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Romantic Hyperpop from the Outskirts of Oslo

Romantic Hyperpop from the Outskirts of Oslo

Swank Mami I Saw U (2023)

Lørenskog is a suburb of the Norwegian capital Oslo. One of the better-known residents is Rolf Løvland, who composed the winning songs of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1985 and 1995. Swank Mami, whose real name is Umalkhair Moses Ahmed, also comes from Lørenskog. The only other thing she has in common with Rolf Løvland is, as far as we know, a penchant for schmaltzy melodies. Swank Mami pairs these melodies with contemporary rhythms, intricate sample collages and a lot of bass. The best example of the young and ambitious Norwegian’s music might be the song “I Saw U”. Its melodic mood recalls 1980s synth-pop hits from the age of nuclear anxiety, but its honed Jersey Club beat leaves no doubt about the fact that what we’re dealing with here is new-school dance-pop.

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