Malmö darkwave act Abu Nein released “Ghost Puppeteer” on October 30, 2026 via Icons Creating Evil Art, the first of three singles leading up to their new album “Is Anyone Awake?,” due February 5, 2027. The 3:39 track combines driving electronics and synthpop hooks with a theme centred on autonomy and cutting ties, and includes a baile funk-styled “Ye Ardina” vocal sample through its chorus.

“Ghost Puppeteer” was produced by Erica Li Lundqvist and Tobias Bernstrup, who also wrote the music between them; Lundqvist wrote the lyrics, Bernstrup mixed the track and Doruk Özturkcan handled mastering. The single follows a line-up change that leaves Lundqvist as the band’s sole remaining songwriter, working alongside Bernstrup to shape the group’s next chapter.

“Ghost Puppeteer” is available on Spotify.

About Abu Nein

Abu Nein debuted in 2020 with “Secular Psalms,” an album nominated for a Manifest Award and winner of the Synthsläggan Award for Best Swedish Debut Album. The band’s third album, “III: Dark Faith,” won the Manifest Award for Best Swedish Synth Album. Abu Nein has performed across Scandinavia and Europe, including Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Amphi Festival, NCN Festival and Prague Gothic Treffen, and has shared stages with Kite, The Legendary Pink Dots, Minuit Machine and She Past Away.

Reviewers have described the band’s sound as “Speak and Spell era Depeche Mode if Siouxie Sioux replaced Dave Gahan,” according to ReGen Magazine, and as “an artful take on modern Darkwave, fueled by evocative and melancholic gothic-infused Post-punk poetry,” according to White Light // White Heat.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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This year, Swedish outfit Abu Nein unveiled their third opus, further solidifying their distinctive place in the modern Electronic music scene. While firmly rooted in Electro-Pop, their sound transcends the genre’s boundaries. The tracks exude an ethereal, almost weightless quality, paired with a minimalistic strangeness that evokes subtle echoes of Kirlian Camera in certain moments. Erica Li Lundqvist’s charismatic and evocative voice takes center stage, leaving a lasting impression and adding a deeply personal stamp to the production. The album culminates in a Cinematic finale, reinforcing its unique and unconventional nature. Each song unfolds gradually, featuring remarkable sound design and meticulous production that make for a thoroughly captivating listen. (Rating:7½).

Listen to “Stay”:

About Abu Nein

Abu Nein is a darkwave trio from Malmö, Sweden, fronted by vocalist Erica Li Lundqvist. The band debuted with the “I Will Rise EP” in 2019 on Rundgång Rekords and then signed to Progress Productions for the debut album “Secular Psalms”, released in 2020. The single “Black Light / Waste”, recorded with Henric de la Cour, followed in 2021, alongside the self-released “Hollow Hills”.

The second album “II” appeared in 2023, again on Progress Productions. “Dark Faith”, the band’s third album, was released in 2024 on the same label and includes the track “Stay”.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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This summer, I came across “I’m Too Young to Die”, the debut album by German artist Oliver Decrow. His Minimal-Electro/Wave music evokes an ’80s flashback, enhanced by a modern and personal touch through its gritty analog synth sounds. Released by the renowned Cold Transmission label, the album captivated me with its cold, sterile aesthetic layered over deep, human themes. It felt like the perfect opportunity to reach out to this promising artist. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Can you introduce us to the musical world of Oliver Decrow? Where are you from, and how did you first get drawn into the world of electro music?

Oliver: I’m from Dresden, East Germany. I began producing music at an early age at school, but it really took off when I studied fine arts at the Art Academy in Dresden. During that time, I met several DJs and shared a studio with a local DJ and tattoo artist. He introduced me to music from the 80s, Italo-Disco, Cold-Wave, and Minimal-Wave like Decadance, Medio Mutante, S.M. Nurse, John Maus, SS-Say, Deux, Eleven Pond, Knight Action, Charlie (Spacer Woman), Moderne, and Linea Aspera.

During this period, I also spent time in shared apartments (WG’s), moving from one party to another. I had no money, and survival was hard, but discovering and enjoying music became a release, helping me get through each day and deeply impacting my personality.

While painting, we would listen to Intergalactic FM or Bohren & der Club of Gore (Piano Nights).

During my studies, I decided to leave Germany and moved to Montreal, where I lived in a tiny flat and made music every day. It was there, and in New-York, that I filmed my first music videos. I’ve always been a computer guy, but I try to bridge the digital and analog worlds. So, making music as an art form or expression felt natural for me. I did many collaborations and projects back then. I also worked with opera singer Annette Jahns, who would visit my cheap basement in Dresden once a week, bringing a bottle of good wine and something to eat and then we produced music together. Rest in peace, Annette! Around this time, I also met Sneaker DJ, who gave me valuable production tips and mastered my first tracks.

Q: You released your debut album “I’m Too Young To Die” this year. A first album is always special, so how does it feel to have it out, and what was the journey like in creating it?

Oliver: ‘Stress test’ is the first thing that comes to mind, especially in the last few weeks. My first album is like a retrospective of three years of making music. There are songs where, as soon as I hear them, memories of specific stories and situations come rushing back. For example, the suicide of my best friend is reflected in the track “Horse Hoof,” and “In My Room” deals with experiences I had with my mother.

The journey to my first album was full of doubts, joy, depression, anxiety, and great moments. Yin and yang -it was a rollercoaster, much like my life. Nothing was stable; everything was questioned. But I’m glad I made it. It was also a relief to finally finish something after such a long time.

One of the most rewarding parts of the journey was meeting new people and connecting with positive individuals worldwide who shared my interests, experienced similar situations, and could relate to my music. I learned a lot during the process and fulfilled a long-term dream. In the end, everything came together. You know, making an album is personal -you open your heart for everyone to see, and that often comes with a price. But I’m already looking forward to the next chapter of my life.

Q: Your sound echoes ’80s Electro-Wave with a modern twist. Which artists or albums have had the most significant impact on you, and how do they influence your music?

Oliver: Life has influenced me the most. I make music primarily to express my emotions or to lose myself in my inner world. If I had to name a few artists who have impacted my style or approach to music, they would be Boy Harsher, Sneaker Dj, Joy Division, Jennifer Touch, Molly Nilsson, Boan, and DAF. But my influences often change, and I love discovering new artists like VOID Palace, Abu Nein, Nights In Athens, Lila Ehjä, Laura Krieg, Kris Baha, Lovataraxx, Asymetric80, Years Of Denial, ManMachine, and Curses.

I’m drawn to artists who present their music in a way that feels authentic, not just like another copy. For example, I met ManMachine at the Ombra Festival in Barcelona last year, and after chatting with him, I saw his music differently. A man, a father, a keyboard -it felt warm and pure. My music is more influenced by emotions and life events than by specific artists, so to speak.

Q: Many of the album’s tracks were performed live before being recorded. How did these songs evolve during the recording process, and what changes or improvements did you make?

Oliver: That’s an interesting observation, and you’re right. The songs on my album really grew during live performances. I redid some finished tracks, adjusting the vocals and synth parts after realizing during live performances what could add that final touch. Every track underwent a few makeovers after live shows. I see the process like painting. You build something up and then destroy it to create something unique and new. The challenge is knowing when to stop.

Q: You already evoked some lyrical themes in your songs which are quite dark and intense. What drives these narratives, and how does turning personal struggles and dark subjects into music serve as a form of therapy or healing for you?

Oliver: Yes, your question holds the answer. I won’t go into detail about how difficult my life was because everyone has their own stories, struggles, and fate. Music is definitely a form of therapy for me. It’s an art form and a way to break out of daily routines and the system we live in. I often wonder what the world will look like in 10 or 20 years, with all the technology, greed, commercialism, and hate. But I know that there will always be people searching for real emotions, analog experiences, and real intelligence or just something like breathing fresh air in the woods.

Q: Are you already working on new material? What can we expect in terms of singles, remixes, videos, live shows, and future projects with your label G50 Records?

Oliver: Of course! A remix tape is coming out, and new tracks are in the works. I love diving into music, especially when life hits hard, and right now, it definitely does. This year, you can catch me playing in Nuremberg at the Bunker Rituals Festival (28th of September), in Dresden with Lovataraxx (20th of October), and in Chemnitz with Left For Pleasure (14th of December). G50 Records is like a DIY label with no aspirations for profit. I’m not sure if there will be any projects with my old friends, like the Klassenfeind-project, but who knows?

I’m really happy with the guys from Cold Transmission Music, namely Andreas and Suzy. It’s like a real family feeling, and we talk daily about the scene and our next creative ejaculations.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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The Swedish electro pop act Covenant has announced the death of Andreas Catjar-Danielsson. Andreas Catjar-Danielsson passed away in the very early morning of July 29 after a long struggle with cancer.

Originating from Snöstorp, Hallands Län, Sweden Andreas was a member in Souls and joined the Swedish band Covenant in 2013 contributing both on keyboards and guitars on such albums like “Leaving Babylon” released in 2013 and “The Blinding Dark” in 2016. He also composed music for theaters and produced the next Abu Nein album.

Covenant made an official communication on their Facebook page which you can read below.

Andreas Catjar-Danielsson’s last social media posts were various pictures and artworks. This was his last music work, an excellent cover of the Bow Wow Wow track “The Man Mountain” which he recorded with Antonia Henn.

Our sincere condolences go out to his friends and family. Rest in peace.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Stockholm-based dark wave artist aux animaux is back with a new video for her song Venus Lucifer. The song is from her newly released album “Body Horror” that came out on Manic Depression Records in December.

The mastering for the album and also this track was done by Doruk Öztürkcan from She Past Away with whom she has been touring in Germany, Netherlands, Turkey and Scandinavia this year.

Regarding “Venus Lucifer” aux animaus says this: “I have been interested in astrology for a long time; both my mom and her best friend are astrologers. During the Venus retrograde this year, while I was writing the album, I read about how having Venus as a morning star (hence, Lucifer) or evening star can affect the kinds of relationship patterns you may have. It provided me with many answers about why I have behaved in certain ways, answers that psychology couldn’t offer, and this inspired the song.”

Here’s the video.

About aux animaux

aux animaux was founded in 2015 by musician Gözde Düzer in Stockholm. Gözde Düzer, originally from Istanbul, now resides in Stockholm and has also spent some months in Strasbourg. She plays bass guitar and theremin and describes her music as hauntwave. Gözde Düzer is married to Jonas Fransson who plays drums for Then Comes Silence.

The French project name aux animaux translates to “for the animals” and reflects the animal rights movement and veganism. Her video for “Lost Souls” features footage from the animal rights organization Djurrättsalliansen. In March 2023 she published the EP “Operatione Daemonum” as Melaina Chole.

aux animaux tour dates

• 8.3 Göteborg, Musikens Hus,SE
• 18.4 Lille, La Malterie, FR¨
• 26.4 Athens, Death Disco, GR#
• 27.4 Umeå, Bottenfauna, SE^
• 2.5 Barcelona, TBA, ESP#
• 3.5 Madrid, TBA, ESP#
• 4.5 Malmö, Plan B, SE°
• 23.5 Nottingham,The Chapel,UK’
• 24.5 Manchester, Rebellion, UK’
• 25.5 Glasgow,Classic Grand,UK’
• 26.5 London Lexington, UK’
• 21.6 Berlin, Slaughterhouse, DE
• 28.6 Subkultfestivalen, SE
• 30.8 Musta Juhla festival, FI
• 8.9 Leipzig, TBA, DE
• 19.10 Naples, Lizard Club, IT
• 7.11 Ilmenau, TBA, DE
• 9.11 Siegen, Beautiful Noise, DE
• 10.11 Graz, PPC, AT+

*W. Buzz Kull, °W. Abu Nein, ^W. Agenst Side Grinder, ‘W. Traitrs, # With Kontrovoid,¨With Patriarchy, +With She Past Away

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Hailing from Stockholm, Swedish darkwave artist aux animaux has just released a new single and accompanying video titled “Lost Souls”. Doruk Öztürkcan from She Past Away, with whom Aux Animaux will be touring Germany and the Netherlands in April, mastered the track.

The creative force behind aux animaux has been a vegan for over a decade, and “Lost Souls” is a poignant reflection on the lives of animals that are raised and confined to captivity on factory farms. Gözde explains, “They have to live almost their entire lives in captivity, born and raised to be slaughtered and exploited in various ways. ‘Lost Souls’ is an attempt to give them a voice and make their voices heard.”

Watch the video here.

You can catch aux animaux live at the following dates:

• 13.04.2023 Russelsheim, Das Rind, DE*
• 14.04.2023 Augsburg, Kantine, DE*
• 15.04.2023 Ubach-Palenberg, Rockfabrik, DE*
• 16.04.2023 Rotterdam, Baroeg @ WaveFest X, NL*
• 19.04.2023 Stuttgart, Wizemann, DE*
• 20.04.2023 Bayreuth, Das Zentrum. DE*
• 21.04.2023 Jena, F-Haus, DE*
• 22.04.2023 Oberhausen, Kulttempel, DE*

*Supporting She Past Away.

About aux animaux

Aux Animaux is the brainchild of a one-woman powerhouse, born and raised in Istanbul and now based in Stockholm, Sweden. Aux Animaux’s music is characterised by the use of the theremin in both songs and live performances, as well as haunting vocals. Her songs are inspired by ’80s darkwave and goth bands, occultism, and horror films.

Aux Animaux debuted her first songs in 2017 and has been touring extensively in Sweden and throughout Europe, supporting artists such as She Past Away, Hante., and Then Comes Silence, among others. Her debut EP, “Black Holes”, featured politically charged songs addressing animal rights, feminism, and social critique, while her follow-up EP, “Stockholm Synthrome”, combined this approach with a more personal touch, including her decade-long struggle with misophonia.

In autumn 2021, she released the single “Haunted”, co-produced with Swedish darkwave band Abu Nein. In spring 2022, Aux Animaux unveiled her self-produced and mixed EP, “The Hydesville Episode”, which showcases a more experimental side reminiscent of horror movie soundtracks. In December 2022, aux animaux released ”Hauntology” consisting of 4 original songs and 4 remixes of these made by Tobias Bernstrup, Priest, Majestoluxe and the artist herself.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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aux animaux, a darkwave artist based in Stockholm, Sweden, has just released a new single and video for the track “Devil inside”. The song is written, produced and mixed by aux animaux while the mastering was done by Doruk Öztürkcan from She Past Away. The single is accompanied by a remix of the song by italo legend Tobias Bernstrup.

“Devil inside” is the second single from her upcoming EP “Hauntology” which will be released later this Fall. The first single was “Haunted” which was released last year where she had worked together with the Malmö darkwave band abu nein.

Here’s what she says about the song: “The song is about confronting one’s inner demons and accepting them. I derive my inspiration from both horror films and having done a lot of own shadow work especially during the pandemic when I sat isolated from my social circles.”

The video for the track was made together with Jonas Fransson from Then Comes Silence.

Here’s the 2-track single.

About aux animaux

aux animaux is a one woman project, born and raised in Istanbul and residing in Stockholm, Sweden. aux animaux’ music is marked by the use of the theremin both on songs and at live performances plus haunting vocals. Her songs draw inspiration from the 80s dark wave and goth bands, as well as occultism and horror movies.

aux animaux released her first songs in 2017. She has been touring both in Sweden and rest of Europe, opening for artist, such as She Past Away, Hante., Then Comes Silence among others. Her debut EP “Black Holes” had politically loaded songs that were about animal rights, feminism, criticising the society, whereas the sophomore EP “Stockholm Synthrome” combines this approach with a more personal one, among others narrating her decade long struggle with misophonia.

In the fall of 2021 she released her single “Haunted” that she co-produced with the Swedish dark wave band abu nein. In spring of 2022, she released her EP “The Hydesville Episode”, which she produced and mixed entirely on her own that’s more experimental than her previous work reminding of horror movie soundtracks.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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