The Stockholm-based synthpop duo Covered in Snow – who participated on our Face The Beat 6 compilation – will release a second single, “Cemetery Club”, from their upcoming full-length album on Friday, August 23.

Cemetery Club was mixed by Aryan Marzban at Soundtrade Studios, who previously mixed Seinabo Sey, Mapei, Hov1, Benjamin Ingrosso, Jireel, Newkid to name a few.

Here’s what you can expect:

Covered in Snow consist of the Swedish synthpop duo Mikael Engström and Tom Hedlund. Formed in 2017, their music often blends elements of indie, pop, and electronic influences. The duo debuted with the conceptual EP “Collateral Damage” in 2019, and continued to release other singles like “Hurry Up to Love Here” and “Glasgow Smile”.

Covered in Snow previously also collaborated with the synthpop act Uncreated on the track “Rush”.

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.

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Out now from from the Swedish electro act Covered in Snow is an all new single “Miljonprogrammet (Rotoskop Remix)”. You will know Covered in Snow from their contribution to our “Face The Beat: Session 7” free charity download compilation with the excellent track “Glasgow Smile”.

‘Miljonprogrammet’ is the name of the Swedish political program that would eliminate the great housing shortage with modern housing at reasonable prices. Says Tom Hedlund: “Today, the houses rise like tombstones over people in many places in the suburbs. This song is about exclusion and fellowship at the same time.”

While we are waiting for the debut album by this Stockholm based band, the single is released now and it mixes alternative pop with analogue synths and vocals reminiscent of Thom Yorke. The song is remixed by the German artist Rotoskop.

This is the video for the original track.

You can check the original track and the remix 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.

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Swedish Electro-Pop formation Vanguard became a familiar and recognized name in the Electro-Pop scene. One of the band’s members Patrik Hansson decided to start a side-project called Uncreated. Several EP’s were released revealing a catchy, powerful, sound. This is danceable Electro-Pop getting people happy. The debut album “Eternal” released in 2019 was a successful production. By the end of 2021 Uncreated unleashed its second opus “Symbiosis” featuring an impressive list of guests singers.  Mark Hockings (Mesh), Björn Marius Borg (Xenturion Prime), Louise Marchione (Planet R/Thermostatic), Mikael Engström (Covered In Snow), Richard Flow (Machinsta) and Arielle Andersson (Octolab) contributed to this fascinating album released by Conzoom Records.

(Picture credits Peter Engman / Interview courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: What made you start next to Vanguard a solo-project? How do you differentiate both projects in sound, influences and production? 

Patrik: I have always wanted to work with other singers. That was actually one of the reasons I looked for a companion back when I met Jonas and we started Vanguard, but it turned out that I was the one grabbing the microphone. So, the dream to work with other singers lived on and Uncreated is the result of that.

When it comes to differentiate the projects it has become easier the more I have worked with both Vanguard and Uncreated. One obvious thing is the singers ofc, but also the production differs more and more. Vanguard has a tendency to go towards a darker atmosphere whilst Uncreated feels more optimistic so to speak. I don’t know in what direction it will go from here though.

Q: A solo-project smells like ‘total freedom’; to do what you want without any compromises. But what are the main difficulties and challenges you encounter when being the single member at board? Do you have external critics and/or advisors? 

Patrik: I always try to get input from people I trust when it comes to songwriting and production. Rob Dust has always been kind enough to help me out when it comes to production.

The co-writers/guest-singers have a lot to say as well. It is important that all involved are as satisfied as possible. I know I have some limitations when it comes to production etc, but the more I work with it, the better I become. 

Q: How did this ‘symbiosis’ between you and the singers happen? Did you handle specific criteria to choose the singers to work with? What have been the different stages you’d to go through to get the job done?

Patrik: I simply choose to ask singers whose voices I really like. Not all accepted but I am really happy that so many wanted to join me as well on “Symbiosis” as on all earlier releases. In some cases I had a song ready for the guest to record and in some cases I only had an instrumental track. On most instrumental tracks I had an idea of a melody, but I let the guest decide if they wanted to write something themselves or not, both lyrics and melody.

Q: How did the transition happen between your debut album “Eternal” and “Symbiosis”? What aspects of the production did you try to change and/or improve? 

Patrik: With “Eternal” I created a small foundation to grow from so to speak. I only had one guest on the album (Mel Guntzelsson). I wanted to spread the word just a little bit before I invited more guests. I guess it worked out quite well since I have been joined by great singers since then. Each release has helped me to spread the word about Uncreated to a bigger audience. After every release I let the songs ‘rest’ for a while before I listen to them again. In that way I have managed to take small steps in the right direction after every release.

Q: “Hand Grenade” featuring Mark Hockings rapidly became one of Uncreated’s most successful songs. Tell us a bit more about this song and the collaboration with Mark properly speaking? How did you know it was a song for him?

Patrik: Mark did a remix of “Break Free” (feat. Dennis Schober from Solitary Experiments) and that is how I got in contact with him. It was during that process that I told him I had a free spot for the upcoming album. I was really surprised that he accepted to join. I sent him an instrumental track and gave him time to work with lyrics and melody. The result was beyond my expectations. He also added a few elements to the production which really improved the impact of the song.

Q: What are your further plans with Uncreated? How do you expect the project evolving and what are you actually working on? 

Patrik: At the moment I’m gathering inspiration to do more tracks. I still have a list of singers I want to work with. Actually Magnus Dahlberg from the Swedish band More is currently working on lyrics for a track. Let’s see where that ends! But I have no release with Uncreated planned in the near future.

Vanguard will release “Spectrum” this spring and then we have some gigs coming up too. I want to focus on that. But if I know myself, I will probably get in one of my ‘zones’ when I least expect it. In that case things can go fast.

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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Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Patrik Hansson (Vanguard singer) released the second album of his solo-project Uncreated in November 2021. The opus was released right after a few singles featuring guest singers.

Content: Patrik Hansson got some good company to achieve this work. He asked guest singers to join in. Mark Hockings (Mesh) and Björn Marius Borg (Xenturion Prime) were already featured on the previously released singles while Louise Marchione (Planet R/Thermostatic), Mikael Engström (Covered In Snow), Richard Flow (Machinista) and Arielle Andersson (Octolab) completed the list. Patrik is singing on a few songs as well. The music remains pure Electro-Pop -and still more poppy than Vanguard, driven by hopping sequences, retro sound treatments and danceable beats.

Nite did a remix of “Hand Grenade” featuring Mark Hockings. The CD version features 2 bonus songs which are extended versions.

+ + + : The concept of working with guest singers is not new but rather surprising for Patrik Hansson who’s a talented singer himself. It however resulted in extra diversity while the artist could probably focus more on songwriting and production. “Hand Grenade” remains an outstanding song, but I also have to mention the other single “Rebuild The Future” featuring Marius Borg and the more aggressive “Alive” featuring Richard Flow. I also enjoyed “One Night In Blue” featuring Louise Marchione’s delicate timbre of voice. Nite also accomplished a cool remix of “Hand Grenade”.

– – – : I only noticed a few ‘softer’ songs which couldn’t convince me but which injected a break to the work.

Conclusion: Uncreated only confirms its immense potential, being next to Vanguard, another great Electro-Pop project of Patrik Hansson.

Best songs: “Hand Grenade”, “Rebuild The Future”, “Alive”, “One Night In Blue”, “Hand Grenade – Nite Remix”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/uncreatedofficial

Label: www.conzoomrecords.de / www.facebook.com/conzoomofficial

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

Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: The ongoing pandemic inspired German Synth-Pop duo Sea Of Son to release a bunch of singles. Most of the songs were taken from the band’s last studio album “Unbroken” released in 2019, but there was also a single/EP featuring the new song “Turn Back Time”. This EP brings a fine selection from these Single/EP songs together featuring a total amount of seventeen tracks.

Content: Sea Of Sin stands for ‘classical’ Electro-Pop featuring well-crafted songs and carrying choruses. They selected songs like “Naked”, “Immaculate”, “Floating Away”, “Unspoken Words” and “Valentine”, which were all originally featured on the “Unbroken”-album. We here get “Single”- and “Radio”-edits plus a few alternative mixes, but also remixes by Rob Dust, Man Without Country, Nature Of Wires, Mesh, Covered In Snow, Paralyzed, Nite, Blume, Soni Code, Mindbeat, Rotoskop and Promenade Cinema.

+ + + : This EP is an opportunity to rediscover some of the “Unbroken”-songs reworked/remixes by other Electro-Pop artists. Mesh has remixed “Turn Back Time” and you’ll rapidly recognize the unique stamp of the British Masters of Electro-Pop. This is a terrific remix. I also have to mention the remix of “Floating Away” by Paralyzed and the boosted remix of “Floating Away” by Blume.

– – – : The remixes of “Unspoken Words” couldn’t really convince me. I also expected a bit more from Rob Dust’s work, which nearly always guarantees great remixes. I personally regret that all remixes have been made by Electro-Pop artists; even if they all inject their own touch it would have been cool to get remixes by bands from other music genres.

Conclusion: Electro-Pop freaks will for sure discover some cool songs/remixes at this EP.

Best songs: “Turn Back Time – Mesh Remix”, “Floating Away – Paralyzed Remix”, “Floating Away – Blume Remix”, “Immaculate – Nature Of Wires Remix”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/seaofsinGER

Label: www.facebook.com/7usMusic

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

Out today is Covered in Snow’s latest single “Glasgow Smile” remixed by Bristol’s finest electronic act Mesh.

The Swedish synthpop duo of Mikael Engström and Tom Hedlund have this to say about the track which was already released in its original version earlier this year: “This song is about a depopulated town. About someone who moved, someone who stayed, and someone who no longer exists. About the urge to show that one has become someone. About the fear of losing direction. About the longing for something better. For us, this song is more than just synthpop. It is what we stand for, where we come from and where we are heading.”

The Stockholm act was formed in 2017 when longtime friends Tom Hedlund and Mikael Engström ended up living in the same town for the first time in years. Their first single, “Spaceboy”, was released just a few months later and featured two tracks which were originally written for their previous, discontinued project, Shallow Sense.

Since then Covered in Snow has released one EP and several singles which have been featured on the radio in several countries as well as on Swedish national television.

In 2021, Covered in Snow will release six new songs. “Glasgow Smile” is the second one.

You can check out the Mesh remix 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.

side-line.com

Covered in Snow have recently released a new single called “Romeo”. A remix of “Romeo” done by German synthpop legends Sea of Sin has been released today, and an EP with 5 new original songs will be released in April or May.

Here’s what the band has to say about the new single: “Almost everyone gets badly affected by the pandemic. Perhaps the most affected are the ones who were in really a bad place even before it broke out. When you’re stuck behind great walls they’re getting even bigger when you get cut off from the small connections you have. This song is for them. In the writing we have tried to combine the electronics and the vocal style that is Covered in Snow’s trademark with post-rock influences. It takes you to places neither we nor you have visited before.”

Below is the new remix.

The Stockholm based act Covered in Snow consists of Mikael Engström and Tom Hedlund. They are also featured on our free “Face The Beat 6” compilation with the track “Hurry Up To Love Here” which you can hear/download 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.

side-line.com