In 2013 the duo White Birches released two of the best electro pop songs that year, which eventually ended up in the EP “Stands of White Birches”. Now they are heading towards their debut album (release in April) and have started this year by releasing two singles, “Hunting” in January and yesterday also “It’s a Hollow World”.

Their dark electronica is if possibly even darker now, not cold and hard, but rather like the feeling of being inside a beautifully freightening and ominous fairytale where Fredrik Jonasson’ heavy synth sounds surround us and where distorted guitars whip up black smoke in the corner of our eyes, while Jenny Gabrielsson Mares vocals guide us like Red Riding Hood through the dangerous forest.

White Birches site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp

The Berlin based band Tula got quite some attention in the Autumn with their cool cover of Chris Isaac’s “Wicked Game”. Now they have released their own song “River”, a piece of of dreamy electropop produced by Klas Åhlund, and a great follow-up to their earlier success. I have added “Wicked Games” below as well, in case you missed it before.

Tulas site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp

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

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

The duo Rainmode is back with a piece of catchy synthpop in the shape of their fourth single, the playful “Blazer”. They write that the debut album is going to be released during Spring. I also noticed that I obviously had missed their third single “7D” in the Autumn, , a song you shouldn’t miss, so I’ve added that one as well.

Rainmode on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp –on Soundcloud