After ghostwriting and playing in various rhythm sections for most of his formative years, the shy guy from Brisbane found a creative home in the farthest of places, Sweden. Hazlett packed up his things and now resides in Stockholm where his solo project was founded with the help of a close friend and producer Freddy Alexander. Writing with his gut and heart like a troubadour of old and combining it with the modern sonic landscape that dances in his head things are blooming in his newfound home in the Northern Hemisphere. Hazlett has so far released two well-received EPs, toured across Europe, and Australia, and grew a close-knit family of people he trusts in his adopted home. “As much as Hazlett is me, I think anything good in life is better when you let people in”.

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IMC Features:

August 22, 2022: Everybody Hates Me

September 23, 2022: Oh Downhill

November 10, 2022: Tell Me What You Dream About

December 20, 2022: Part-Time Lovers

January 16, 2023: Hesitate (Feat. OSKA)

Karl Tore Jakob Stenseke, Swedish-born philosopher and music producer.

In the early 00’s he was the guitarist and saxophone player of the Swedish grammy nominated band Zekes. In 2012, he released his first self-produced indie pop album under the name The Key Key. Since then he has done two albums and two EP’s with Malmö (Sweden) based indie band Feelium.

In 2019, he came back as Karl Jakob with the EP titled ”Pippi is dead. And we killed her”. The title refers to the famous "God is dead"-quote by Friedrich Nietzsche, who used the phrase to express the idea that the Enlightenment had "killed" the possibility of belief in God. In his version, Pippi Longstocking -- perhaps the most famous of Astrid Lindgrens characters, being the symbol for youthful strength and adolescent naivety -- is the one being killed. This marks the end of a happy childhood and the beginning of real life.

While the EP received much praise from the international blogosphere, more importantly, it was a much-needed relief from all the unfinished songs that cursed him for more than seven years (it was originally planned to be released in 2014). Once free, he has seen a tremendous surge of inspiration and focus to write and finish more songs - resulting in the 2020 EP "Floating heads in the sky".

His hope is to finish a full-length album before he turns 30 (10 months left) - or at least before he finishes his PhD.

The overall aim of Karl Jakob is to use songwriting as a kind of therapy that can help him express his innermost emotions. In particular, it is a melody-focused, honest, intimate, and minimalistic indiepop, with genre-transcending elements of electronic, jazz, classical music, pondering on personal as well as all-too-human themes such as adolescence, lost love, and depression.

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IMC Features:

February 10, 2023: I guess I'll never know

Swedish indie rock band Lyrika creates a sound that blends the desire to have fun with the importance of a reflective mind. Inspired by bands like The Killers and Arcade Fire, the band’s mature lyrics are always enriched by their great energy and love for music.

Started in 2015 by three medical doctors who shared a common working place and their taste in music, Lyrika’s sound reflects an interesting synergy between its members and their ability to integrate each other’s ideas.

Adding a fourth member in 2019, the band’s sound has managed to develop while maintaining its roots. Their musical style, described by band members as a combination of “strong melodies together with slightly rough arrangements, fine and unique harmonies”, is also combined with “rather dystopian lyrics”.

A common factor within their lyrics is the “man without a name”, which the members describe as “a strange character living isolated in an apartment”, becoming a sort of canvas to convey a broad range of topics, such as “depression, psychosis, losing friends, alienation but also climate change, war and the modern human’s constant hunt for happiness, success and money”. Lyrika released several LPs and singles since their debut in 2015.

Soon after releasing their self-titled LP, “Lyrika” in 2022, they signed with Gothenburg-based Rexius Records, kickstarting an exciting partnership.

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IMC Features:

February 07, 2023: Condemn the Silence

When it comes to music, Swedish singer-songwriter, keyboardist, harmonicas and trumpet player Mats Dernánd seems to have a hard time deciding. His style spans pop, rock, and instrumental cinematic music. And the latest release “We'll be together" has a clear folky vibe. Perhaps one can blame the promise he has given to himself to always be lust-driven and follow his heart when he creates music. 
 Despite the many styles, there are still some common denominators. Catchy melodies, detailed arrangements, and large sonorous productions. "Less is more" is a concept that never seems to have taken hold of him. 
 Two years in a row, 2019 ("She's Called Grace") and 2020 (Judas), he was awarded in the world's leading "USA Songwriting Competition" with almost 50,000 entries each year.

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IMC Features:

March 18, 2022: We'll Be Together (Feat. Luna Keller)

 

 

Simon Alexander emerged in 2017 - breathing new air into the modern folk scene with his profound lyrics and heartfelt melodies. Now, having released two praised albums A Place to Call Home and Riverine, several festival- and club gigs done around Scandinavia, and features in everything from video games to short films, it is impossible to overlook the interest that has grown for the singer-/songwriter from the west coast of Sweden.

2022 marks a new chapter by venturing into uncharted territory - drawing influence from 90's rock bands mixed with the sound of alternative indie acts of today. The single Along Came June is the first release of this new era, with a full EP coming out later this year.

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IMC Features:

April 28, 2018: Slide

March 11, 2022: Remembering