If the past few years are anything to go by, the Scandinavian music scene has showed the whole world exactly how to do pop music justice. With acts like Tove Lo, Sigrid, and MØ dominating the world stage, Stockholm-based newcomer Dominique Tey is looking to join their ranks with the arrival of her debut single ‘Heartstream’. After originally finding prominence through her initial outfit Maasai, Tey has since looked to venture into a more personal and intimate arena with her new solo material, with a new EP set to arrive later this year.

Taking inspiration from dream-pop innovators such as Beach House and Cocteau Twins, ‘Heartstream’ is a wistfully romantic number that aims to add a contemporary edge to the genre. With its bold and enigmatic production, the single swoons and serenades as it plays, while her voice pulses with every beat and leaves a soothing impression throughout.

Dominique explains the meaning behind the single and references the important of her Iranian heritage as a major factor of music influence: "'Heartstream' is basically about the different phases of an unrequited love. It’s about the frustration and desperation that rises when you are miserable in love and give everything you have without getting anything back. I was taught early on about poets and poetry at home, and I’m convinced this has influenced my creations. You get an almost innate respect for poetry, in which I hope is reflected in my lyrics and vibe throughout my music."

Massive Issue is a rock power trio based in Turenki, Finland. The band consists of singer/guitar player Antti Mäkinen, drummer Olli Lintumäki and bass player Tino Selin. Formed in 2015, these self-taught musicians have spent every effort since to grow in their desired skills and make their music available for all audiences. For the past couple of months the band has been working on their debut album which shall be called Awry.

Awry is a unique documentation of the diverse songwriting capabilities of these young talents. It presents astounding versatility, yet remains uniform. The choruses sound huge, backed by a solid wall of distortion. The vocals are melodic and lyrically ponderable. All of this backed by a tight and dynamic combination of drums and bass guitar. The versatility of this album reminds us to discard all expectations of the next one.

The album is a combination of efforts by producer Karri Salo and Massive Issue. Mixing and mastering of the album was done by Hiili Hiilesmaa. Recording and editing was done at Äänimaailma 71 by Mika Peltonen. The entire album was recorded and edited in ten days, divided into to two separate sessions. Prior to Awry the band had released one EP titled Dissatisfactory Tale.