – and having to face competition and judgment? And how did you feel, finishing with such a great result?
NS: The Voice Kids was such a great experience. I made a lot of friends and memories. And singing with a band live in front of millions of people is so incredible when you're only 14. I didn't fear the judgment or the competition because I really participated just to have fun and do what I love. I never thought I could go this far into the competition. But not winning was the best part for me. Finishing runner-up is what I, my family and even Garou wanted. It was too soon for me to sign a record deal. And this huge exposure allowed me to sign with a record label two years later, when I felt it was the right time.
SE!: Your participation on The Voice Kids was in 2014. But your singles came only in 2016. Why did it take so long until your first releases? Then, when they came, success was instantaneous. How do you deal with success? And how do you feel, seeing so many people loving your work and singing your lyrics?
NS: Like I was saying, I wanted to wait before getting into the real business! I was really young when I finished The Voice, I wasn't ready. But in 2016, I felt a lot more mature and ready to jump into this industry.
I don't really like talking about "success", because it's nothing. It can vanish tomorrow, like nothing happened. So, I'm not taking anything for granted, I still work a lot. But of course, seeing people loving my songs is the best reward ever. It's the only reason why I do what I do: if my music can bring something to people, I feel like a winner.
SE!: Since we are talking about success, it's impossible not to comment about your fans. You have a growing fanbase, with thousands of followers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. How is your relationship with your fans? And how important do you think it is to be connected to them?
NS: I love my fans so much. They are really important to me, even in my everyday life. When I'm feeling a bit down, seeing their love messages and the support they give me really cheers me up. I try to talk to them the most I'm able to. It's important for them to feel that I'm here too.
SE!: Your most recent single is "Stop the rain", featuring former Kids United singer Nilusi. We absolutely love it, it was elected our site's song of the week. It's your first single featuring another artist. How different is it to work with someone else in a song? And, in this case, how was working with Nilusi?
NS: Wow, thank you! Well, I loved working with another artist. The coolest part about it is the shows. When you're a solo artist and you're used to doing concerts, having a partner on stage is so refreshing. It's not as stressful as when you're alone.
Nilusi is a dear friend of mine, so working with her was really fun. I love singing with her, and she's a wonderful artist and person.
"If my music can bring something to people, I feel like a winner" (Picture: Antonini Photography)
SE!: In our opinion, you deliver a type of contemporary pop which is very rare in the French music scene. How about you, how do you see your own music? How would you classify your music, in style and genre? Do you have inspirations, artists you feel influence your work as a singer? And do you see yourself ever exploring other styles in the future, or do you feel you have already found "your place" musically?
NS: Well, the music that I released until now was very influenced by American pop music, because that's what I'm listening to the most. But now, I'm starting a whole new project, with a whole new sound. I feel like what I was doing before is what I like to listen to, but it's not who I am. My next songs, and my first album, will be more personal, and only with French lyrics. I want to tell stories, touch people with messages that I care about. And the music genre will be more like independent French variety.
SE!: You are not only a singer, but also an actor. You were even nominated for the most promising actor category at the 39th César Awards, for the role of Charly in "On my way" ("Elle s'en va"). How do you deal with both careers, singer and actor, at once? Do you have a favorite one? And is there anything you learned with acting that you actually use while singing and performing?
NS: I do not have a favorite one. I need both to live! And I always did both, at the same time. It was never a problem for me. It's more like a schedule thing, but it's not me who deals with that! And of course, I learnt a lot from acting, especially for the interpretation. If I want my music to make sense, I must interpret my lyrics. For me, it's one of the main skills a singer should have.
SE!: What are your professional projects for the near future? What can your fans expect from you in 2018? And looking further ahead into the future, what do you dream of achieving as a singer?
NS: Right now, I'm working on my first album, which I want to release at the end of 2018.
And for the future, I just wish to continue making music that I love and that people listen to. And I would love doing a huge tour in France, or even in other countries. Hey, you gotta dream big to be big!
SE!: If you could choose anyone, who would be some French and international artists you would like to collaborate with?
Spanish superstar Malú is back with a new single. "Ciudad de papel" is a grandiose song, with excellent instrumentals, beautiful melody and a passionate vocal performance by Malú. The result couldn't be better!
Italian singer Laura Pausini is living a very fruitful moment. Her third single this year is "Frasi a metà", a deep and emotional ballad which explodes in the chorus with the addition of rock sounds.
Sounds European! remeets Bulgarian star Mihaela Fileva, who has a great new single on offer. "Bez etiketi" is a groovy pop song with groovy beats and an irresistible chorus. It's surely a must-listen!
Posebno Izdanje is a Serbian band hailing from Mladenovac. Their newest single will empower you with Balkan sounds: "Svejedno" is an explosion of folklore!
Swedish singer Oscar Zia has just released a new single. For "Kyss mig i slo-mo", he has gathered with Leslie Tay, from Malmö. And the result couldn't be any better: it's groovy, involving and extremely inviting. We love it!
Irish singer Una Healy is quickly becoming one of the divas of the Irish pop music scene. And her most recent single will prove us right: "Never see me cry" mixes classic pop with soft country sounds in an enticing and totally addictive way. It definitely is our song of the week!
Russian group MBAND have a new single on offer. And it's an absolutely outstanding one! "Nitochka" has an excellent melody, which is filled with the boys' voices to perfection. A special highlight to its chorus, which is just outstanding!
German singer Wincent Weiss has just released a new single. And we fell for his sounds once again! The song is entitled "An wunder", and it is a delicious mixture of pop and rock.
It's time to remeet Romanian star Delia, who has just released a new single. "Du-te-ma" is a groovy song which sets a unique mood, perfect for Delia's voice to shine all over. And the chorus is great!
Ukrainian band O.Torvald are back to our site with a fantastic new single! We are talking about "Likhtari", a powerful rock song with captivating verses and a more than energetic chorus.
Giannis Chatzigeorgiou, Duke, Giorgos Michos, Nikos Athanasiadis and Kostas Stefanidis are RadioAct, one of Greece's most popular rock bands. They have just released "An isoun edo", a captivating song which makes you want to relisten to it over and over again.
Finnish duo Norma John are back on Sounds European! with their most recent single. We are talking about "Hellfire", a downtempo pop song with an interesting British-like sound that will drive your ears crazy on the first listen!
This song doesn't have an official video on YouTube, but you can listen to it on Spotify.
Mari Kraimbrery is a Ukrainian singer who was born in Kryvyi Rih in 1992. We are totally in love with her new single! "Krasnaya luna" is a song with a deep and hypnotizing ambience and a chorus which easily sticks to the head. It's a song to listen nonstop!
Manuel Francisco Flores Martín is Curricé, a Spanish artist hailing from Madrid. His most recent single is "Eroded", a pop rock that includes contemporary melodies in a way rarely seen in his country.
Croatian star Jacques Houdek has just released a new single, entitled "Srce". It's an interesting electropop, with a grower melody which flows into a very contemporary chorus. Jacques's voice is, as usual, flawless.
Dutch pop princess Eva Simons makes her first solo appearance on Sounds European! with a true summer anthem. Anticipating the oncoming European season, she delivered "The one", a song that combines pop and tropical beats with a majestic power!
Whenever Macedonian singer Lozano releases a new song, our expectations for good music rise. And once again, we were not disappointed: his single "Kamo tebe da te imam" is stupendous! It offers a delightful melody and a very captivating chorus.
Alba is a Finnish singer songwriter from the city of Turku. Her most recent single is "Dirty tears", a dark pop which creates a haunting atmosphere with its contemporary sounds.
This song doesn't have an official video on YouTube, but you can listen to it on Spotify.
Robert Botezan is a Romanian singer from Sibiu. He rose to prominence after being one of the finalists of the sixth season of The Voice of Romania. We can't stop listening to his new single, "Tu nu, eu da". It's a wonderful song!
Danish singer Tim Schou is returning to our site with a great new single. We are talking about "Nirvana", a pop track that has a great melody and a contagious beat!
Slava's moment is simply stupendous! The Russian superstar has been giving her best, both in quantity and quality. We now listen to her new release, "Nevesta", which is an exciting electropop with a memorable chorus.
Two of the most popular British artists have gathered for a song together. And said single is, as expected, a total banger. It's Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa, who will put you right on the dancefloor with their amazing "One kiss"!
Updated on May 14th, 2018, with the official video.
Slovene star Alya has a new single on offer. And it's such an entertaining one! "Dobro jutro življenje" offers a delightful melody with fresh vibes, which totally fit Alya's voice and approach. It's pure fun, from first to last second!
Mayka Edd is a DJ and singer coming from Stockholm. She is better known as half of the duo Death Team. Her first solo release is a true masterpiece: "Rich" is an edgy mix of futuristic sounds and pop with an anthemic chorus.
Updated on April 22nd, 2018, with the official audio video.
We now travel to Azerbaijan, where we listen to a great new single by Nigar Jamal. "Broken dreams" is an involving downtempo song with a deep ambience and an intense yet soft melody. Nigar's voice fits it all very well!
Spanish singer María Parrado makes her third appearance on our site, but for the first time she comes on her own. That's because of her recent single, "Si me dejas", a classic ballad with a contemporary synth approach.
Serbian singer Dusica Grabovic has just released a new single, and we couldn't be more thrilled about it. "S tobom mi se spava" is an entertaining Balkan folk pop song with an involving melody and a very catchy chorus.
Danish singer Mads Langer is back to our site with his most recent single. It is entitled "All the time, sometimes", a soft pop driven by a guitar and with an electronic edge that gives the whole track a nice twist.
Simon and Clarice are Amethysts, a British duo hailing from the East Anglia region. Their love for old synthesisers is very present in their latest single, "Be there", a beautiful piece of synth pop with a delightful retro feeling.
Gaja Prestor is a Slovene singer and make-up artist born in the year 2000. She is launching her music career with a fantastic single: "To je kar imam" is a sultry alternative pop in which Gaja's voice blossoms!
Sounds European! remeets Cypriot star Giorgos Papadopoulos, with his brand-new single "San trelos". It's such a good track! It offers a well-marked melody, built by folk instrumentals, and a chorus which is quite captivating.
He was off the spotlights for some years. And we were surely missing him! Now, he is finally back in the game, presenting a new and more intimate side of his music. It's impossible not to love his songs, and it's even more impossible not to love him – he is funny, honest and very smart, as you can see in this interview. These are our 10 questions for Ulrik Munther:
Sounds European!: What are your first memories with music? What artists did you enjoy listening while you were growing up? And when did you start singing and playing instruments? Currently, what instruments do you play?
Ulrik Munther: One of my first memories is probably when my mother sang to me as a child. Old Swedish lullabies. Many of them were pretty melancholic.
I got a keyboard when I was three that I still have actually, and then I began taking piano lessons when I was seven.
I had an album with Eminem that I listened to a lot. Didn't understand the lyrics, but I liked the melodies.
I play piano and guitar mostly. But I'm no expert on either. I'm also pretty good with the harmonica.
SE!: You rose to prominence very early in your life. At the age of 15, you had already accomplished huge things, such as winning Lilla Melodifestivalen and MGP Nordic. What are your memories of that period, and of those contests? And how did you deal with success while being so young?
UM: Well, it was a lot of fun. And I guess "the grass is always greener", but in retrospect I could have benefited from waiting a couple of years before being on TV. But I don't know. It's impossible to say where I would be if I hadn't participated. But I want to believe that I'd still work with music in some way.
SE!: Afterwards, you experienced even more recognition when taking part of Melodifestivalen in 2012 and 2013. Both of your entries were huge hits and received high acclaim. What can you tell us about your Melodifestivalen experiences? And is it something you would ever consider giving a third try?
UM: Same here, hehe. It was fun, and I definitely learned a lot. Got a lot of attention and it's what I'm mostly known for. Right now, it's not very tempting, though. I've been in the public eye more or less since I was 15, and it's hard not to be affected by the affirmation you get from thousands of people, and by the criticism. And I want to keep evolving, and make music that isn't just a response to what people expect or want from me. So probably not in the near future.
SE!: You were living a wonderful moment of success when you decided to take a break. What made you go for that pause? And what have you been doing during this period?
UM: I wasn't quite sure where to go or what I wanted to do, so it just sort of happened. I broke up with the record label and moved back to Gothenburg with my girlfriend. Got my own studio and sat there 12 hours a day for a couple of months without finishing a single song. So I started going to a therapist and bought a piano. Found some new energy and realized I didn't want to work alone. Then I met Marcus Lindberg and he helped me finish some of my songs and write some new ones. And now we're here.
SE!: Now, you are finally back. Taking stock, analyzing the past and then the present, how would you compare your current work with the one before your pause? What has changed during these years, in your music and in yourself as a person and an artist?
UM: I think I'm mostly the same, even though a lot has changed. I've had three more years being in a relationship, from which I've gained a lot of insights and new perspectives. And I've been out of the spotlight, which also has been pretty nice. I've been able to do some soul searching and, even though I probably have more questions now than before, I think I've at least found answers to some things.
As for the music, there are some new influences. And the lyrics have never been more personal. I think for the first time I'm not doing what someone else thinks is right – but, instead, trying to trust my gut, which is scary.
"I think for the first time I'm not doing what someone else thinks is right – but, instead, trying to trust my gut, which is scary"
SE!: Your return is being simply amazing. We love your new singles! What can you tell us about them? And how was the process of composing and recording your new work?
UM: Thank you so much! I'm glad!
It's been a long journey. For example, the melody in the chorus of "Before", and some of the lyrics, came from a demo I made in Gothenburg in the beginning of 2016 – that we found use for in (at the time) another song, missing a chorus. And when I say "we", I mean Marcus Lindberg and I. Marcus has co-written almost every song with me and done the heavy lifting production wise. We've gotten to know each other very well over the last year. Discussing everything from relationships to spaceships.
Both "Say goodbye" and "Before" are about lost love. And even though I've been in relationships that have ended, I've never been in love before, and I think they're more inspired by the fear of fucking up this one. Hopefully it's not a prophecy.
SE!: Expectations rose after your new releases. Looking forward, what else can your fans expect from you in 2018? What are your professional projects for the near future?
UM: Well, I'm right in the middle of planning for the summer. I'm going out on a little tour. Not sure how many stops we'll do, but I'm really looking forward to it. After that, I think I'll get back in the studio, or behind the piano, and make an album. That's still something I feel like I've never done – even though I've released three albums.
SE!: You are an artist who has already done a lot, specially for someone your age. What do you still dream of achieving in your career?
UM: Well, I'd really like to not have to worry about money. But I'm also pretty sure that if that was my only goal, I might be better suited for another line of work, haha. No, but seriously, I would like to be able to write an album every other year, tour around Europe, and not have to worry about making "a hit" to pay rent. I want to be able to release music that maybe requires you to make an effort to like it, but gets better with every listen, and that people make that effort. And of course, Billboard #1.
SE!: If you could choose anyone, who would be some Swedish and international artists you would like to collaborate with?
Russian star Oleg Miami is living a moment of undeniable success. Every single he releases becomes a huge hit, and we are sure the path is going to be the same with his new one, "Ne otpuskay menya". It's pop at its best form: involving, catchy, irresistible! Its chorus is absolutely amazing!
Spanish hitmaker Alvaro Soler is finally back with more singles of his! His newest release is "La cintura", a song that brings his classic Latin mix in all its glory. The song is the first to be released from his upcoming album, "Mar de colores".
Sasa Kovacevic is the stage name of Aleksandar Kovačević, Serbian singer who was born in Belgrade in 1985. He is one of the most successful artists in the Balkans. His current single, "Bez tebe me nema", is a huge hit in the region, and we can clearly see why: instrumentals, melody, voice, chorus... everything helps building a great song!
German band Revolverheld had a glorious return to the music scene. Their album "Zimmer mit blick" is a hit, and they have already released three singles from it. The latest one gives the name to the album, and it switches their usual upbeat rock for a rock ballad with a mellow start and an intense chorus.
Popi Maliotaki is a Greek singer who was born in Crete in 1971. She has just released a beautiful new single, entitled "De chorizoun oi kardies mas". It's Greek folk pop at its best and most traditional form, with great instrumentals and a very marking chorus.
Joseph J. Jones is a rising British talent who comes from Essex but is developing his career in London. His first single is entitled "Speaking in tongues", and it presents a moving melody wrapping up his chill-inducing voice. There is no doubt that it is our song of the week!
Swedish rising star Nova Miller has just released a new single, and we are totally addicted to it! "Turn up the fire" is an irresistible pop song, with a catchy melody and a very memorable chorus. Single after single, Nova shows her process of maturing into one of the best new names in the Swedish pop scene!
German singer JORIS is finally back to Sounds European!. And his comeback single couldn't get any better! In "Signal", he brings a marvelous pop-rock with a contagious melody and an explosive chorus!
Turkish singer Demet Akalın is back with a new single. This time, she has joined Ömer Topçu, from Istanbul, to record and release "Oh olsun". And there is only one thing to say: pop banger alert! It's unique, unconventional (in the best way possible) and highly contagious.
There were many talents rising from this year's version of Operación Triunfo. But the biggest hit from the Spanish reality show came on their Eurovision gala, when Aitana Ocaña and Ana Guerra sang "Lo malo". Despite not winning the ticket to Lisbon, the song became an instant hit in Spain. With the official release of the single, the girls have already made it across the Atlantic, to Latin America. You just can't resist to this mix of urban sounds!
Updated on July 27th, 2018, with the new stage name of the artist.
Sounds European! remeets British band Tors and their new single "We say no". It's a captivating rock song with modern and catchy melody and a chorus which sticks to the head after the first listen. Stop everything you are doing and listen to it now!
We had teased it before, and now we confirm it: Lorenzo Fragola is back! The Italian singer has just released the single "Battaglia navale", a song in which he brought a classic Italian ballad to modern electronic sounds. The result is a very interesting mix of styles!
Russian-born Macedonian singer Victoria Loba has an awesome new single on offer. "Heroj" offers a unique set of delicate and smooth instrumentals, which helps building a haunting melody, perfectly filled by Victoria's talented voice.
Elena Coroneu is a Greek singer hailing from Athens. She rose to fame last year, upon her participation in the Greek version for Star Academy. Since then, she kept working on her music career, and is now presenting us her debut single: "Ousies" is a haunting ballad which explodes in rock sounds as it develops.
Romanian singer Andreea Balan has just released a new single. And that can only mean one thing: great music is on its way! "Tango in priviri" is a great sample of pop music, with well-paced melody and a memorable chorus.
Laura Pausini is known across Latin countries for releasing unexpected collaborations. This time, she teamed up with Simone & Simaria, one of the biggest duos of Brazilian country music, in "Novo". The song, sung in both Portuguese and Spanish, exudes sensuality, and will surely set you in the mood to shake your hips!
It's time to remeet Portuguese singer Kate Mirson, who has a wonderful new single on offer. It's entitled "Please don't leave me", and it's a great song which mixes voice and instrumentals in an extremely charming way. The result is so lovely!
27-year old Xavi hails from Berlin, in Germany. And he appears on Sounds European! with his most recent single: "Brot & wasser" has an appealing pop melody in the chorus that is completed with a sultry, yet relaxed, beat in the chorus. It's a fantastic track!
Russian star Slava has been releasing numerous new singles in a very short period of time. And we couldn't be happier, since every one of them is absolutely great! "Vernaya" delivers everything one can expect of a song by Slava: it's intense and addictive, wrapped by her unique and flawless vocal performance.
Stella Stylianou is a Cypriot singer born and raised in Nicosia. She got involved with music from a very young age, and has since developed a career in the music business. Check out her most recent single: "Se thelo piso" brings together classic Greek sounds and rock riffs, to complete a chilling ballad!
New single by The Slow Readers Club, great new addition for our playlists! The British boys have just released "You opened up my heart", and we are completely in love with it. Its melody sticks to the head as quickly as one can, and then it's full addiction in the blink of an eye. We are listening to it nonstop!
After almost five years, we remeet Greek singer Christina Gerani in a powerful new single! Her latest release is "Ma poso thelo", a song which starts as an appealing pop and builds up to an emotional chorus filled with ethnic instruments.
It's time to remeet Dutch band DI-RECT and listen to their recently released single "All the way". It's a delightful and smooth rock song with a perfect harmony between instrumentals and vocals. It's surely a must-listen!
Emmelie de Forest is back with Sounds European! for the release of her newest single. The Dane has just put out "History", a pop song with a marked beat and a sweet melody. Its video takes us back through pictures and videos of Emmelie herself, wrapping up a perfect package!
Whenever Russian star Alsou releases a new single, one can't help but rise expectations. And she never disappoints! "Ne molchi" has well-marked, contagious beats which build a delightful melody. Add a catchy chorus and a wonderful vocal performance to the mix, and result could only be this: wonderful!
