Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Sounds European!'s farewell

All good things come to an end. And Sounds European! is no exception.

Over the last (almost) nine years, we've shared our passion for European music with you. We've developed a thorough research web and an intricate schedule to make sure that we'd give as wide representation as possible, and that includes territories and music genres.

But, sadly, life has been getting in the middle of it all. As we said, it's been nine years, so we now have different responsibilities that are making it almost impossible to find the time and strength to continue with the site with the level of care that we want. So, with a heavy heart, we have recently sat down and decided to give SE! a proper closure before it all imploded on our faces.

It's been 13,222 posts (+1, this last one), almost three million visits from all around the world, interviews with artists we love from all corners of the continent – and, what matters the most, a huge amount of love from all of you. We really couldn't have imagined it when we started.

We don't even know how to say thanks for all of this. So we'll do it the only way we know how to: with music.


Monday, April 11, 2022

Germany | Die Toten Hosen - "Scheiss wessis"

BRAND NEW

German rock stars Die Toten Hosen make a stunning return to our site! Their latest single is entitled "Scheiss wessis", and it has a very interesting story behind. It's mirrored by Marteria's "Scheiss ossis", and it's meant to reflect upon the difference that still exists between Eastern and Western Germany 30 years after the reunification. As the artists commented, the songs are meant "as hymns to unity and friendship, no matter where you're from. In the current situation, this seems more important to us than ever".

Finland | Ollie - "Kaksi sydäntä"

BRAND NEW

Finnish singer Ollie keeps dazzling us with his emotional singles. This time, he did it with "Kaksi sydäntä", a ballad with involving verses and a powerful chorus that highlights his tender vocal performance. The song tells "the story of two people in the midst of chaos. Both have seen so much drama and failures that hope is fading. This song is about the courage to jump into the unknown and give a chance to happiness".

Croatia | Stjepan Lach - "Zauvijek"

BRAND NEW

It's finally time to remeet Stjepan Lach. The Croatian singer has just released a new single, entitled "Zauvijek". It's a beautiful ballad with an involving ambience and a marvelous vocal performance. It's a song to listen with the heart!

Sunday, April 10, 2022

Italy | Francesco Gabbani - "Volevamo solo essere felici"

BRAND NEW

Italian singer Francesco Gabbani returns to our site with a brand new single! "Volevamo solo essere felici" is a classic, mid-tempo ballad that mixes pop, synth and soft rock in perfect quantities. The song talks about the ability to overcome one's own insecurities and pursue just happiness.

Netherlands | Emma Kok - "Laat mij een vlinder zijn"

BRAND NEW

Emma Kok is a Dutch singer hailing from Kerkrade. She has just won the tenth season of The Voice Kids in the Netherlands. And now, she is releasing a single, entitled "Laat mij een vlinder zijn". It's a cool pop song with a cute melody and a marvelous vocal performance.

Norway | This Daze - "Cigarette smile"

BRAND NEW

This Daze come from Trondheim, Norway, with their self-described fuzz-pop. Established in 2019 and gaining ground in the local music scene, they now land on Sounds European! with their latest single, "Cigarette smile". The song is the perfect mix between pop, rock and grunge sounds.

On the track, the band comments that it is "the colourful person outside the pub with a cig between their lips. The song portrays adolescent themes of distant love together with the figurative and literal fear of meeting each other. (...) This song for us encapsulates the feelings of youth and being young. We feel that both the lyrics, the attitude of our performances and the urgency of the song reflects being young".

Saturday, April 09, 2022

Cyprus | Loukas Yorkas - "An m' agapas"

SONG OF THE WEEK

Cypriot star Loukas Yorkas has just released a new single. We are talking about "An m' agapas". It's a great pop song with smooth verses and an intense and highly addictive chorus. Loukas' voice takes it all to an even higher level. We are completely addicted: it's our song of the week.

Denmark | H.E.R.O. feat. Melissa Bonny - "Monster"

BRAND NEW

Our friends from H.E.R.O. made another fantastic collaboration, this time with Swiss singer Melissa Bonny (Montreux, 1993). The song is called "Monster", and it draws into a heavier kind of rock, also including synth elements. It's a fabulous track!

Belgium | Regi feat. Emma Heesters - "Zwaartekracht"

BRAND NEW

Belgium's Regi and the Netherlands' Emma Heesters got together to release a new single. And what a great one it is! "Zwaartekracht" is a retro synth-pop song with an exciting energy and a very entertaining chorus.

Friday, April 08, 2022

Spain | Veintiuno - "La ruina"

BRAND NEW

Spanish band Veintiuno are back with us! They have recently released "La ruina", a compelling rock track that encapsulates a charming retro feeling with lyrics that play between wishes for the future and nostalgic memories from the past.

Portugal | Cristóvam - "Golden days"

BRAND NEW

Cristóvam is back with us! He has recently released "Golden days", a cozy sample of guitar-driven pop.

On the track, Cristóvam comments: "I think there's a beautiful parallelism between spring and youth, and I'm hoping that we captured some of it in this song. It was [written on] a sunny morning and the sunlight had this tonality that reminded me of an old photo I had from 2009. That photograph was taken on a holiday trip with a group of friends. We were all teenagers, some of us approaching 20 and going through that nostalgic feeling of reaching the twilight of your youth. I always think of that specific photo as the perfect representation of the golden days of mine".

Russia | Maxim Fadeev - "Vyzhivshiy"

BRAND NEW

Maxim Fadeev has a new single on offer. "Vyzhivshiy" is a vocal ballad with a very captivating and involving melody. The chorus is so strong!

Thursday, April 07, 2022

France | Clara Luciani - "Amour toujours"

BRAND NEW

French singer Clara Luciani keeps conquering us with her unique take on disco-infused pop. This time, it is with her latest single, "Amour toujours", that she hits the nail on the head: the verses are hypnotizing, and the addition of strings in the chorus makes it just irresistible!

Ireland | Wild Youth - "Seventeen"

BRAND NEW

Irish band Wild Youth are finally back with us! They have just released the single "Seventeen", a classic rock ballad in which they unveil all their power.

Greece | George Sabanis - "Ase me na se prosecho"

RECENT

Greek star George Sabanis has a new single on offer. It's entitled "Ase me na se prosecho". The song is an intense ballad with a strong melody and a perfect vocal performance. George never disappoints us!

Wednesday, April 06, 2022

United Kingdom | YUNGBLUD - "The funeral"

BRAND NEW

After landing a high spot on our Top 50 of 2021 with "Fleabag", British singer YUNGBLUD returns to our site with a brand-new single! We're talking about "The funeral", a cathartic mix of pop and rock.

The track is very personal for the artist, as he explained: "I've spent a lot of time lately fighting with who I wanted to be. Honestly, I've been feeling a bit of a hypocrite. I've been telling people to be themselves with no fear or no care for what others thought, but I realized that was something I needed to tell myself. (...) The lyrics of this song are a list of everything that makes me feel insecure. It is about ego, death, being reborn and dancing on your own grave".

Switzerland | Baba Shrimps - "Rolling stone"

BRAND NEW

Time to check up on Swiss band Baba Shrimps! They have recently released "Rolling stone", a very compelling blend of indie and pop sounds. The band describes the song as an "homage to those who build on the history of yesterday but want to write their own songs of today and tomorrow, wrapped in a catchy, uplifting song".

Turkey | Selin - "Asi"

RECENT

Selin is a prominent new name in the Turkish music scene. Born in Istanbul in 1998 and growing up in the United Kingdom, she brings an alternative take to pop in "Asi", a song that sounds super contemporary and mixes both Turkish and English with seamless effort.

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

Belgium | Mustii - "Skyline"

BRAND NEW

Belgium's Mustii is back with us to share his most recent single. "Skyline" is an anthemic, alternative ballad which draws inspiration from other decades to explode in sounds and beats.

Bulgaria | Mihaela Fileva - "Opora"

BRAND NEW

Sounds European! remeets Bulgarian singer Mihaela Fileva. She has just released a new single. It's "Opora", a piano-led ballad which explores all the quality and emotions her voice can offer. It's simply lovely.

Bosnia and Hergovina | Maya Sar - "Vjetar"

RECENT

Bosnian star Maya Sar is back to our site with her latest single. We are talking about "Vjetar". It's a guitar-led mid-tempo ballad with a sweet melody and a very cool chorus.

Monday, April 04, 2022

Norway | Sigrid - "It gets dark"

BRAND NEW

Norwegian pop princess Sigrid keeps promoting new music! This time, she released "It gets dark", a noir synth ballad with intense beats and an ethereal vocal performance. The song is about letting go of fears, and will be included in "How to let go", her upcoming studio album.

Denmark | Gorgeous - "Divine"

BRAND NEW

Maríe Louise and Murga are Gorgeous, a Danish indie-pop duo from Copenhagen. They have just released their debut single, titled "Divine". It's a smooth indie-pop song with a delightful melody and ambience. We are fully hypnotized!

Serbia | TeodoRa - "Most na adi"

RECENT

We are now landing in Serbia, to listen to a great new single by TeodoRa. We are talking about "Most na adi". It's an involving pop song with marking beats and a hypnotic mood. The chorus is strong and very catchy!

Sunday, April 03, 2022

Turkey | KÖFN - "Bi' tek ben anlarım"

BRAND NEW

BKE (Bilge Kağan Etil, from Istanbul) and Salman Tin (from Adana) are KÖFN, a new duo rising in the Turkish music scene. They have just charmed us with their latest single, "Bi' tek ben anlarım", a song that mixes alternative sounds and pop in a masterful way.

Spain | Álvaro de Luna - "Nos quedará"

BRAND NEW

Spanish singer Álvaro de Luna dazzled us in a new single. "Nos quedará" brings a darker, heavier kind of pop-rock that explodes in beats and riffs in the chorus. It's a fantastic track!

Russia | Zara - "Bezumnaya"

RECENT

Look who we are finally remeeting. It's Zara, who has recently released a great new single. "Bezumnaya" is an intense pop song with a passionate melody and an involving vocal performance.

Saturday, April 02, 2022

Iceland | Thorsteinn Einarsson - "Runaway"

SONG OF THE WEEK

Icelandic singer Thorsteinn Einarsson is celebrating the release of his third album, "Einarsson", with the release of a new single. We're talking about "Runaway", a song that shies from the noir ballads to bring an enjoyable pop tune with an irresistible beat. It's our song of the week!

Romania | Lidia Buble - "Draga mea"

BRAND NEW

Get ready to listen to an outstanding song coming from Romania! We are talking about "Draga mea", by Lidia Buble. It's a wonderful ballad with an emotional melody and a very strong chorus. Lidia's voice brings a lot of emotion and quality to the track.

Greece | Irini Mihail - "Ti ekanes"

RECENT

Irini Mihail is a Greek singer hailing from Athens. She rose to prominence after taking part of the seventh season of The Voice of Greece. Meet her with "Ti ekanes". It's a very strong pop song, with an intense and passionate chorus.

Friday, April 01, 2022

United Kingdom | James Bay - "Give me the reason"

BRAND NEW

British singer James Bay makes a stunning return to Sounds European!. He has just released the single "Give me the reason", a folk-and-indie infused ballad in which James pours his feelings.

On the track, James commented: "This song is like that scene when everything's about to fall apart between the two main characters and you're rooting for the one who's fighting to keep them together. After I finished writing this song I kept seeing that scene and it was always washed in a warm, sunset glow. Like that moment between day and night, between the end of one thing and the beginning of another. 'Give me the reason' is a song for that moment. When it looks as though the sun is setting on a relationship, when your heart's in your throat and the desire to be together is stronger than ever".

Italy | Elodie - "Bagno a mezzanotte"

BRAND NEW

Italian singer Elodie returns to our site with a new single! "Bagno a mezzanotte" is a sensual pop piece with a minimalistic approach that evolves into a totally captivating track.

Bulgaria | Grafa - "Utre otnovo"

RECENT

Bulgarian star Grafa has just released a new single. And it's a great one! "Utre otnovo" is a grandiose pop-rock song with a grower melody and a very involving ambience. It's irresistible!