Swedish~ Stereo~

Line-up of yesterday's Allsång på Skansen has become pretty different by genres - alternative rock-band, ballad schlager-girl, acoustic pop-guy and DJ. That would be a big experiment to get Basshunter and Dead By April to Allsång på Skansen though they are as beloved characters by Swedes as Molly Sandén and Erik Hassle and were very welcome. By the way Eric Saade again was supporting Molly sitting in disguise among the audience.

One album per year, I love how productive Erik Hassle is!
Erik's new album "We Dance" is out on July 4th and the first song we've got from it during Christmas holidays was "Stay" that was released only this Spring. However here's another following single "Back Under Water" that Erik teases us with. Pretty unexpectable synthpop-track with very warm sing-a-long pop-chorus. You can listen to it on the video below starting from 1.07.
Another song from the new album is "Feather Rain" presented in Nyhetsmorgon recently. Also more funk-sounding track than you can expect from Erik. New album is promising to be one big experiment for Mr. Hassle but I don't have a doubt it will contain a lot of brilliant pop-stuff.

Erik Hassle's newest single "Stay" released just few days ago has got a video which has turned to be a dark minimilistic but atmospheric projection of Roy Andersson's movie "En kärlekshistoria" cut on Erik's body.
You can currently find "Stay" in iTunes Top-20, Erik's stuff never gets released unnoticed.

Remember Erik Hassle performing brand new song we couldn't find anything about last Christmas?
It has turned to be actually a new single that was promoted few months before its release and now it's finally out.
"Stay" is written with Malin from Niki & The Dove (by the way did you know about duo "Who's gonna walk you home" guys have recorded together before?) but surprisingly there's no hint on electronic experimental sound of Malin's project, the song is pretty minimalistic and soulful piano-based ballad, quite enjoyable and delivering all Erik's vocal expression he's able to in choruses.

Merry Christmas, dear readers! Swedish TV presents a nice set of Christmas concerts with wonderful bunch of Swedish pop artists and we're gonna check what you've probably missed but still can watch online.

TV3's Julkonsert was visited by Thomas Di Leva with new single "Julens Stjärna" (5.15), Takida performing their latest promoted track "You Learn" (11.50), Jill Johnson expectedly singing "I väntan på julen" (16.07) and "Away in a manger" (33.12), Erik Hassle and (seems like really new track, I still can't find any info) "Stay" (24.30) and wonderful Loreen making acoustic version of "My Heart Is Refusing Me" (28.40) with One Voice featuring Caroline Jönsson, Britta Bergström and Simon Hassle.

Last snippet of JulLotta included performances of Magnus Carlsson with new Christmas single "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" (7.35) and "O Helga Natt" (38.30), Elisa's "Jag Säger Som Det Är" (10.55) and they've even made folk-and-artists-karaoke "White Christmas" in duo (26.40) and "Vi Äro Musikanter" (35.40).

Yesterday we've got special Bingolotto show with premiere of "Last Christmas" from Youngblood I already wrote about, guys have come back once again to perform "All I Want For Christmas Is You" with their future schlager-rival Molly Sandén (1.57.15), you could also watch Robert Wells with Vocalettes (00.40, 2.50.08) and Sofia Källgren singing recently released Christmas duo "I Julens Tid" (2.14.00), Jill Johnson making "Christmas With You" solo (54.34) and singing "En julsaga" in duo with Niklas Hjulström (1.44.50). Idol-2011 runner-up Robin Stjernberg was performing cover of Beyonce's "Halo" (1.09.50).

And finally a small acoustic piece of Christmas-Måns who should've appeared on any/every of these concerts but has just performed newest single "Kära Vinter" at #AdamLive.

Erik Hassle makes music present to his fans recording cover of classic "This Christmas" in a funky festive mood with lovely video cut from his childhood.
Today Erik has also visited Musikhjälpen to perform this track (and another one "Stay" - I can't directly say if it's a cover or new one) live, you can watch it below.

Seems like we didn't see Erik Hassle participating in any show quite long time that is a bit weird for us after Erik's spring album "Mariefred Sessions" release that deserved much bigger buzz than it actually had.
However today Erik has appeared in Moraeus med mera singing his latest single "Stay away" and also has performed his biggest hit "Hurtful" and Sam Cooke's "Nothing Can Change This Love" in acoustic.

Oh! We didn't expect John Dahlbäck's mix of Erik Hassle's track "Last Rider" (or "One Last Ride" now) will go that far.
Track that has already become quite successful in web has got official video.
It's Las Vegas party video, boys and girls come to town to have party and finishing with romantic happy end, pretty standard plot but it's worthy video and will work well like something to be played by music channels.

Erik Hassle's song "Last Rider" from last autumn's "Taken EP" that we didn't expect to be promoted after Erik's newest album "Mariefred Sessions" was out has got a new life in a mix of quite well-known abroad Swedish DJ John Dahlbäck.
Hard club mix under the title "One Last Ride" has left its dreamy base of Erik's vocal line and got a proper explosive chorus that we enjoy a lot. Track was featured in DJ Tiesto's "Club Life" radioshow getting attention of international audience and you can check it below right now.

Oh my! What a lovely idea to make cut of child documentary and make a new music video out of it! Not the most inovative but truly wonderful concept.
Erik Hassle's video for another single "Stay Away" from recently released "Mariefred Sessions" is unleashed and it has turned to be collection of the sweetest moments from not so far 22 years old Erik's chilhood.
Really hope new single will bring the album back to chart, it deserves to be afloat at least till autumn.

Traditional celebration of Nationaldagen in Skansen wasn't broken this year and once again some represantatives of Swedish pop-elite have stepped on the stage to please the audience with some old classic Swedish hits. So what you're risking to miss ignoring this show?

- Peter Jöback singing half-acoustic cover of Gyllene Tider's "Juni, Juli, Augusti" with Cookies'n'Beans;
- Amazing Timoteij making lovely folk-performance with "Sommarpsalmer";
- Charlotte Perrelli uniting with Magnus Carlsson to sing "Nygammal vals" that represented Sweden at Eurovision-1966;
- Gunilla Backman with nice schlager "Han har blommor i sitt hår" (we don't know where it came from but it's good) and later with another song "Sov du lille svensk";
- opera-fellow Markus Pettersson with "Nu är jag pank ock fågelfri";
- pop-sensation Erik Hassle with classic Björn Skifs's cover "Härligt, Härligt Men Farligt, Farligt" and Timoteij providing backing vocals;
- and not to forget loads of Swedish summer warmth and joy.

Erik Hassle's new Kent-produced mini-album "Mariefred Sessions" makes debut at #11 of Swedish chart - not bad result for young talent but hopefully it's just a beginning.
Erik has already presented few of his new tracks earlier this year and taking into consideration that album contains 6 tracks we've already heard half of them. After listening to whole album I'm not gonna say there's as much of Erik as Kent. Yes, electonic sound of "Sometimes When It Rains" with dark keys and filtered Eric's voice feels like something we heard on the latest Kent's albums. Yes, acoustic guitar-driven radio-friendly chorus of "Stay Away" feels like something from previous pop-rock Kent's era. Yes, Joakim Berg's vocal could easily be layed behind heavy synths of "Stains". But however in common it's Erik's personality prevailing in every key and every sound of this album and passion he has put into this album becomes strong link between two music worlds never crossed before. "Stay Away" will be released as the second single and Erik plans to make video for it, good choice for the single but I hope we'll get some more this Summer.
You can check both "Stay Away" and "Sometimes When It Rains" below though there's huge possibility some other album track will inspire for new article. Or two.

New Erik Hassle's 6-tracks album "Mariefred Sessions" is out on March 23rd, time to give it heavy promotion and Erik presents new video for the single "Are You Leaving" - pretty dark and thoughtful work (though the song doesn't suppose especially happy video) that you can already check below.

Earlier last week Erik has perfomed "Are You Leaving" and another album track "Stains" in Nyhetsmorgon, it's a bit hard to judge "Stains" as it mostly was performed in acoustic and I have doubts it will sound the same on album but if the song in common has such a tasty electronic and...hmmm... lazy in Kent's way sound as it goes from second chorus it's gonna be another really worthy track to look forward.

Few weeks ago Erik Hassle has announced about his new album "Mariefred Sessions" to be recorded with not less than Kent musicians, truly exciting colaboration that can't be anything but big future hit and now we can listen to full version of first single "Are You Leaving".
Due to previously published pieces we were waiting for some perfect combination of Kent's arrangement, Erik's voice and melody partly recognizable for both artists and it tuned exactly like we wanted. Very radio-friendly pop-rock track with ultra-tasty electronic sound and our appreciation of Kent's earlier releases spirit in Erik's lovely performance. Check it below!

Breaking news! The most beloved rock-group of Sweden Kent decided to collaborate with latest biggest breakthrough Erik Hassle.
When this Summer Kent finished their tour in support of latest album creative activity of frontman Jocke Berg was still on fire but as Kent needed some pause decision was to start working with some other artist and as Jocke really loved Erik's voice he contacted him and after approval from Erik's side they also invited Kent's bassist Martin Sköld and started recording in Martin's studio in Mariefred so "Mariefred Sessions" has become title of new recorded songs collection.
"Mariefred Sessions" that will see the light on March 23rd will include 6 new songs - "Sometimes When It Rains (Give Me Your Love)", "I´m Not an Island", "Stay Away", "Stains", "Arrows" and "Are You Leaving" that will be released as new Erik's single.
You can already check how it sounds in video below! As timer goes in reverse count check pieces of "Are You Leaving" at 7.22 and 4.49 and 0.26. Song perfectly mixes music of both Erik and Kent - it's touching melody-line in verse that you can expect from Erik but much more in aggressive dynamic electro-sound than's more usual for latest Kent's records and in chorus tune goes completely in Kent's style and Erik's vocal fits it 100%. Common impression? Smells like one of this year's best songs with tonnes of sales records and awards in the end of year. Check yourself!

Has your Santa slept through all your holidays, given your presents to your neighbours and left you depressed, drunk and crying all the Christmas weekends? What a shame! I'll try to fix it right now with some gifts from Swedish music Santa, to be more exact we have few Santas!

Our first Santa is Linda Sundblad who gives away her latest track "I'm a Star" that we presented back in December. I'll remind you that track is a part of interactive project where you can participate yourself making video and recording song together with Linda. Now official version is on site and it's a bit different from initial version - with harder beat during all song and on the other hand more calm energetics but very nice moaning part from Linda and computerized rap.

Second Santa is Erik Hassle who has packed gift from his "Taken (Still In My Blood)" single, cover "Family Affair" from "The Hassle Sessions: Volume One" and Christmas card personally for you sure. Get it here.

Moving further. Don't jostle guys, here's enough for everyone!

Anna Ternheim has written very nice new acoutic song "Save No Goodbyes" - as pleasant, light and warm as New Year's gift should be. You can download this track here.

Truly precious gift from Royal Radio - our amazing discovery of the last Summer presenting free EP "Love Rescue Us" for all fans. I'll remind you that firstly we've discovered Royal Radio with their single "Love Rescue Me" - beautiful touching pop-rock song that has become our perfect summer soundtrack and the rest of EP doesn't disappoint with mostly dynamic melodic pop-rock tracks - full of life, depth and heart. Get it here.

And finally Lazee presents compilation "Farewell" of his mixes of Mike Posner, Ne-Yo, Bruno Mars, Willow Smith, Chris Brown and many others check trailer of "Farewell" here and download it here. And as we've started to talk about Lazee below you can listen awesome mix of Dead by April's "Stronger" that has become soundtrack for video-game "Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit", in best traditions of Linkin Park's earlier tracks - hip-hop cooked really tasty with powerful rock-choruses.

Hope it's enough to find really your present and already download it. Where does Christmas go when it leaves you in December? Right, it comes to Swedish Stereo and lives here before short falling asleep for the Summer before starting to give us exciting news around September.

Annual Nordisk Julkonsert has taken place in Ålborg with loads of Scandinavian (and not only) stars again. TV-audience as usual could enjoy incredibly beautiful stage, hall decoration, dresses, live arrangement and performances.
This year among invited stars you could see Erik Hassle, Sylvia Vrethammar, Kristian Anttila, Sissel Kyrkjebø, Alphabeat, Marie Carmen Koppel (Melodi Grand Prix 2009), Samuel Ljungblahd, Mario Frangoulis, Shakin' Stevens and Suzanne Vega. Before I pointed you to his performance with Alphabeat's Stine and here below you can watch him performing another hit in Denmark "Don't Bring Flowers When I'm Dead" and as well performance of Samuel Ljungblahd with Marie Carmen Koppel, Samuel is quite interesting soul-artist that had quite big demand this year and hopefully we'll hear more from him next year.
You can watch full concert here.

As you probably remember earlier this year Erik Hassle released EP "The Hassle Sessions: Volume One" - collection of significant songs in Erik's life covered in his own manner. Songs were recorded during his tour around US and UK - from some prestiogious studios to records on laptop in tour bus. It's not those hit-singles with Erik's bleeding heart dramatical keys shooting straight to masses of radio-listeners like his solo-stuff but relaxed mostly acoustic soul-experiments that served this Summer very well for fans waiting for a new Erik's music. Highlight of EP is Rihanna's "Russian Roulette" - the most sincere work with that touching tragical Erik's intonation we've fallen for 2 years ago. You can taste all tracks from EP below.

If you never had ability to see Erik live P3 Live provides opportunity to listen his Autumn concert in Sundsvall combining some old beloved hits (Don't Bring Flowers After I'm Dead, Wanna Be Loved, Love Me To Pieces, Hurtful) and relatively new tracks (Taken (Still In My Blood), Standing Where You Left Me, If It Takes All Night). Listen whole set here, you can trust us - Erik is among those artists trying to give live performances sounding not less interesting than studio records so his gig is really worth listening.

Recently Erik performed at Christmas show in Denmark performing his biggest hit "Hurtful" with local star Stine with orchestral goosebumps-giving arrangement and voices of both artists working amazing together!

Oh!!! And finally a small Christmas gift from Erik here.

Amazing! Finally you have a chance to stream whole Erik Hassle's "Taken EP" online. Erik never keeps his music away from fans and it's 374th reason why we love him so much. The only new track I haven't presented you before is "Last Rider" written along with "Taken (Still In My Blood)" by Dyno who will also release new 10 tracks EP very soon. Can this collaboration be disappointing? No way! Just like "If it takes all night" it's quite dark atmospherical track, Erik's singing with more relaxed and a bit tired intonation pushing all his magic charming personality into music.
From the rest of tracks you probably didn't hear original version of "Taken (Still In My Blood)" - more light, live and calm version of this track and 2010 mix of "Standing Where You Left Me" - electronic version with The Ark-smelling choir and loads of synth-sounds.
Don't forget to check two new performances of tracks "Try A Little Tenderness" and "Suspicious Mind" in studio from EP "The Hassle Sessions: Volume One".

Erik Hassle's EP "Taken" is released and I really recommend you to check it as any piece of Erik's music worth your attention if you like his voice and melody masterpieces he usually provides. First leaked new track of it is "If It Takes All Night" - dark atmospherical song, not so sharply emotional like Taken but still quite magic. Another track included into this EP is cover for "Family Affair" by Sly & The Family Stone. It was earlier released on Erik's covers EP "The Hassle Sessions: Volume One" that I ocassionaly have missed out, it was released on Brittish iTunes and contains next tracklist.

Coming back to Taken EP, you can find there 2 previously released singles "Standing Where You Left Me" (with new 2010 mix that you can listen here) and "Taken (Still In My Blood)" (with original version) and another original track "Last Rider" that I'll demonstrate to you a bit later.