Here come the Swedes

Greta Garbo. Ingmar Bergman. Alfred Nobel. Over the years, Sweden has produced some of the world’s most talented people, including a wide range of musicians.

From Jens Lekman to The Knife to ABBA, Sweden has churned out practically every genre of music. Pop, punk, disco and even death-metal are among those that have been explored.

While ostensibly esoteric at first listen, many Swedish musicians have refused to stay within the boundaries of their country, and consequently, the hype surrounding Swedish musicians has grown, making them some of the most nascent performers to date.

IU junior Megan Downey believes this buzz can be compared to any place where art or music is flourishing.

“Something is clearly happening in this place, so then who or what is still hiding away, undiscovered?”

Jens Lekman, for example, has refused to remain hidden and found success in signing to local record label, Secretly Canadian.

“I think Jens has an uncanny talent for re-contextualizing– and maybe inherently comforting – to an American listener and bringing them into a new and exciting light,” Downey said. “His music has the Motown elements and the ’60s pop elements for sure, but it’s really not confined to any decade or genre.”

Frequently accompanying Lekman on piano is songstress Frida Hyvonen. Also signed to Secretly Canadian, Hyvonen’s big break came when Victoria Bergsman of The Concretes released her debut, “Until Death Comes”. Hyvonen has since toured the United States and Europe.

Love is All, a pop-punk quintet from Gothenburg, is also finding current success in the United States. While lead singer and keyboardist Josephine Olausson claimed in an Under the Radar magazine article that it’s unlikely to make music that resonates in other worlds, it seems her band has proven this to be untrue. In the past year, Love is All has received hype from the likes of Pitchfork Media and Filter Magazine.

For other listeners, it’s not about where the music is from, but what its saying. IU alumna Jennifer Bush is a fan of The Knife, a brother-sister duo based in Stockholm.
“To me, it doesn’t matter where its from. It’s all about the beat and lyrics,” Bush said.

The Knife is known for its textured electronic beats and samples and has won multiple Swedish Grammy Awards. The group is currently working on the music and words for the Danish production of the Darwin-inspired opera “Tomorrow in a Year.”

Even ABBA has recently made a comeback with “Mamma Mia,” the popular musical whose film adaptation was released this past summer. The on-screen musical takes 16 of the popular 1970s group’s songs. ABBA officially broke up in 1983 and has since been offered more than a million dollars to reunite and tour together.

“ABBA certainly symbolize a certain era and style. And as long there’s a desire (by marketers or by the people organically) to recall that era or style, their music will be around,” said Jason Nickey, co-owner of Landlocked Music. “They have become a byword, a myth.”

Swedish Playlist:

Jens Lekman- “A Higher Power”

El Perro Del Mar- “It’s All Good”

Peter Bjorn and John- “Amsterdam”
The Knife- “Silent Shout”

Love is All- “Wishing Well”

Shout Out Louds- “Tonight I Have to Leave It”

Tallest Man on Earth- “The Gardener”

Frida Hyvonen- “Dirty Dancing”

Lykke Li- “I’m Good, I’m Gone”

Jose Gonzalez- “Down the Line”