Scan Magazine
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Culture
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Columns
Best new Scandi music in December Danish artist Tim Schou is out with a brandnew tune ahead of a forthcoming EP. Heartbreak Hotel is the latest single; a bittersweet ode to bad habits that die hard. But despite the melancholic soul-searching, there’s a warmth and positivity to be derived from his vocal delivery, which conveys the peace he’s potentially made with a situation that he’s become very familiar with. Sweden’s Cazzi Opeia is back with her first release since winning the Eurovision Song Contest as a songwriter for Loreen’s Tattoo. And honestly, what a flex to be able to say that. On new single Taste Of Heaven she’s penned a love song to her true passion in life – music. And the consequence of this is that we get a song that’s positively bursting with joy. This is a chorus that’s going to be lodged in your head for quite some time. And you’ll be totally ok with that.
By Karl Batterbee
Danish artist Kinck is out with the attention-grabbing new single Current Mood. The grunge-tinged pop banger serves a kitchen-sink production and a clear statement of intent. And that intention is to promote self-confidence, positive vibes and feelgood thinking only. She’s got me, I’m all in. Swedish pop legends Army of Lovers are out with their first new music in ten years. Love Is Blue features Ukrainian artist Olya Polyakova and rallies up everyone’s favourite Scandipop tropes of yesteryear. ABBA piano is homaged, the schlager genre is hemorrhaged, and the classic Army of Lovers lyrical style is parodied mercilessly. It ends up being a thoroughly enjoyable listen – and an essential one for anyone who’s ever had even a passing interest in the more ludicrous side of Scandinavian pop music at any point over the past three decades.
www.scandipop.co.uk
Monthly Illustration By Gabi Froden
My mother tongue I was at the Gothenburg book fair this autumn and spent a good deal of time and money buying books. When I was done, I drank wine and chatted with fellow writers and my wonderful publishers and editors. In the morning, I would go to interesting seminars, chat with interesting people and learn interesting things. I am reading quite a lot at the moment. While the kids are doing their swimming lessons, while I am waiting for the pasta to be ready, and while I should be doing exercise. It is a wonderful feeling to be in a reading phase, but it is hard to be a writer who generally works with the Swedish language but is surrounded by books in English. That is why I had to spend so much money at the book fair. I had to bring back some Swedish books, or else my language might deteriorate and my writing becomes “Swenglish” - and nobody wants 84
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Issue 161
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December 2023
ways able to do with a second language. I find that moving and a little heartbreaking. That my belonging somewhere will never be complete, simply because the language that can play along my spine, move me to tears and make me laugh, is not the language that I spend my days with. That is why I keep returning to Swedish books, and why I write a lot in Swedish. It brings me a sense of belonging.
that. I love the English language, it is rich and nuanced and beautiful, but it doesn’t matter that I have lived here for twenty years. Swedish will always move me in a way English can’t. I believe we have a deep connection to our mother tongue, a sense of belonging and the ability to shape it, form it, and twist it, in a way we are not al-
Gabi Froden is a Swedish illustrator and writer, living in Glasgow with her husband and two children. Her children’s and YA books are published in Sweden by Bonnier Carlsen and Natur&Kultur. www.gabifroden.com