Kallsup consists of Eline Gustafsson (vocals), Edwin Karolczak (guitar), Carl Libert (vocals, guitar), William Ulff (bass), Elin Lindström Svernby (synth), and Joakim Jakobsson (drums).
To be honest, I understand zero Swedish lyrics, so I had to translate them to at least get something from the vocal side of things. However, I am also always super excited when we receive non-English songs, as the English ones are getting boring and I am always looking for something that will surprise me or inspire me. Also, a disclaimer: since I have been doing the editorial and managerial side of things for this blog, my writing has gotten rustier, so bear with me.
This indie band, Kallsup, from Örebro, Sweden, has been part of our blog for some time and has been making dreamy shoegaze music combined with post-punk and nu-gaze. They started slowly from two members to six, and they met via an internet forum for musicians in Örebro. I am not even sure if we have such a forum in Bratislava. They even found a member in a local park and on Tinder. What an unusual story for a band.
This recent single is a bit slower, softer, dreamy shoegaze that is yet significant for this band. The song is about winter, and it starts as follows:
Winter, almost a year ago
Nothing’s happened
Make your choices, but do yourself a favor
You listened so obediently, your gaze clear as glass
Wait until spring
Ice-cold
Pretend nothing’s wrong
Ice-cold
I’ll do anything
I have been watching the House of the Dragon series these past few days, and whenever I saw a reference to Winterfell, I was reminded of this song or cold scenes from Sweden. I could totally feel myself experiencing the ice-cold while this music is played in the background.
The song continues:
You take every chance you get
I’ll find it anyway
Choose your answers, do me a favor
You bite your cheek, and the wounds turn into scars
What have you taken? I’m asking for a friend
The song creates a sort of feeling of anxiety or uncertainty about what will come, what the future (spring) brings. I am not sure I understand the lyrics fully, whether they were supposed to capture a certain event or experience that happened or were just wanting to create a mixture of emotions about decision-making. Maybe the translation is not the best one, or I am just not getting this. I apologize to the band in advance for butchering their music. Maybe I really like this fact as well, that you can look into them and not be sure.
The song ends with these lines:
Ice-cold
Pretend nothing’s wrong
Ice-cold
Against your skin
I’ll do anything
Without looking back
I’ll do anything
Without looking back
I’ll do anything
Or in Swedish:
Iskall
Låtsas som ingenting
Iskall
Mot din hud
Jag gör vad som helst
Utan att se mig om
Jag gör vad som helst
Utan att se mig om
Jag gör vad som helst
Iskall is maybe something that the lyrics say, but the song feels warmer. I really enjoyed the softer, dreamy side of the shoegaze this band is bringing in the latest offering. I have been getting lost in the lyrics, creating images, and feeling connected to the winter and never-ending hope that the days will turn brighter, sunnier, warmer. That spring will come outside and inside as well.
I have been following this band closely, and they are becoming one of my best discoveries from the Swedish music scene over the past months, or even years now. The variety of sounds and energies they are bringing, and the fact that everything is sung in Swedish, are making it even more attractive for me.
In the meantime, the words will be stuck in my head:
Iskall
Låtsas som ingenting
And maybe nothing is wrong. Maybe…
P.S.: They are releasing a new album!
Written by Filip Zemcik
