Scandinavia has been at the helm of what could be called Pop music’s glorious renaissance of the past couple of years. From artists like Denmark’s MØ to Sweden’s Rabbii, Ji Nilsson, and Julia Spada there is a plethora of acts currently doing a terrific job of bringing out the synth-pop fan in even the most hard-hearted listeners. Another act that fits comfortably into this realm while still operating with a wealth of individuality is Stockholm’s I Am Karate. The duo, made up of Erika Soldh Ahlström and Marta Pettersson, released their debut EP In Thin Air (I mean, how couldn’t we talk about them?) back in July and now unveil their brand new track ‘Swayze’. Sharing lead vocal duties, the pair build tracks with atmospheric keys, vocal loops, glitches and samples, all on top of precise, hefty percussion.
‘Swayze’, is an emotive anthem awash with smokey arpeggiated synths and vocal hooks and, yeah, there is a reference to Ghost in the chorus – “I’m like Patrick Swayze/ It’s like you see straight through me”. Pop music is, almost by definition, rooted in grandiosity and pomp, and there is no shortage of that in the seismic musical backdrop for I Am Karate’s vocals here. However, there is a tenderness and a vital realness in the way the duo perform on this track that ensures it will one that lingers on the brain for hours.
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