We are remeeting German singer Max Giesinger with an amazing new single. "Legenden" is a pop ballad that goes in crescendo to reach a momentous chorus. The song is entertaining from start to end, and made us chill with joy: no wonder it is our song of the week!
Latvian singer Dana Sokolova can't stop surprising us! Every new single of hers is a step up in quality, and her possibilities seem to be infinite! Her new release "Otpusti menya" is surely keeping the pattern: it's as great as it gets. Intense melody, potent vocal performance, explosive chorus... we love everything about it!
One cannot resist when neAngely releases a new single! In "Slavavictoria", the duo delivers another powerful performance of the best electropop in the region.
Erika Soldh Ahlström and Marta Pettersson are I Am Karate, a duo hailing from Sweden ready to take over your playlists with their electropop sounds. Their most recent single is entitled "Expectations", and it gives a more relaxed twist on summer anthems!
Macedonian singer Gjoko Jovik has just released a new single. And we just can't stop listening to it! "Ljubena" is an irresistible song, with a melody which involves the listener from first to last second. It's excellent!
Swedish star Peg Parnevik has just released a new single. And it's totally a must-listen! It's entitled "Loafers", and it's a song which mixes smooth instrumentals and an extremely captivating melody, specially during its excellent chorus. The result is awesome!
Updated on July 14th, 2018, with the official video.
Born in 2001 in Duisburg, Marie Wegener has just won the 15th season of the German version of Idols. And she has already released a single! "Königlich" is a soft and tender ballad with the sweetest chorus!
Sounds European! remeets Bulgarian star Poli Genova, who is in a golden moment of her career: every new single she releases is top notch. And so is her newest one, "Perfect love"! It's a modern song with a great summer vibe.
Carolina Cardetas is a young talent hailing from Coimbra, Portugal. She brings a retro hit for the European summer in her most recent single: "Amor de verão" is a fun pop song with a beautiful influence of the music of the 1920's. How not to fall for it?
Samm Henshaw is the stage name of Iniabasi Samuel Henshaw, British singer and songwriter who was born in London in 1994. We are completely in love with his new single, "How does it feel?". It's an excellent song, with a wonderful mix of soulful melody and perfect vocal work.
German band Tonbandgerät returns to Sounds European! with a highly entertaining new single. "Mein herz ist ein tourist" is a very cool pop-rock to bob your head up and down to!
Get ready to listen to an amazing new single coming from France! It's "On", by Joyce Jonathan. It's pop at its best form: involving, catchy and very captivating. Its melody sticks to the head after few seconds – and before you know it, you're already fully addicted to it all!
Dutch singer PLEUN (who lost her surname, Bierbooms, for her artistic moniker) returns to our site for a real treat. In "Reverse", she slays with alternative grooves and a very sensual chorus.
Updated on July 1st, 2018, with the official video.
Macedonian duo Cyrillic, DJ and producer IWAYO and singer Dina Jashari are back together for a single. "Right here" is an energetic electronic song with a captivating melody and a very modern chorus.
Elias Gould is a 27-year-old singer and actor hailing from Finland. His most recent single will definitely appeal to you: "Kipinä" is an uplifting pop with rock and even some folkloric influences that grows to an anthemic chorus!
You know the deal: Aris Makris is synonymous with excellent music. And his new single is here, ready to prove it once again! "Narki" is an epic pop song, with a great set of instrumentals, which builds a grandiose melody. Aris's voice fills it all with unique intensity!
British-born singer Edis keeps consolidating as one of the top acts to emerge within the Turkish music scene. And his latest single won't let us lie. "Buz kırağı" is an exciting ballad with that unmistakeable folkloric flavor that makes our senses tingle!
Look who is back! Irish singer and songwriter Gavin James has a great new single released. It's "Always", a song which offers the best mix of piano and voice one could ask. It's absolutely wonderful!
High time to check up on Belarusian singer Alen Hit! His most recent single is entitled "Vizhu v tebe", and it is a contemporary ballad with electronic and synth beats wrapping up a genius chorus.
Ukrainian star Ksana has a new single on offer. And that can only mean one thing: it's time to listen to awesome music! "Obnimay" is an involving pop song with a hypnotic melody and a very strong chorus. We love it!
Updated on January 9th, 2019, with the new stage name of the artist.
Laing is a German band formed in Berlin in 2007. Their career comprises two studio albums and several successful singles, of which the last one is "Du bust dir nicht mehr sicher". The song is a haunting pop with a great alternative groove.
Big meeting of stars in Bulgaria: Grafa and Iskrata have gathered to record and release a new single. It's "Neochakvan obrat", an intense song with a strong melody and a very marking chorus. It's a song to listen on repeat!
We remeet Irish band Little Hours for a beautiful new single of theirs. The song is entitled "Heavy on you", and it is a ballad with an intense beat and a very nice guitar groove.
Sounds European! finally remeets one of the most talented artists from Portugal: it's Filipe Gonçalves, with his new single "De mãos dadas". It's a beautiful song, with wonderful lyrics and a touching guitar-led melody. It's impossible not to fall in love with it!
Belgian singer Alice On The Roof returns to our site with an alternative gem! Her most recent single is entitled "Malade", and it mixes a variety of different styles of pop into a highly addictive track.
Wilhemina is a talented new singer and songwriter coming from Sweden. "Flashback" is the title of her newest single, and we are totally in love with it. It's a great pop song with an energetic, electropop infused chorus.
This song doesn't have an official video on YouTube, but you can listen to it on Spotify.
It's easy to see that "Solo", by Clean Bandit and Demi Lovato, is playing everywhere in Europe. Charts make it very clear: this week, the song is #1 in Ireland and the United Kingdom, #2 in Sweden, #3 in Germany and Norway, #7 in Austria, #9 in Denmark, #11 in Bulgaria, #12 in Belgium, #20 in the Netherlands, #22 in Portugal and #24 in Italy. What a dominance!
British singer Mo Brandis returns to our site with a new single. The song is entitled "Think", and it brings a mix of funk and soul that will click right away!
This song doesn't have an official video on YouTube, but you can listen to it on Spotify.
Slovene band Siddharta are back with a great new single. "Medrevesa" is a smooth, involving rock song with a hypnotic melody and wonderful vocal and instrumental performances. It's a very enjoyable track!
Swedish singer Dotter returns to Sounds European! with a great new track! In "Heatwave", she brings a hot piece of pop that creates an anthemic feeling towards the chorus!
Look who is finally back! French super star Emmanuel Moire returns after a long time without a new single. He has just released "Et si on parlait d'amour", a grandiose song with a unique melody and a very effective chorus. Emmanuel's unique style (both vocally and musically) is very present, helping to add even more layers to the track!
Estonian singer Getter Jaani jumps the wave of electronic pop with "Chasing trouble", her newest single. The song is a contemporary pop with electronic beats and a very danceable chorus!
Polina Gagarina is synonymous with good music. Few artists in Europe give us such a certainty of quality when releasing a new single as she. And yet, she has still surprised us with her new release, "Kamen' na serdtse". It's a spectacular masterpiece! Voice, melody, instrumentals, ambience, chorus... everything is as good as one can expect. We are completely in love: it's our song of the week!
Trevis Brendmoe is a 19-year-old singer born in Oslo who is presenting us his debut single. The song is entitled "Way you do it", and it is a true summer anthem, spiced up with some Latino influences.
Greek star Nikiforos has just released a new single. And it's surely a must-listen! "San alitis" has an energetic melody, built by guitar-led, traditional local instruments, and a chorus which easily sticks to the head. We love it!
Latvian alternative queen Aminata returns to our site with another mind-blowing single! "Zero love" brings a more electronic twist to her music, always keeping it edgy and compelling.
Kim Petras is a German singer and songwriter who was born in Cologne in 1992. Kim, who was born Tim, has been growing to stardom since last year, with her singles accumulating millions of streams. And her new release, "Heart to break", is surely set to achieve great numbers, too. It's pop at its best: catchy, entertaining and highly infectious!
Time to check up on British artist Saint Raymond! His newest single is entitled "Carried away", and it brings the fresh mix of pop and rock he has mastered to produce!
Groovy new song coming from Romania! It's "Cu tine pe mine", by What's UP. It's a song with an extremely entertaining melody, built by unique instrumentals, and a chorus which is irresistible. The result is very fun!
The latest editions of the Eurovision Song Contest showed a great interaction between the artists of different countries, which resulted in great friendships (yeah, we kinda stalk them on social networks...) and amazing collaborations. And one of them is by Polish singer Kasia Moś and Finnish duo Norma John. Their song together is "Wild eyes", a haunting ballad with a deep set of lyrics.
Italian new talent Irama didn't win the latest edition of Amici by accident: he is truly a gem to be treasured! His new single "Che ne sai" is another sample of his talent. It is a well-paced pop song with a great melody and a wonderful vocal performance.
Blanche brought Belgium a fourth place on the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, and now she is presenting us a brand new single! "Wrong turn" is a haunting masterpiece of alternative sounds!
Updated on June 23rd, 2018, with the official video.
Sounds European! remeets Polish band Feel, with their great new single. "Jak na imię masz" is a rock song which starts soft, but grows stronger and stronger until exploding into a very electric chorus. It's very catchy!
British singer James Arthur is presenting us a new single! Entitled "At my weakest", the song is a very beautiful ballad that will captivate you from the very first second!
Saša Matić is Aleksandar Matić, a singer of Serbian origin who was born in the town of Drvar, currently in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1978. He has gathered with Serbian singer Aleksandra Prijović to record and release "Ko si ti". And it's such a good song! It mixes Balkan instruments and pop-rock influences in a great way.
Hailing from Patras, Aris Vantarakis participated on the first season of the Greek show Rising Star, and now he is presenting us his first single. "Ta pires ola" is a soulful ballad that shows off his great talent!
One more single by Russian diva Slava, one more excellent addition to our playlists! "Tvoy potseluy" is an exciting electropop with a chorus which sticks to the head after the very first listen. We are listening to it nonstop!
Updated on October 28th, 2018, with the official video.
Swedish singer Elias is back to our site to present us "Tearing down the walls", his most recent single. The song is an exhilarating mix of pop and alternative beats that will have you in the edge of your seat from the first second!
Portuguese super star Diogo Piçarra has just released a new single. And its quality is no surprise to anyone: it's simply excellent! "Paraíso" offers a beautiful guitar-led melody and, as usual, a flawless vocal performance by Diogo.
Irish band Kodaline return to Sounds European! with their most recent single. "Shed a tear" brings the band's classic rock with a twist closer to electronic pop, creating a very unique atmosphere!
Updated on July 15th, 2018, with the official video.
Lithuanian star Vaidas Baumila has a great new single on offer. It's entitled "Suknelė", and it's a very entertaining song, with a fun melody and a chorus which is a true invitation to dance. We love it!
Amaury Vassili is a French opera tenor born in Rouen in 1989. His debut album was a huge success, earning him recognition in countries such as Canada, South Africa and South Korea. In 2011, he represented his country on the Eurovision stage with the marvelous "Sognu". And here we have his most recent single: "Tout" is a classic ballad that lets Amaury showcase his lovely voice.
It's time to remeet Romanian singer Ioana Ignat, who has just released a new single. "De dragul iubirii" is a great pop song with marking beats and an irresistible melody. The chorus is specially good!
Habberdash is a four-piece band formed in Sheffield in 2013 by Kriss Stainton, Hayden Marshall, Ashley Houldon and Andrew Holland. Their most recent single is entitled "Like a lover", a very powerful guitar-driven rock that will energize your day!
Russian super star Sati Kazanova has a new single on offer. And you know the deal: it can only mean one thing, great music is on its way! "Murakami" meets all expectations: it's a great electropop song with a memorable chorus.
There is a summit of Armenian talent, y'all! Pop diva Iveta Mukuchyan teamed with Narek (a hip hop artist from Yerevan), Roland Gasparyan and Hayk Karapetyan for a World-Cup-inspired anthem. In "Mets khagh", they bring the best of their genres for a very fun treat!
Žan Serčič is a Slovene singer, songwriter and guitarist who was born in Maribor in 1995. He rose to prominence after being a finalist of the second season of his country's Got Talent, and internationally after taking part of EMA (the Slovene National Final for Eurovision) in 2016. We now listen to his single "1000x", which is a smooth and delightful song.
Since last Thursday and until July 15th, we will be enjoying some of the best football at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This year, the event is being held in Russia. So, Sounds European! decided to join the party, offering a set with some of the best Russian songs to have ever been presented in our site. Our list is composed of songs which were in our end-of-year best-of rankings, plus some additional choices by the editors.
And besides great music, don't forget to check (or remember, if you have checked before) the amazing exclusive interview we've had with the one and only Polina Gagarina!
We are now landing in Norway, to talk to one of the best new artists rising in the country's music scene. His music is very infectious: there is no way you can listen to one of his songs without wanting to repeat it over and over again! These are our 10 questions for Henrik Høven:
Sounds European!: We always like to start our interviews by getting to know artists' influences. Who were your music idols when you were a kid? What did you like to listen? And do you feel they influenced, in any way, your current work as an artist?
Henrik Høven: When I was a kid, I loved to listen to the king of pop Michael Jackson, and I still do. I definitely get a lot of inspiration from Michael Jackson's music.
SE!: What are your first memories with singing? At what age did you start? Who were the first ones to notice your talent? And how did you start singing professionally?
HH: I started singing when I was very young. I don't remember how old I was the first time, but I guess I was around three years old. I think my parents were the first ones to notice my talent. I remember I started in a music school, where the teachers saw my potentials and helped me make music and taught me different types of instruments, such as piano and guitar.
SE!: You took part of Melodi Grand Prix Junior in 2013, with "Når jeg ser på deg". What can you tell us about that experience? And would you ever consider taking part of the adult version of Melodi Grand Prix?
HH: Melodi Grand Prix Junior was definitely one of the biggest things I've ever experienced. Grand Prix was in many ways the start of my music career, and I got the chance to play concerts all around Norway. But I don't know if I will take part of Melodi Grand Prix again.
SE!: After your participation on MGPjr, it took you two years to release a new single, "Ungettable girl". What have you done during this period? And what kind of preparations did you go through before the new release?
HH: During the period, I was working a lot in the studio and doing concerts. It took a looooong time before I got finished with "Ungettable girl", so that's also one of the reasons why it took so long to release the song.
SE!: On the other hand, after "Ungettable girl", you have been very prolific. And your singles have received very positive feedback, both from the press and the audience. How does it feel to have your work well received, and knowing people around the world love your music? And how is your relationship with your fan base?
HH: One of the best things with releasing new music is the positive feedback I get, and it's amazing knowing that people like my music. All of my listeners and fans are the most important to me. I love meeting them and chatting with them online – it makes me so happy, and I get a lot of positive inspiration to bring back to the studio.
"Music for me is all about having a great time and enjoying life" (Picture: official Facebook page)
SE!: How would you define your music, in style and genre? And what would you like people to feel while listening to your songs?
HH: I would say that my style for most of the time is R&B, but I also like to make trap and more poppy music. While listening to my songs, all I wish is to make people dance and have fun. Music for me is all about having a great time and enjoying life.
SE!: What are your professional projects for the near future? What can your fans expect from you in 2018?
HH: I make music in the studio all the time, so people can definitely expect a lot of new music in the future.
SE!: Going further, what are your long-term dreams? What would you like to achieve in your career?
HH: I love to perform on stage. In the future, I would love to perform on bigger stages and meet even more of my fans.
SE!: If you could choose anyone, who would be some Norwegian and international artists you would like to collaborate with?
HH: That's a hard question. There are so many talented artists out there! I think I would like to collaborate with Justin Bieber or Post Malone. They both have amazing voices and I love their music.
SE!: We would like to finish this interview with a song of yours. What is your favorite song by Henrik Høven, and why?
HH: I think I like my newest song "All day" the best. It has such a great energy and power, and I really like to dance to the song.
It's been more than three years without a new single by Alessandro Casillo. And we were surely missing him and his music! Now, the wait is finally over: we were gifted with an amazing single, entitled "Ancora qui". It offers an exciting melody, which leads to an irresistible chorus, and a perfect vocal performance by Alessandro. It's excellent! We are fully addicted!
Romanian singer Feli has just released a new single. And it's surely a must-listen! "Doua inimi" is a beautiful piano-driven ballad with an endearing melody and a wonderful vocal performance by Feli.
HEARTSKIN are a Russian indie pop and electronic band. They have just released an addictive new single, entitled "Chto by ni skazala ty". It's a song with an instant hit: it has barely started, and one is already fully involved. Its melody is awesome, and the chorus is as memorable as one can be.
Sounds European! remeets Slovak singer MISTA and her new single. "Prežijem s láskou", whose video was recorded in a beautiful church in Žižkov, is an exciting pop song with a unique and enticing melody. It's impossible not to move along its beats!
It's time to meet a new band coming from North Macedonia: it's Extravaganza. We have just got to listen to their single "Kazna moja si", and we just couldn't resist to it at all. Its melody is so intense, and the chorus is so effective! It's surely a must-listen.
Whenever Icelandic singer Birgir releases a new single, there is no way our expectations can be higher. And, once again, they were fully met! His new release, "Home", is a masterpiece. Few artists know how to give classy instrumentals such a modern and addictive approach. The result is unique and absolutely delightful: it's our song of the week!
This song doesn't have an official video on YouTube, but you can listen to it on Spotify.
Irama is the stage name of Filippo Maria Fanti, Italian singer who was born in Carrara in 1995. He has just become the 16th winner of Amici, the most prestigious talent show in Italy. His talent can be fully enjoyed on the wonderful single "Un giorno in più", which was firstly presented during Amici. It's a deep song with a wonderful melody, which explores the quality and the raw power of his voice extremely well. We love it to bits!
Dutch band The Overslept knows no other way to make music than great. Their new single, "Figure it out", is one more sample of how awesome their work is. It's a song which takes their music on a softer approach, without losing its power or quality. We simply can't stop listening to it!
In a recent interview for our 10 Questions For, Ukrainian singer Oleg Verd has commented about his new single, "Po kayfu". And here we are, now, to highlight this amazing new release! According to Oleg himself, it's a song which can be associated with fast driving, running, moving, speed. And we can totally understand why. It has a very strong drive, led by powerful instrumentals, and a chorus which leaves no doubt: it's an exciting (and excellent!) song!
Gjoko Jovik is a Macedonian singer from Valandovo. We have just got to listen to his single "Koreni", and we are totally in love with it. It's a song which mixes the best of Balkan ballads with a wonderful voice, resulting in a passionate, addictive track. It's impossible to listen to it only once!
A great new talent is rising in the Irish music scene. Meet Tim Chadwick, from Dublin, and listen to his amazing single "Weakness". It's a song which manages to be delicate and intense at the same time, grabbing the listener right at its first chords. We love it!
It's time to remeet Romanian group 3 Sud Est and their new single. "Dansam in ploaie" is a groovy song with a melody which invites you to dance since its first seconds. It's simply irresistible!
Ben Potts, Adam Dagg and Steven Naisbet are Rayne, an alternative rock band from Sunderland. We now present their new single "Silently screaming". It's a song which delivers the best alt-rock can offer. It's potent and thrilling, from first to last second. We are addicted to its raw, anthemic power!
Russian band Nuteki have a great new single on offer. And it's as entertaining as one can be! "#EGIPETHIT" is a pop-rock song with electronic elements added to it, and this mix works perfectly for its intent. The result is so catchy!
Dutch singer Vinchenzo Tahapary is back with a new single. And it's quite a delightful one! "Headphone" offers a smooth, well-paced melody and a very involving ambience. And its chorus is extremely effective!
German singer Alice Merton took the world by storm with her "No roots" last year, and here she comes again with another great sample of her geniously quirky sound. In "Lash out", she gives a fabulous mix of indie, pop and rock, with a chorus that is to die for!
Italian queen Laura Pausini is jumping into the wave of summer-themed songs. But she is doing it her way, which only means that she released a true summer anthem! "E.sta.a.te" is a captivating pop-rock taken to the next level with the help of some synth drops.
Our friends from La Oreja de Van Gogh surprised everybody when they announced another single coming out of their latest album, "El planeta imaginario". And, very recently, they unveiled the video for "Esa chica". The song is a beautiful ballad which holds the spirit of the band's sound.
Ukrainian pop diva Ani Lorak has a new single. And all our expectations were fulfilled once we listened to it! "Sumasshedshaya" has a catchy beat, an explosive chorus and a fresh vibe, all wrapped up in a greatly produced video.
Swedish singer Sabina Ddumba is finally back with new music! She recently unveiled "Small world", a song which relies in a intense yet contagious beat to reach an uplifting chorus. Sabina herself comments that the song "is based on the fact that one can feel very lonely sometimes with everything that happens around you, but you’re not."
Updated on July 7th, 2018, with the official video.
Jeanne Galice is the real name of French singer Jain, who made headlines around the world with her single "Come" back in 2015. Now she is with us to present us "Alright", a blend of contemporary electronic beats with a bit of reggae and a tropical feeling that suits the European summer mood just perfectly!
Updated on July 14th, 2018, with the official video.
Spanish singer Alex Ubago returns to Sounds European! with his most recent single. In "Solo si lo hacemos juntos", he delivers an exquisit mixture of pop and rock that will captivate you from the very start!
Swedish duo Kastrup returns to our site with their most recent single. In "Joanna", they bring a contemporary ballad, with synth beats and a melancoholic feeling wrapped in them!
This song doesn't have an official video on YouTube, but you can listen to it on Spotify.
Hungarian band SirVive return to Sounds European! with a great new single. In "Átutazó", they mix classic instruments into an acoustic pop which climaxes in a highly addictive chorus.
Giannis Mitsopoulos is a Greek singer hailing from the city of Nafpaktos. Last year, he took part of the innaugural season of the Greek version of Rising star, competing in the team of Antonis Remos. Check out his debut single: "De me noiazei ti tha ginei meta" brings a taste of summer to your ears!
Moldovan singer Nicoleta Nuca returns to Sounds European! with yet another amazing single! In "Suflet nebun", she gives a twist to classic R&B ballads, combining their sounds with a synth-based chorus.
Rosalía Vila is a Spanish singer born in Sant Esteve Sesrovires in 1993. She has become the latest craze of the Spanish music scene, attracting fans with her mix of urban sounds and classic folkloric infuences. Check out her most recent single: "Malamente" is a sensual and haunting song which unveils all her talents!
Swedish singer Maja Francis returns to Sounds European! with a very interesting new single. In "Girl is a gun", she brings a haunting electronic pop that will get stuck in your head for the rest of the day!
Nisse Ingwersen is a German singer-songwriter hailing from Hamburg. His music mixes a lot of different genres, as we can appreciate in "Unmöglich", his latest single. The song plays with retro and contemporary sounds in a very entertaining way!
Croatian diva Severina has recently unveiled a beautiful new single. Together with Petar Grašo (singer and songwriter born in Split, Croatia, in 1976), she releaed "Unaprijed gotovo", a soulful ballad that brings the melancholy of Balkan sounds in its purest form.
Lida Arakelyan is the real name of Lidushik, a teen star born in Yerevan in 1999. Her most recent single will surely put you up for a dance: in "Havata", she brings the kind of ethnic pop that just can't go unnoticed!
In a country whose pop sounds very characteristic, as it is the case in Ukraine, it's not easy to sound different. But he does. His music is unique – and it's so, so good! One of his singles was on our list of the 50 best songs of 2017. And now, we've had the pleasure of talking to him about his work. These are our 10 questions for Oleg Verd:
Sounds European!: What are your first memories with music? When you were growing up, what artists did you enjoy listening to? Do you feel they have influenced, in any way, the music you make nowadays?
Oleg Verd: I have been singing since my childhood. I was singing everything that I would listen to. And I listened to many types of music, because I was (and still am) a real meloman [someone who is passionate about music]. And yes, this really influenced my art – I mixed them in my first album, connecting rock, pop and chanson in it.
SE!: At what age did you start singing? When did you notice you have talent to sing? And what were your first experiences with singing in public? How did you feel going on stage for the first times?
OV: As I said, I have been singing since my childhood. And the first person to notice my voice was my mother, who also had a good voice and liked to sing. I was singing everywhere, but my first experience in public was when I went on stage in a ceremony at an institute... and it was a rather succesful beginning. But before that, all the neighbors knew that I was singing!
SE!: You tried to take part of two talent shows, The Voice and The X Factor. What made you decide to try them? In the end, you were part of The X Factor. How was the selection? And how was your experience on the show?
OV: I decided to go on The X Factor after several seasons of working as a singer in restaurants in my town, Berdyansk. Firstly, I went to the city of Zaporozhye for a small casting, precasting. And then I realized that it was better to go to Dnipropetrovsk (nowadays, called Dnipro). There, I waited for a long time, the first staging passed, but the producers refused me... I was so upset, that I even broke my small flag of The X Factor.
Then I came back home. But a month later, I got a call. And for my surprise, I heard that I had gone through! And that was the real beginning of my way in the music world.
SE!: It took you some years from appearing on The X Factor until releasing singles. Why did it take you this time? And what have you done in this period?
OV: After The X Factor, I met people who believed in me and in my talent, and I started to find my own way in music. I started with modern, commercial music for young people, but then I understood that I wanted to be sincere with myself and my audience. So, I decided to sing music about eternal values – like love for women, friendship, etc.. So, during this period, I was finding my own style. And the result of it was the release of my first track, "Idu k tebe", and my first album (with the same title as the track) in September 2017.
SE!: Your songs are always powerful and very catchy. We absolutely love them – "Po oblaku" was in our list of the 50 best songs of 2017, for example. Tell us a bit about the making of your work. How is the process of songwriting, recording and production of your music?
OV: The story of writing each song is different. Usually, my muse lives apart from me, and she appears when we need each other.
The song "Po oblaku" was written in five minutes! I was sitting in the company of my friends, drinking wine and thinking about dramatic relationships between men and women, and the song came unexpectedly. I even had to write the words on a napkin as soon as possible, in order not to forget them.
After the creation of a new song, the work of my team begins, with the arrangement, recording, mixing, releasing, etc..
"The stage is not only work: it's part of my life" (Picture: official VK group)
SE!: We have watched some videos of your live shows, and we really liked them. You seem to really enjoy your time on stage, offering great performances to the audience. What can you tell us about your concerts?
OV: Thank you very much!
Live performances with the whole team on the stage have two important points.
First, there is the preparation of the equipment's performance – that is, the sound which will go out into the hall, and to the ears of the musicians and mine. It's like a collection of details. Besides the instruments – without their working properly, a concert cannot be –, there are the complements, such as lights, video on the screen behind, many other nuances.
And the second one is moral readiness, which is no less important! Musicians should be charged. Viewers are happy, and you, acting as a conductor between spectators and what is happening on the stage, should be on top! The task is complex, but interesting.
The stage is not only work: it's part of my life. I am absolutely sincere with my audience, and I really enjoy when I am singing! And for me, it's real happiness when I see good feedback from my listeners.
SE!: Ukraine is one of the most prolific countries when it comes to pop music. How is it to develop a career in such a country, with an audience that enjoys the genre, but a lot of artists making the competition stronger and stronger?
OV: Competition gives birth to leaders. So, in Ukraine, many artists reach new levels because of it. Competition is very important not only on stage, but in any field of life – sports, business... Everyone who is born is already a winner. But each person decides how to make it real. I work, I do what I can – I try to learn. If you do not stop, a positive result will come, definitely!
SE!: If you could choose anyone, who would be some Ukrainian and international artists you would like to collaborate with?
OV: It's hard to tell. There are many artists that I respect, who would be good to collaborate with. Once again, it's all about work! And nothing is impossible!
SE!: What are your professional projects for the near future? What can your fans expect from you in 2018?
OV: In 2017, I released my debut album, participated on a new program, and I completed everything with a cherry on top of the cake on my birthday: a solo concert in Kiev, with the presentation of my album "Idu k tebe".
Now, there are three new songs, three premieres, and a video for each one of them. When, we'll see. Two of the tracks are ready, the third one is in preparation for the recording.
Also, for the near future, we are preparing several duets with famous Ukrainian singers. We work and we go forward. Everything is fine!
SE!: We would like to finish this interview with a song of yours. What is your favorite song by Oleg Verd, and why?
OV: It's hard to answer... I do not have bad songs, I'm a genius (laughter)!
I can say that I rarely listen to my own songs in headphones, but now I'm trudging on the song "Po kayfu". It really gives me adrenalin! For me, it is a song which can be associated with fast driving, running, moving... speed! The energy it gives is excellent! I hope the listeners will appreciate it!
Norwegian singer Dagny returns to our site with her most recent single. "That feeling when" is an anthemic pop that brings a more intimate side of the singer, keeping a very classy touch throughout.
Two years without a new single by Dolcenera are two years too many! But the wait is finally over: the Italian diva is back, with "Un altro giorno sulla Terra". And what a wonderful comeback! It's an excellent song, with a powerful instrumental work which builds a very strong melody and a very memorable chorus.
Jakov Mađarić is a Croatian singer hailing from the city of Našice. Check out his most recent single: "Kišobran" starts as a soft pop song and evolves to a more movemented pop-rock, letting Jakov show off his powerful voice!
Two great Danish artists got together for a single which is quickly becoming a hit all over their country: it's Burhan G (stage name of Burhan Genç Koç, from Hvidovre) and Karl William's "Samme vej". The song explores the best of their qualities, mixing them in a perfect way. It's easy to understand its success: it is a very enjoyable track!
Liam Cacatian Thomassen is the real name of LIAMOO, a Swedish singer born in Gothenburg in 1997. He won the 12th season of Idol, and reached the finals of the 2018 edition of Melodifestivalen with "Last breath". Listen to his most recent single: "Nothing here" brings R&B realness to the game!
British star Paloma Faith has an outstanding new single on offer. It's a beautiful rendition to Mama Cass Elliot's "Make your own kind of music". Its melody is quite similar to the original version's one, but the instrumentals are renewed, with an orchestral touch, giving an even more epic vibe to an already epic song. We simply cannot take the chorus off our heads: it's our song of the week!
The 2017 edition of Operación Triunfo unveiled several talents. And Luis Cepeda is definitely one of them! Born in Ourense, Spain, in 1989, he is starting his solo career with a bomb. "Esta vez" is a classic Spanish pop-rock which shows Cepeda's raspy voice, adding a great texture to an already beautiful song!
German-based Scandinavian group WeKings have just released a new single. And we just can't stress enough: it is absolutely stupendous! "Viking baby" is a grandiose epic song with excellent instrumentals and a very exciting melody. It's a song to listen on repeat. We surely are!
Updated on November 10th, 2018, with the lyric video.
Greek singer Natasa Theodoridou is a queen of Greek emotional ballads. But she can also deliver fun and funky beats like a master! In her latest single, "Den me afora", she brings the kind of ethnic pop that makes us melt away!
Norwegian singer Hanne Leland has just released a new single. It's entitled "Stay", and it's absolutely wonderful! Hanne's words about the song give it all a greater insight: "The recording process was really emotional as the song is very personal to me, and I feel like you can really hear the raw emotion coming through in the song". And we couldn't agree more with her – it exudes emotions! It's impossible not to get touched by it.
Updated on October 8th, 2018, with the official lyrics video.
British act Bastille are back to Sounds European! with their latest single! In "Quarter past midnight", they deliver their energetic approach to synth pop once more, turning the song into a very fun treat!
Great new single coming from North Macedonia, by one of our favorite voices in the continent! It's "Bla, bla, bla", by Thea Trajkovska. We couldn't be more in love with it: its melody is highly captivating and the chorus is as effective as it gets. It's surely a must-listen!
Updated on December 11th, 2018, with the new stage name of the artist.
Lidia Isac is a singer born in Saint Petersburg in 1993. Her parents were both Moldovan, and shortly after her birth they moved back to their home country. That's where Lidia developed her career, eventually representing Moldova on the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest with "Falling stars". Check up her most recent single: "Mainile sus!" is a sweet and cheerful pop.
