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.
