Freyr Flodgren from Brother North has started releasing songs from a forthcoming solo album. Here are “What Are We?” and a live recording of “Over My Head”:

Here’s an enthralling song from Jessica Pehrson, who has released the single “The Sound”, taken from her eponymous upcoming EP. The song starts slowly with a dreamy electronica and breaks out in a warm, melodic electrosoul in the chorus. She has a fascinating voice also, mild, relaxed yet confident and with that extra soul glitter and warmth that mesmerize me. The song and the EP are produced by Pete Davis, a British producer who has worked earlier with artists like PJ Harvey and Björk.

Jessica Pehrson’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify

The Gothenburg duo Pale Honey, Tuva Lodmark and Nelly Daltrey, are releasing the single “Youth” on the 2nd of March. Armed with only drums, electric guitars and Tuva’s cool vocals they have created a track that deserves it’s name; a calm verse, with a lo-fi synth figure as the only company to the vocals, explodes in garage rock riffs, but still maintaining the same laidback attitude. Their debut album “Youth” will be released in the 4th of May.

Pale Honeys site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp

I wrote about London-based Akiine a little more than a year ago when she released her debut EP with fine-tuned, soft soul. Now she has started to work with the Brooklyn label Color Station and released the single “Destiny”. And even if I recognise her sensitive vocals there is a different vibe here, a darker ambience where her voice flows through pulsating R’n’B-beats.

Akiine on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp

About a year ago I presented the band The Mondanes, hailing from Göteborg, performing their song “Silver Spoon” in an acoustic session. Now they have produced some studio tracks also and present them on the new EP “Freeze Out”; five tracks with an enjoyable mix of Americana an indiepop. It all starts a bit cautiously with the song “Atlantic Sea” which never really takes off and then “Out On a Limb” which certainly picks up the pace but lacks luster and energy enough to make me get carried away. The three remaining songs, though, more than compensate for the start. Here’s life, warmth, passion and the band is glowing. “Silver Spoon”, which makes me think of the Byrds, is lifted even higher compared with the acoustic session and is full of personality, tension and sensitivity. “Jenny Say (Why Did You Move Away)” is top notch uplifting indiepop which probable will make Jenny move back home right away, and the finishing song “Violet Gun”, maybe the best song, is a tastefully dynamic indie with a sticky chorus. Here are two of the songs:

The Mondanes on Facebook – on Spotify – on Soundcloud