During our most recent exclusive interview, we talked with British singer Natalie Shay about her new single, "Medicine boy". And here it is for you to enjoy! The song is an explosion of pop sounds with a retro touch that really wraps it all up. As she described, "I wanted to capture the essence of a bittersweet relationship – the way you know it's bad for you, you know you can do better, but it's not bad enough to make you want to leave, and the 'highs' of the romance are too good to walk away from".
Rasmus Mårshagen is a Swedish singer, songwriter and producer hailing from Stockholm. He has just released a touching single with Dutch artist Maxine (Maxine Van Breukelen, from Eindhoven). We're talking about "Learn to love", a piano-driven ballad in which they explore with acoustic pop sounds that fit their voices beautifully.
French singer Calogero has teamed up with American-born singer Rufus Wainwright to release a haunting new single. "Le temps" is a ballad that mixes French and English in a captivating way, retaining the sort of melancholy that you'd expect from a French chanson but in a more contemporary fashion.
Polish singer Natalia Szroeder has just released an emotional new single. In "Para", she explores an in-crescendo melody that helps the singer convey a very personal message. As she expressed, "I know we all go through dark moments. I have them quite regularly. And I even like my sorrows sometimes. I need them to appreciate the Sun that always appears. Sooner or later. And I must admit that these emotions are very inspiring. Sometimes I lose myself too much, the brakes stop working and I become a torturer for myself. And that's not cool, that's not good".
Giannis Arvanitidis is a Greek singer who was born in Xanthi. He rose to prominence as a finalist of the talent show House of Fame, which has just recently ended. Now, he has released a wonderful single. "Ola einai sto myalo sou" is a passionate song, which presents his talented voice in a great manner.
Safura is an Azerbaijani singer and musician who was born in Baku in 1992. She rose to international prominence in 2010, when she represented her country on Eurovision. She has just released "Ağla", a marvelous ballad with a very involving ambience.
Look who we are finally remeeting: it's Lithuanian group Pikaso. They have a new single on offer, entitled "Pabučiuosiu tave". The song offers the group's classic vibe, with an entertaining melody and very characteristic instrumentals.
We are now landing in Bulgaria, to listen to an outstanding new single by Mihaela Marinova. It's entitled "Serial". The song offers verses with a very strong groove, which is only surpassed in intensity by the chorus, when Mihaela's voice shines and impresses!
Romanian singer Liviu Teodorescu keeps dazzling us with singles from his LiTe Moments session. Now, it's time for "Iti dau inima de tot", a song that brings a more intimate and introspective atmosphere to his classical mix of beats.
It's time to remeet Armenian singer Nare Gevorgyan. She has recently released an excellent new single. We are talking about "Mek mek". It's a song which offers an irresistible flow of Armenian folk delight!
Slopes is Dag Holtan-Hartwig, a singer born in Norway in 1991. He has worked with music in England and Los Angeles, writing songs for hit acts such as Ava Max, Alan Walker, Julie Bergan and Seeb. He is now launching his singing career with a smashing debut single. "Prove them wrong" is a poignant ballad in which he tells a story of doomed romance, youthful ambition and the passage of time. We are completely in love with it: it's our song of the week!
If there was an artist that we were sure could conquer the '80s pop trend we're currently going through, that is Polina Gagarina. And we are thrilled to say that we were right! Her new single is "Vchera", a song that takes us through the genre with the force that only Polina imprints in her singles!
Ukrainian singer Max Barskih has just released a fantastic new single. We're talking about "Just fly", a song that takes the singer through a '50s-infused pop full of claps and catchy grooves!
Melek Mosso is a singer hailing from Istanbul. She rose to fame after taking part in the 2018 edition of The Voice in Turkey, and now we get to know her in a cheerful single. In "Hayatım kaymış", she delivers a captivating pop that is bound to lift your spirits!
We have an interesting collaboration of Danish artists in store! Tobias Rahim hails from Aarhus, and has travelled around the world, becoming a hit in Ghana under the moniker Tony Tabu. Andreas Odbjerg was born in Odense in 1987, and, among other works, has participated in the local versions of The X Factor and The Voice. Their work together is the contagious "Stor mand", a song that oozes retro realness and is bound to get stuck to your brain!
It's time to remeet Spanish singer IZARO! And we're doing it in her native Basque language, with a beautiful song. We're talking about "Nora", a sweet soft pop that oozes a simple kind of charm. The song will be part of the soundtrack for the movie "Nora".
Sounds European! lands in the United Kingdom for another exclusive interview. She mixes indie, pop and rock in a captivating way. And her singles made her one of the most exciting rising talents of its music scene. These are our 10 questions for Natalie Shay:
Sounds European!: We would like to start our interviews talking about your music backgrounds. What are your first memories with music? What artists did you enjoy listening to when you were growing up? And do you feel they have influenced, in any aspect, the artist you are today?
Natalie Shay: I began playing guitar when I was five years old and being very into musical theatre. Around age ten I was so inspired by Taylor Swift at her concert and after that I began writing songs. The beginning was pretty wholesome, I would play local gigs and church halls, until at age 13 I started playing my first proper gigs. I suppose initially Taylor was a huge influence, she got me writing on the guitar! Her career continues to inspire me, I think she's a huge icon and has inspired a whole generation of female singer and songwriters.
SE!: You have a background in classical music. And you also spent time at the prestigious BRIT School. What have you learnt through these experiences? And how do you apply your learnings to your career?
NS: Yes! I am trained primarily in classical guitar! However, I have never done anything professional in classical music. I suppose the main thing here, though, is how comfortable I am with a guitar, although I don't fingerpick for my original music, I suppose the finger strength and technique experience comes through. BRIT taught me a lot, a lot about the industry but mostly about different artists and people – and I guess the biggest thing it did was broaden my horizons and ultimately gave me the confidence to do music as a full time career after I graduated.
SE!: Speaking about your music, we can tell influences from several genres. If you had to define your own sound, how would you describe it? What elements do you like working with for your music? What would you like the public to feel when listening to your songs?
NS: I suppose it has pop elements, country elements and indie elements, this heavily relates back to my favourite artists and inspirations growing up. I guess I would describe it as "guitar breakup pop" but I do feel like influence wise it's quite fluid, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. I love working with authentic synths and guitars, I have a lot of '80s influence in production, I guess I just like the sound of it! I hope audiences enjoy the production, but most of all, I hope some can find relatability in my lyrics.
SE!: You have written lyrics for some of your songs, but you've also sung lyrics from other composers. As a lyricist, how is the process of songwriting for you? What inspires you to write? And what catches your attention to sing the words of others?
NS: I've written lyrics for all of my songs except a feature track I did with EDM artist Kryder, which was a cover of the dance classic "Rapture". All other lyrics are my own, I'm pretty protective about my lyrics, I have written them in collaboration with others before and the main thing here is for the other writer(s) to totally understand what I'm writing about, so there's a lot of talking involved before we get writing! I'd say most if not all of my songs are about myself, from personal experience, or from the experience of people very close to me. I am especially inspired by emotion, I think if you can capture a feeling in a song or lyrics that's really precious.
SE!: Last year you released an EP, "Naked". Walk us through the release. How were you involved in its production? Was it any different to releasing singles (and if so, how/why)? The release had a warm welcome from both the critics and the general public. How was it to have your debut EP be so well received?
NS: It was amazing to have the EP so well received! I released it at the start of the pandemic so the plan had to change slightly, so it was very reassuring to still have gained success from it! I was very involved with all aspects of it, I worked with every collaborator for every section of creating the EP, from the artwork to videos to production. I did actually somewhat release each track in its own spotlight, so it's quite similar to releasing a single in that sense, but just a lot more singles in a much shorter space of time than I'd ever done before. Every track on the EP was pre written as a single, but then I chose the best fitting tracks to put together to form the EP.
"I am especially inspired by emotion, I think if you can capture a feeling in a song or lyrics that's really precious"
SE!: You have just released "Medicine boy". How would you describe it, both lyrically and musically? What is the core message of the song?
NS: "Medicine boy" plays on the theme of comparing a fresh dysfunctional relationship with a boy, to a drug. The lyrics are written so that if I told you the whole song was about an addictive relationship, it would make sense. But if I also told you the whole song was about recreational drug use, every line would still make sense.
I wanted to capture the essence of a bittersweet relationship – the way you know it's bad for you, you know you can do better, but it's not bad enough to make you want to leave, and the "highs" of the romance are too good to walk away from.
I really wanted to write about the way a relationship that "isn't good" isn't always "totally bad". Writing from personal experience, I like to document stages of my life and emotions I've felt through songwriting and lyrics. I was really struggling to find a way to express the thoughts and feelings I felt in this chapter of my life, however I really feel we encapsulated the entire story in this song.
SE!: Your live performances have been described as "explosive". What elements do you focus on when planning live shows? How is the experience of performing live for you? What could we expect from a show of yours?
NS: I love playing live more than any other element of my career! I love playing music face to face to an audience and hoping to connect with them! I guess I play lots of different shows, I have the big shows where I play full band with the big tracks to get people dancing, but I also have an acoustic set up where I play the more "emotional" songs for listening in quiet rooms with a seated audience. I love both kinds of show, I take pride in my setlists.
I hope my setlists can tell a story and mood wise take the audience on a journey. I've been performing live regularly for nine years, I love every show.
SE!: What are your professional projects for the near future? What can your fans expect from you?
NS: Maybe another EP... Next single out on September 2nd!
SE!: If you could choose anyone, who would be some British and international artists you would like to collaborate with?
NS:Taylor Swift (obvs), and also Gary Lightbody, he is the lead singer of Snow Patrol, I think he's awesome!
SE!: We would like to finish this interview with a song of yours. What is your favorite song by Natalie Shay, and why?
NS: "People like me"! I've always been super proud of this one, it really captures my 20 year old mood at the time and I think it's funky! :)
Sounds European! remeets Spanish star Alfred García. He has just released a new single, entitled "Toro de cristal". And we cannot stress it enough: it's a very entertaining pop song! The melody is highly inviting, and the chorus sticks in the head extremely quickly. We love it!
A duet that produced one of Germany's biggest hits in 2020 has reunited to release a new single. So it's a promise of success! We are talking about DJ Herzbeat and Sonia Liebing, with "Immer wieder wenn die Sonne scheint". The song is absolutely delightful. We enjoyed it from first to last second!
Time to check out the new single by Thorsteinn Einarsson! "Shackles" brings a song with a marked structure and a powerful country undertone that matches Thorsteinn's deep voice in a fabulous manner.
Julia Viktoria is a young Swedish talent hailing from Stockholm. She has just released a new single, "Complicated". It's a song that delivers a strong matter, having a lot of emotional baggage when looking for someone new, in a set and ambience that allows it to be treated in a lighter and more accessible manner.
"Life is often complicated; in relation to others but also to yourself and your own feelings. It is easy to rethink, cancel dates and meetings, doubt yourself, doubt your own ability and send out mixed messages", says Julia.
It's finally time to remeet Maltese artist Jessica Magro and see what she's up to! Jessica has just released a new single. It's "Natural", a song with marking beats, an intense vocal performance and a memorable chorus.
Sargis Avetisyan and Mariam Yeghiazaryan are Armenian singers hailing from Yerevan. They've joined forces to record and release "Xostanum em". It's a delightful folk pop song with a strong energy and a very cool chorus.
German star Adel Tawil has just released a new single. It's entitled "Die welt steht auf pause". It's a delightful song with a groovy melody and a chorus that is fun and dancy in a marvelous manner.
Siderland are a trio coming from Barcelona with their self-described "nocturnal pop". Their most recent single features FEZE, a fellow Spanish DJ and producer: "Només vull amor" is a fantastic, synth-infused song that fully captures the nocturnal feeling: it's a track that should be in your party playlists!
Ericka Jane returns to our site! "Strangers in the night" is a very interesting single, which starts with a country atmosphere that is quickly replaced by disco realness. It's a roller coaster of emotions!
Kara Marni is Antonia Karamarni, a 22-year-old singer from East Finchley, in North London. She's been capturing hearts with her unique take on '90s-2000s R&B infused tones, as we can appreciate in her single "2nd nature". The track has an involving melody and creates a sultry atmosphere with its captivating groove. The song will be included in Kara's upcoming EP, "State of mind", out in mid-September.
Spanish band Pignoise makes a stellar return to our site! They have just released "Una sensación", a song that brings the raw strength of local rock sounds with a unique edge of punk.
Dutch singer Nielson is back with us! He has just released "Bliksem", a downtempo pop track in which his voice is accompanied by marking beats and a hypnotic melody.
It's time to go to Ireland, to listen to a great rock song by The Academic. The band have just released "Not your summer". It's a single which offers a groovy and hypnotic vibe, a delightful retro vibe and an absolutely addictive melody. It's surely a must-listen: it's our song of the week!
Adrián Mármol is Marmi, a Spanish singer who was born in Barcelona. Meet him with his latest single, "La llamada". It's an exciting and strong pop-rock song with an energetic vibe and a great and very entertaining melody. We love it!
Finnish singer Nelli Matula has a new single on offer. And it's a stupendous one! "Tulevaisuuteen" is a fresh pop song with an extremely enjoyable melody and a chorus that sticks in the head after the very first listen. We love it to bits!
Swedish singer Anna Bergendahl returns to Sounds European! with a marvelous new single. In "Grain of trust", she continues the trend of country-infused pop that matches her voice in a perfect way, and adds classical sounds in an instrumental post chorus to elevate the song further.
Anna describes it as a "strong pop song with lyrics about trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel. [It is] a song full of hope which I dedicate to all who have worried over their loved ones during the past year".
Andrés López Lancha is Pole., a Spanish urban music artist hailing from Toledo. He has gathered with Dani Martin to record and release "Piratas de ciudad". It's a great song, with a catchy melody and a lot of personality.
Alva Elle is a 20 year-old artist from Ostrobothnia, Finland. She has been writing songs since 2015, and now we get to meet her in a lovely release. "I miss" is a midtempo pop with a characteristic Scandinavian feel, catchy hooks and a lovely chorus.
British collab on the horizon: it's Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Feeling (a rock band from Horsham, Sussex). They have released "While we're still young", a single that brings a delicious '70s disco atmosphere. The song will be the soundtrack for the movie "Everybody's talking about Jamie".
Updated on November 27th, 2021, with the official video.
Time to remeet Icelandic ensemble Poppvélin! They return to our site with the fresh "Komdu með", a song that mixes retro grooves, synth drops and pop in a very enjoyable way.
Vanesa Martín returns with a new single! "Paso a dos" is a guitar-driven ballad in which Vanesa's voice shines through with emotion. The song serves as the soundtrack of the movie "Sevillanas de Brooklyn".
After their huge success on this year's Eurovision, Finnish band Blind Channel are finally back with a new single. They have just released "Balboa", and we are totally addicted to its power and intensity. It's an outstanding song!
"'Balboa' is a reminder of who we are – who we have always been. It's a violent pop show-off about getting back up again and again, no matter how hard you've been hit. It's us sticking to our vision without compromise. Underdogs are a dangerous species. This is a call to arms to every hardworking dreamer out there, and the soundtrack of our career so far. We keep coming back", the band explains.
JP Cooper returns to our site with another heart-warming single. We're talking about "Call my name", a track in which he explores the effective combination of an anthemic melody and bright, hopeful lyrics. The song will have you tearing up or with a big smile on your face. Or both! The song will be included in JP's latest album, "She", which will see the light in mid-October.
Ermal Meta has a new single! He has just released "Stelle cadenti", a song which channels '80s synth-rock sounds to deliver a delicious track. The song is part of Ermal's latest album, "Tribù urbana".
It's about time we remet Spanish band Lori Meyers. They have just released a new single, entitled "Hacerte volar", and we are completely addicted to it. It's an outstanding song, with a captivating melody and a very addictive chorus. It's a track to listen on repeat!
LUNA is a young German singer and songwriter from Passau. Meet her with her latest single, "Blau". It's a great song with a catchy groove, a strong energy and a very inviting mood.
Holly Ffion Humberstone is a British singer and musician who was born in Grantham in 1999. She is preparing an EP for November, and we can already listen to its title track, "The walls are way too thin". It's an amazing indie pop song with a great vibe and a classy set of instrumentals and vocals.
American singer Wrabel has released a touching single together with Dutch artist Duncan Laurence. The result is "Back to back", a song that follows the nostalgic mood of both artists, including a touching chorus and an exhilarating instrumentation. The song is the official anthem for the 25th edition of Pride Amsterdam.
Finnish band Velvet Ocean has just released a new single. We are talking about "My life (Full of chaos)". It's a strong rock song with powerful instrumentals and a vocal work which is as imposing as the melody asks. The result is very addictive!
"Sometime in life, the morning may come when everything has gone to the point where you can't get out of bed anymore. The whole life seems to be a huge chaos", Velvet Ocean's singer and the writer of the song, Riitu, tells about its background.
Austrian star Allessa has just released a new single. And we cannot stress it enough: "Das kanns doch nicht gewesen sein" is a perfect example of what true and great schlager is. Its melody is addictive and highly effective, and the chorus is marking and sticks in the head very easily!
Time to remeet Norwegian talent Hanne Mjøen! She has recently released the single "Emotional fever", in which she delivers a growing gem of synth pop, wonderfully wrapped around her unique vocals.
Hanne says that she "wrote this song with the thought of having mixed feelings about someone, and not being able to decide if the person is right for you or not. One moment it feels like forever, and the next you get a panic attack and you just want to leave. And it feels like a fever because of the sudden changes you have no control over".
Well, this was unexpected. Russian-born German schlager queen Helene Fischer surprised us all today by releasing a single with Puerto Rican Luis Fonsi. And the song is exactly everything you're thinking: "Vamos a Marte" mixes a low-beat electropop with Latin rhythms, and blends both German and Spanish with seamless effort.
Polish singer Rafał Brzozowski is back to our site! He has recently released "Głośniej", a song in which he reflects upon making dreams come true in the time we have, and that we should stop for at least a moment and step into ourselves.
Haloo Helsinki! return to Sounds European! with a new single. We're talking about "Tulikärpäset", a song in which the band delivers a softer, more alternative kind of pop-rock that melts in your ears! The song anticipates their latest album, "Älä pelkää elämää", which will be out in September.
"Bem bom" is a movie which celebrates the history of Doce, Portugal's first girlband. And, of course, the movie's soundtrack is full of their biggest hits, performed by local actresses Bárbara Branco, Ana Marta Ferreira, Carolina Carvalho and Lia Carvalho. We now highlight the song that gives the movie its name, "Bem bom", one of the most iconic songs of Portugal in Eurovision's history.
German singer Jan-Marten Block has just released a new single. It's "Break out", an outstanding singer-songwriter song, with a well-paced and well-marked melody and a very imposing vocal performance. The chorus is the cherry on top of it all, offering the perfect complement for this amazing track. We love it to bits: it's our song of the week!
Swedish band Smash Into Pieces is definitely one of the highlights of the 2021 rock scene. In their fifth time landing on our site (all of them this year!), they present us "Glow in the dark", an intense track that creates a very engaging melody with the mix of instruments and vocal performance.
Smashing collaboration: it's Anne-Marie and Little Mix! They gathered their talents in the explosive "Kiss my (uh oh)", a fun, tongue-in-cheek pop that will make you enjoy yourself from start to finish!
Tuuli Rand is an Estonian singer who was born in Kuressaare in 1990. We have just got to listen to her single "Tagasi ei saa", and it was an instant addiction! The song is an amazing pop with a catchy melody and a marvelous chorus.
Marta Festa is an Italian singer, model and influencer who was born and raised in Milan. Meet her with her single "Estate italiana". It's a summer song that offers a totally different sound from the usual reggaeton that takes over the season: a nostalgic '60s atmosphere which is absolutely irresistible!
German star Malik Harris has just released a new single. And it's an awesome one! We are talking about "Time for wonder", a strong pop song with an imposing and memorable chorus.
British band Don Broco returns to our site with their most recent single. In "One true prince", they channel an alternative kind of rock that is more reliant on intense beats. About the track, lead singer Rob Damiani says that it is about "finding comfort in the fact that whatever you're going through and however bad it may feel, nothing lasts forever". The song will be included in the band's upcoming album, "Amazing things", out in mid-September.
Sounds European! remeets Danish band moi Caprice. They have recently released a new single, entitled "Eight years", and we are totally in love with it. It's a smooth rock song with a very captivating melody.
Clara Rubensson comes from Umeå, Sweden, and is tipped to be the next big name to emerge in the land of amazing pop. Last month, she released two covers which shows there are grounds to think she's destined for big things. One of them, featured below, is "Love in Siberia", originally recorded by Danish band Laban in 1985; in it, Clara updates the track to the current trend of 80s synth pop anthems with amazingly catchy results. The second cover is "The ride", the song that took Poland's Rafał Brzozowski to Eurovision this year and which Clara composed.
Zlata Ognevich returns to our site with the single "Toy den'". The track is an engaging ballad with intense beats and a shower of vocal power from Zlata. It is the official soundtrack for the film "Pul's".
Evelina has teamed up with ANI (stage name of Ani Nnebedum, hailing from Helsinki) in a lovely single. "Me ei kuuluta toisillemme" is a charming mid-tempo pop that blends in a very enjoyable synth vibe.
It's finally time to remeet German band BRENNER. They have just released a new single. "Wunder gibt es immer wieder" is an exciting rock song with a very entertaining melody and a chorus that is inviting and memorable.
Playa Cuberris and Fredi Leis have joined forces to release a new single. It's "Turín", an amazing pop-rock song which has the pace, energy and feel that are unique and characteristic of Spanish music. We are listening to it nonstop!
Slovene singer Jay Bolk has a new single on offer. We are talking about "Moja mala". The song, which was written by Jay himself in partnership with Tanja Žagar, offers a fresh summer mood with an enjoyable ambience and very enticing sounds. The video features Tjaša Kramarič, and is perfect for the track!
ZUSTRA is the solo music project by Dubrovnik-born and Berlin-based singer and songwriter Ariana Zustra. Meet her with her brand-new single, "Walking on the Moon". It's a song that analyzes human absurdities from the perspective "from afar" (from the Moon), over a melody that causes a deep and wonderful hypnotic trance.
Look who we are finally remeeting! It's Finnish singer Stig, who has a new single on offer. It's "Älä vie mun kitaraa", a great guitar-led pop-rock song with some delightful country elements added to the melody. We love the chorus!
Polish star Dawid Kwiatkowski is enjoying a lot of success with his latest single, "Proste". And it's obvious why: it's a well-paced soft pop-rock song with a very cool chorus and a great vocal performance. The result is extremely enjoyable!
Audiokvartāls are a pop-rock trio from Latvia, formed in 2014 by Ivars Ozoliņš, Arnis Ozoliņš and Māris Skrodis. "Paradīzē", the second single (and title track) from their upcoming album, is a song about falling in love with movie stars and the dream to be a part of it. It's a delightful track, with an entertaining mood and a very cool chorus.
Broken Fires are a British band formed in Swansea, South Wales, in 2014. They have just released a new EP, "New friends". From it, we now enjoy "Boundaries". About the song, band member Tom says: "The lead vocal and violins for 'Boundaries' were added at an old chapel in Monmouth. We had to push home the final bit of recording and so hired this place for three days. Angharad Jenkins of Welsh folk band Calan came to visit with her little daughter. She recorded the violins while I (silently) entertained her daughter next to her feet, being careful not to make a squeak. She stared at her mum in awe for a few takes before the novelty wore off!".
Updated on October 5th, 2021, with the official audio.
Another song that is getting a lot of airplay around Europe is The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber's "Stay". Their single is charting at #1 in Norway, #2 in Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom, #3 in Denmark, #4 in Austria and Germany, #5 in Finland and Switzerland, and #36 in France.
In Europe, it's almost impossible to turn on the radios nowadays and not listen to Ed Sheeran. His "Bad habits" is charting all over the continent: this week, it's placing as #1 in Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, #2 in Austria, Germany and Norway, #3 in Sweden, #9 in France, and #41 in Portugal.
Turkish singer Funda Arar returns with a very cool new single. In "Gerisi bende", she serves an intense folkloric ballad which is pulled through with her marvelous voice.
Liviu Teodorescu has just got married, but wedding plans didn't stop him from releasing new music. In "Pe curand", he shares a pop ballad with intense R&B-infused beats, creating a really exciting mix.
Blas Cantó has recently released an unexpected collaboration. Together with Echosmith, he is sharing "Americana", a song that mixes Spanish soft pop and American country in a very sweet fashion.
Here is the song that is bound to blow up in the Mediterranean summer. We're talking about Eleni Foureira and "Aeraki", a song that takes the artist back to ethnic Greek pop but adding some sort of Spanish feeling to create a fabulous South European mix of sounds. We couldn't resist its charm: it's our song of the week!
Icelandic producer Thorisson has teamed up with Hedband, a duo formed by Karitas Harpa Davíðsdóttir and Inga Birna Friðjónsdóttir in a collaboration entitled "In for the win". If you like Scandinavian pop, this will be a feast for your ears. And if not, this is a great song to discover the glory of that genre: growing verses and an explosive, anthemic and retro chorus that will drive you crazy!
Madeline Juno is back with a different kind of summer anthem. We're talking about "Sommer, sonne, depression", an introspective single in which she explores enticing indie-pop beats. As she expressed on Facebook, the song is "for everyone who is sweating, crying and currently often at the same time".
Updated on August 27th, 2021, with the official video.
Lorenzo Fragola and The Kolors have released a fantastic single together. We're talking about "Solero", a song in which they mix retro synth pop and a very catchy groove. The video portrays a giant catwalk and fashion show that really fits the whole ambient!
Aitana teamed up with Venezuelan-born singer Evaluna Montaner to release "Aunque no sea conmigo". Their collaboration is a pop ballad that talks about heartbreak in an open and honest way.
James Smith is back with us! The British singer is sharing "Got the love", a touching ballad in which he reflects on the struggles of young people in the modern world.
It's time to remeet Greek singer Dionisis Sxoinas! He returns to Sounds European! with "Pos thes na s' agapao", a song that shows us how enticing Greek sounds when taken through the '80s synth glory.
Ceren Gündoğdu is a Turkish singer hailing from Istanbul. Get to know her sounds in the captivating "Cinayet", a sensual piece of soft pop with an unmistakable ethnic touch.
Irish singer Dermot Kennedy is back with his latest release. We're talking about "Better days", an anthemic ballad in which Dermot talks about "perseverance and pushing through life's troubles, knowing that something better is always waiting for us on the other side".
Belgian band Hooverphonic are back from their Eurovision experience sharing a new single. We're talking about "Thinking about you", a song that retains their alternative aura whilst offering a more upbeat melody.
Updated on August 6th, 2021, with the official video.
Time for a new single by Cepeda! We're talking about "Fortuna", a song that takes the artist through a more pop-infused kind of song. You won't be able to get the whistling out of your head!
Ádám Hesz is a Hungarian artist born in 1986. He's been involved in music since a very young age, and has developed his career since 2015. Check out his latest single: "Nem volt választásunk" is a fresh, guitar-driven pop track that fits the European summer perfectly!
Meet Five Days North, a Mancunian band that is rising among the new discoveries in the indie-pop music scene. Their most recent single is proof of this: "Champagne shots" is an exciting sample of the genre, oozing class and a delicious retro synth sound. On the track, the band comments that it is "a story of two people reflecting on the small bits of luxury that make life worthwhile. It is the summer anthem to celebrate the reclaimed freedoms we all previously took for granted".
Greek artist Leon of Athens joins the summer heat with a very enjoyable new track. In "Kymata", he explores a very interesting mix of tropical synth sounds that still retain a folkloric ambience.
Urban Cone are Emil Gustafsson, Jacob William Sjöberg, Rasmus Flyckt and Tim Formgren, from Stockholm. They have just released a fabulous single: "Never enough" is a fresh pop single that would be a great addition to any feel-good playlist.
Fernando Daniel has a new single! He has just released "Raro", a song in which he blends Portuguese nostalgia with urban undertones that create a really unique mix of sounds.
Italian singer Osvaldo Supino has just shared a new single. "Lights down low" fuses dance and orchestral elements in an engaging pop track. On the release, Osvaldo comments that he "had to search inside myself for a new sound. That's why this song is a real combination of these elements. I'm dancing unrestrained, provocative, but at the same time I'm always looking for a deep emotion, a refinement, an elegance".
Meet FEVER, a British band formed by James Harrod, Mitchell Capes, Joe Gray, Sam Howell and Ellis Keogh. They have just released their single "Time will define", a blend of Brit pop-rock at its finest. About the track, Harrod says that it "is inspired by holding on to a deteriorating relationship and kidding yourself into thinking things could still work out, even though you know it's over".
It's finally time to remeet Natalija Bunkė. The Lithuanian singer has just released a new single. It's "Mano širdis vanduo", a solid pop song with great electronic beats and a marking chorus.
Ukrainian diva Loboda is back to our site. She has recently released the single "Allo", a sultry mix of deep synth pop sounds with a more upbeat chorus that will make you dance along in no time!
Time to remeet Merve Özbey! The singer has just released "Yerle yeksan", a song in which she mixes a more electronic beat into Turkish pop, a blend that is a treat to our ears!
Two big stars from Moldova and Romania got together for a new single. We are talking about Mark Stam and Sore, with "E OK". We've just got to listen to it, and it's amazing! It's a modern electropop song with a very involving ambience.
