When it comes to Europe, Scandinavia is not typically the first region that comes to mind as a producer of chart-topping music acts. With the UK getting most of the attention for the British invasion, it’s easy to forget that the ‘90s saw a Scandinavian sweep with everlasting hits from Ace of Base, Aqua and The Cardigans. Of course, some of the biggest acts to come out of the region — Denmark, Norway, and Sweden — include ABBA, Robyn and Lars Ulrich of Metallica.
While it seemed like 2014 was set to be another sweep for Brit acts, like YOK artist Sam Smith and John Newman, several Scandinavian artists are making a run at the top of the charts. Among them are July YOK artist Tove Lo with her buzzworthy “Habits (Stay High)” and Nico & Vinz’s runaway hit, “Am I Wrong.”
These two acts, plus three other new groups are the Scandinavian artists you oughta know.
Nico & Vinz
Hailing from Norway, the duo is vying for song of the summer in the States with their runaway hit, “Am I Wrong.” Formerly known as Envy, the band changed its name to Nico & Vinz when they signed with Warner Bros and released their first single in the U.S. Their sound blends together elements of soul, reggae, rock with a pop appeal.
Related Acts: Peps Persson
Mø
Born Karen Marie Ørsted, this Danish singer-songwriter has often been compared to Canadian singer Grimes thanks to her mix of EDM, indie pop, and R&B. But Mø — meaning maiden in Danish — has perfected her pop sound on her debut album, No Mythologies to Follow, with the help of DJ and producer Diplo.
Related Acts: Ace of Base, jj
Tove Lo
VH1’s July YOK artist, Tove Lo, is breaking onto the scene with her catchy first single, “Habits (Stay High).” But she’s no one-hit wonder. Lo has written songs for Icona Pop and Girls Aloud in addition to her debut EP, Truth Serum.
Related Acts: Lykke Li, Oh Land, Robyn
Want to learn more about Lo? Watch her speed interview below and click here for exclusive pics and performances.
Galantis
Galantis is the new electronic producing duo comprised of Linus Eklow and Christian “Bloodshy” Karlsson. Karlsson maybe familiar for his music than his name — he was one-third of Miike Snow and has written hits for Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and Kylie Minogue. Meanwhile, Eklow co-wrote and produced Icona Pop’s international hit, “I Love It.” The duo’s sound blends catchy hooks with club-ready dance beats.
Related Acts: The Knife, Miike Snow
Nonono
Another act from Sweden, this indie pop/alt rock group is comprised of Stina Wäppling, Tobias “Astma” Jimson, and Michel “Rocwell” Flygare. Their debut single, “Pumpin Blood,” heated up the Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart and was featured in a number of TV commercials. They followed up the 2013 hit with their latest single, “Hungry Eyes.”
Related Acts: The Cardigans, Peter Bjorn and John
[Photo: Getty]