Swedish music artist Anna Öberg is a creative force, blending the nostalgic pulse of 80s Electro-Pop with the raw energy of EBM. Her sound is minimal yet highly accessible, a captivating mix that stands out in the Electronic music landscape. Although she’s been active for years, Anna remains one of the hidden gems of the Swedish Electro scene. Her latest release, “SIN”, out on Xenophone International, could be the perfect opportunity for listeners to discover this talented and visionary artist. With so much to discuss, I reached out to Anna for a conversation. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Can you share a bit about your musical background and how you began creating and releasing music?

Anna: When I was a child I started playing recorder and flute. In Sweden there was the ‘municipal music school’ where anyone who wanted to could learn to play. I was in various orchestras and played both classical and medieval music. When I was 13 years old, I started playing with a group that played Swedish Folk music. It was 1978 and Punk arrived. Then I started playing different instruments such as electric guitar, bass, and drums and also making music myself in different groups. But when I bought a Vox organ and a Korg MS20 in 1981, my synth era began. I was in a lot of different bands at the time. For a long period I was a mother and worked regular jobs to support the family. When the children moved away from home, I got the strength and desire to start making music again and I made sketches in first Garage band and later Logic. Before each record, I have since gone to the producer Charles Storm and together with him refined all the songs.

I also have a live band. Its Linnéa Mossberg at Simmons-drums and Adam Olson at baryton guitar.

Q: You’ve released an impressive body of work over the past few years, including singles, multiple albums, and your latest opus, “SIN.” How do you reflect on these releases and your evolution as an artist?

Anna: Oh thank you! I have probably developed both musically and sound-wise. On the latest record, “SIN”, I have been very interested in making bass loops that play both against and together with the other melodies. I also want to bring in Folk music, both Swedish and from other countries. For example, Arabic. This is fun to combine with Pop and EBM. 

Then I also started making field recordings that I use together with different effects. For example distortion or delay. I use these both as sound effects or as, for example, instead of a snare drum. It’s fun to make your own drum machines in combination with old traditional drum machines.

Q: You already mentioned the Electro-Pop and EBM influences that come through on “SIN.” Can you tell us more about how these elements are fused in your music? What other influences or references inspire your sound?

Anna: Yes! I think it’s fun to mix different genres. You’re right that Pop and EBM are the ones I work with the most. Now it’s a bit Experimental too. My biggest influences are probably Gary Numan, Dead Can Dance, Massive Attack.

And genres like Medieval, Folk music mixes, Punk and so on.

Q: Could you elaborate on “SIN”? What inspired its creation, and what were the various stages you went through to bring this project to fruition?

Anna: Hmmm… It was over a four-year period. First I made sketches in Logic. I was working on several songs at the same time and did a little here and a little there at first. At first I might make several basses playing different tempos and different sounds. Then I made some melody loops. After that I recorded some weird sounds. In the forest, by the sea when there was ice that I crashed. I put different kinds of stones in tin buckets, porphyry and granite. Then I recorded when I threw the bucket on our balcony. There were different sounds depending on how hard I threw and how many stones were in. I used these sounds in the songs.

Then I wrote texts. I made song melodies and sang in. I tried singing in different ways. Sometimes like a child and sometimes I screamed. Or tried to sing beautifully. In the last year I made my own attempts to produce everything together with different effects and compressed all the bases. But in the end I still decided to get Charles (Storm) to take on this record as well. So last fall we spent a few months in his studio and I got to play all the melodies again on analog synths. And sing all the vocal parts one more time in a real studio. Charles mixed the record and then we sent it to Tom Meyer for mastering.

Q: You’ve chosen to sing in your native language. What themes do your lyrics explore, and how significant are they to your artistic vision?

Anna: For me, it is not at all significant for my artistic ambition that I sing in Swedish (Scania). However, I think it is important to have some form of singing. So it was just a choice I made. Completely unthought of but also necessary. Because it would come straight from the heart but also because I wanted to be poetic. I don’t think the poetic could come if I sang in, for example, English.

I want the texts to be ambiguous. One can interpret both a desperate desire for a better life or fear of loneliness and war. It can also mean that you want to be alone in a relationship. You choose yourself.

Q: The Swedish Electro scene is renowned worldwide, despite being from a smaller country. Why do you think Sweden produces so many talented underground Electro groups? Is there a sense of community among these artists?

Anna: Haha! Maybe it’s so cold in the winter in Sweden and many people are lonely. And at the same time, there are many people who can afford Electronic wallets. They sit in their kitchens and play with their computers. And in combination with the ‘municipal music school’ as I said before, there are many who have a musical background. I don’t know…

Yes, I have noticed, since I released my first record in 2017, that there is a nice community. I have been very warmly welcomed into the community.

Q: When we first connected about this interview, you asked whether there would be a cost involved. You’re not the first artist to raise this concern. How do you view the role of the press and media in promoting artists like yourself, especially when there’s a financial aspect involved?

Anna: Haha! I have to admit I didn’t recognize your name when you contacted me. I contacted Torny Gottberg who told me that you were a great person and then I understood that I was wrong to think otherwise. You get paranoid when you get certain requests from people who just want to sell their own product. So I’m sorry and a bit embarrassed for misunderstood your request. Some larger online magazines want to be paid to do a review. That makes reviews not worth much. I don’t think there is that much risk of a paid review being bad.

Thanks for asking me for this interview.

Listen to “N​ä​sta vecka”:

https://annaberg.bandcamp.com/track/n-sta-vecka

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.

www.side-line.com

“Sin” marks the fourth album from Swedish artist Anna Öberg. While her music can be broadly categorized as Electro-Pop, it also incorporates distinct EBM elements that add a harder, edgier feel to certain tracks. The album also features an array of vintage sounds, occasionally reminiscent of Welle:Erdball. Anna Öberg’s sound is raw and unpolished, with her vocals delivered in Swedish, a unique aspect that sets her apart. If you’re unfamiliar with Anna Öberg, I highly recommend giving this album a listen. (Rate:8).

Listen to “Ligger På Rygg”:

About Anna Öberg

Anna Öberg, born in 1965 in Helsingborg, is a Swedish musician who first surfaced as a member of the synth group Ladomir, formed in 1983 together with Kire Nilsson. In February 1985 she moved with the band to Gothenburg, where she is still active today.

After a long musical break, she released her first solo album “Härsknar” in 2017, followed by two further albums built on analogue synths from the 80s, flutes and vocals in Swedish. Charles Storm handles the production and mixing of her material. In April 2023, “Mitt sista hopp” was released as the first single from her fourth album.

“Sin” was released on Xenophone International, the Gothenburg label that also releases music by Twice a Man and Lars Falk. In late 2024, Öberg talked about her genre-mixing approach in a Side-Line interview.

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.

www.side-line.com

The Swedish synth group Strange Tales is set to release their full-length album “Untold” on Friday, November 24th, across all streaming services. On the eve of the release, they will host a launch party and free concert at FOLK, Foajén, Järntorget in Gothenburg, Sweden. In addition to the digital release, a limited edition 6-panel digipack CD featuring extra tracks and remixes will be available. Furthermore, the album will be offered as a limited edition colored gatefold vinyl, showcasing cover art by Gothenburg artist Patrik Andiné, an alumnus of the Royal Institute of Art (1990-95).

Fans can currently pre-order “Untold” from Bandcamp, either as a digital download or on CD.

Featuring on the album is Toril Lindqvist of electroclash band Alice in Videoland, with production handled by Charles Storm of Cloudchamber Studios (known for his work with Exit North, Mando Diao, Anna Öberg, Håkan Hellström, and Henrik Berggren).

About Strange Tales

Formed in the mid-1980s, Strange Tales was born from a love for the New Romantics movement, London sojourns, 12″ vinyl records, and synth music, founded by Johan Larsson, Tobbe Lander, and Jonas Berg. Their sound is a blend reminiscent of bands like Depeche Mode, Ultravox, Human League, Visage, Duran Duran, among others. Initially playing at youth clubs, their first release was a 1985 demo cassette titled “Five Songs”. Tobbe Lander notably ran the synth club Romo Night in Gothenburg for two decades, a hub for both prominent and indie synth acts in Sweden.

After a hiatus, the band has reunited with new material. They emphasize a philosophy for their music: engaging, varied, and impactful. As they put it, “Music should evoke real emotions, mirroring life’s unscripted and unique nature. Our songs are crafted with this ethos – they’re meant to resonate deeply and authentically.”

To get a taste of their music, check out Strange Tales’ music videos below.

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!

side-line.com

Out on April 28 is the all new single by the Swedish synthwave artist Anna Öberg. “Mitt sista hopp” is the first single from Anna Öberg’s fourth solo album, which will be released in autumn 2023. “Mitt sista hopp” is released on Xenophone International, the Gothenburg record company which releases music by Twice a Man and Lars Falk.

Anna Öberg explains that “the song reflects a country at war and a sad love story.” In the track folk tones are mixed with hard synths. Here’s the video for the single.

Anna Öberg, born 1965 in Helsingborg, is a Swedish musician known as a band member in the Ladomir synth group (which was formed in 1983 together with Kire Nilsson) and later as a solo artist. In February 1985, Öberg moved with the band to Gothenburg, where she is still active today. After a long musical break, she released her first solo album “Härsknar” in 2017.

Anna Öberg has released three albums since 2017, all of which have foundations in analogue synths from the 80s as well as flutes and vocals in Swedish. The production and mixing is in the hands of Charles Storm, also on this new single.

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!

side-line.com

Out via Xenophone International on May 14 is ”Spare parts for the offspring”, the new synthpop album from Gasleben & Electric friends. The driving force behind this project is Swedish electronic music pioneer Karl Gasleben who you might know from Twice a Man. Twice a Man was an electro act based in Gothenburg, Sweden which also had Dan Söderqvist behind the keyboards.

But back to the album ”Spare parts for the offspring”. The music for this new project was indeed a collaborative effort and was completed and recorded with the input from the other Swedish musicians Peter Davidson, Anna Öberg and Karin My. The album holds 8 tracks in total.

To get an idea what the project is about it’s also worth it checking out what the other artists in the project have been working on in the past.

For those who don’t know Karl Gasleben, here’s a small recap. Via the bands Anna Själv Tredje and Cosmic Overdose he ended up in Twice a Man. Besides Twice a Man he is still working with The Ändå and he is also a live musician in Anna Öberg’s live band Härsk. He was also active in the band The Butterfly Effect in 1991 and in Beehive Plains.

Peter Davidson from his side has collaborated with Twice a man in the past and also released a number of ambient instrumental works. Anna Öberg is better known to our readers since she was featured various times already on Side-Line. Starting in her birthplace Helsingborg, she is now active from Gothenburg and has released three solo albums: “Härsknar”, “Vafan har jag gjort!” and “Varelser inuti”. Karin My recently released her full-length debut “Silence Amygdala” which basically is a collection of very dark fairy tales.

Below is a first teaser from the album.

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!

side-line.com

Available now is a brand new video from the Swedish synthwave artist Anna Öberg. “Handen eller hjärtat” is taken from the recently released album “Varelser inuti”, the third solo album by Öberg. The material was produced by Charles Storm as usual.

The sound on this album is again constructed around modern soundscapes with the help of analogue synths from the 80s. Added to that are the singer’s Swedish lyrics.

About Anna Öberg

Anna Öberg, born 1965 in Helsingborg, is a Swedish musician known as a band member in the Ladomir synth group (which was formed in 1983 together with Kire Nilsson) and later as a solo artist.

In February 1985, Öberg moved with the band to Gothenburg, where she is still active today. After a long musical break, she released her first solo album “Härsknar” in 2017.

There’s also an interesting private detail regarding Anna Öberg, she also runs an independent preschool based on Montessori pedagogy, focusing on music.

Last year she released the album “Vafan har jag gjort!”.

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!

side-line.com

(Photo by Gasleben) Out on November 6th will be “Varelser inuti”, the third solo album by Swedish synthwave artist Anna Öberg. The material was produced by Charles Storm as usual. The sound on this album is again constructed around modern soundscapes with the help of analogue synths from the 80s. Added to that are the singer’s Swedish lyrics.

The album was recorded in the Spring of 2020 and also contains ”Du fick aldrig mina ögon” and ”Skorna står kvar”, two songs that previously only existed on a digital single.

About Anna Öberg

Anna Öberg, born 1965 in Helsingborg, is a Swedish musician known as a band member in the Ladomir synth group (which was formed in 1983 together with Kire Nilsson) and later as a solo artist. In February 1985, Öberg moved with the band to Gothenburg, where she is still active today. After a long musical break, she released her first solo album “Härsknar” in 2017. There’s also an interesting private detail regarding Anna Öberg, she also runs an independent preschool based on Montessori pedagogy, focusing on music.

Last year she released the album “Vafan har jag gjort!”. Check it out.

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!

side-line.com

(Photo by Anna Öberg) Out today Friday 15th November is the newest video by Swedish synthwave artist Anna Öberg. “Ich Bin” is taken from her second solo album “Vafan har jag gjort!”, released 15th of Mars this year. You can translate the title in English like this: ‘What the fuck have I done!’ Note that all lyrics on the album are in Swedish except for “Ich Bin” where the German language is used.

Exquisite material, and several tracks have a huge potential inside the electro scene, hence why we added several tracks in our Spotify playlist, do check them out!

Anna Öberg, born 1965 in Helsingborg, is a Swedish musician known as a band member in the Ladomir synth group (which was formed in 1983 together with Kire Nilsson) and later as a solo artist. In February 1985, Öberg moved with the band to Gothenburg, where she is still active today. After a long musical break, she released her first solo album “Härsknar” in 2017. There’s also an interesting private detail regarding Anna Öberg, she also runs an independent preschool based on Montessori pedagogy, focusing on music.

Here’s the video for “Ich Bin”.

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!

side-line.com