Swedish songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Augustine, who made a name for himself with his unique falsetto and hooks, unveils today his debut album. Conceived like the dramatic scope of a film, the record features the highlight “Sweet Love,” a breezy and warm track about the magic of falling in love. “I was really falling and couldn’t focus on anything else when I wrote Sweet Love. I even sampled her singing in the shower and hid it in the production. It’s very naive and wide-eyed, and I love that about it. I remember walking around thinking; ‘What is it with everyone? Don’t they understand what has happened? Everything has changed!’,” Augustine said.

Before your well-deserved holiday break, we come up with a playlist loaded with good music only. We are aware that it’s not always easy to keep up with all the daily releases and posts. Therefore our team made everything easier just for you. Enjoy our 50 favourite songs of 2019 so far and don’t forget to follow our Spotify playlist to check future additions.

1 GEORGIA – “About Work The Dancefloor”

2 BIG THIEF – “UFOF”

3 ARLO PARKS – “Super Sad Generation”

4 CRUMB – “Part III”

5 REQUIN CHAGRIN – “Sémaphore”

6 YOT CLUB – “No Way !”

7 CARLY RAE JEPSEN – “Julien”

8 070 SHAKE – “Morrow”

9 MEN I TRUST – “Numb”

10 TEEN BODY – “Validation”

11 HAND HABITS – Can’t Calm Down”

12 MARIA SOMERVILLE – “Brighter Days”

13 ERIKA DE CASIER – “Do My Thing”

14 SHARON VAN ETTEN – “Seventeen”

15 BEAUTY QUEEN – “The Only One”

16 MORABEZA TOBACCO – “Ally McBeal”

17 GRACE IVES – “Mirror”

18 BARRIE – “Darjeeling”

19 KEVIN ABSTRACT – “Georgia”

20 ALDOUS HARDING – “The Barrel”

21 EMILY REO – “Ghosting”

22 BOY HARSHER – “LA”

23 AUGUSTINE – “A Scent Of Lily”

24 PURE BATHING CULTURE – “All Night”

25 ΣTELLA – “Samba”

26 CELESTE – “Father’s Son”

27 CHARLOTTE ADIGERY – “High Lights”

28 LALA LALA, WHY? – “Siren 042”

29 PRONOUN – “Stay”

30 STAINWASHER – “Joy For Me”

31 LANA DEL REY – “hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have…”

32 JACKIE MENDOZA – “Mucho Más”

33 BASEBALL GREGG, PECAS, WILLIAM CORDUROY – “The Movies”

34 BEA1991 – “My Own Heaven”

35 GRACIE GRAY – “Morphine”

36 ROSALÍA, J BALVIN – “Con Altura”

37 WEYES BLOOD – “Movies”

38 HATCHIE – “Without A Blush”

39 PECAS – “T-Shirt”

40 FKA TWIGS – “Cellophane”

41 OMAR APPOLO – “Ashamed”

42 MAKTHAVERSKAN – “Demands”

43 SANDY (ALEX G) – “Gretel”

44 CLAUD – “Easy”

45 JAI PAUL – “He”

46 JAPAN, MAN – “Stop Staring”

47 THE DAWDLER – “Sylvie”

48 ARIEL – “Dream Team”

49 EUGENIA POST MERIDIEM – “Blue Noon”

50 0171 – “1000 Words”

22-year-old Augustine burst onto the scene a couple of months ago with one of the most original and captivating tracks of the year, “Luzon,” and now returns with the beautifully poetic “A Scent of Lily”. In this new track, the Swedish singer-songwriter continues to flourish with his own brand of indie pop and also showcases his versatility by opting for a larger, more up-tempo production.

“A Scent of Lily” is incredibly cinematic, opening with an atmospheric synth pad and rhythmic guitar before introducing driving percussion and 80s synthesizers in its very catchy chorus. Inspired by Ariana Grande’s “Into You” and its short, sharp staccato rhythm, the artist’s powerful falsetto steals the show once more, delivering a hook packed with punch. “Oh and how she spreads all through my entangled mind. A Scent of Lily in my bed. Still left there from Sunday night,” he sings as the striking piano enters the mix on the choruses repeat, creating a rich and warm texture.

Written three years ago, “A Scent of Lily” is the imagining of losing yourself in a relationship. “There are few people that make your life completely blank. The ones who divide your life into a ‘before’ and an ‘after”, says the newcomer. The Swede has a wonderful way with words in a story where all his experiences shared with a significant other are magic. “A Scent of Lily” oozes charm and as a listener it is hard not to become as heavily invested and infatuated in this track as Augustine is in his new found romance. Listen below.

It’s not often that a song comes along that is unlike anything we have ever heard before, but with “Luzon” we are taken on a musical journey, transported to a foreign place where the sun is always shining.

A fine example of future-retro indie pop, Augustine‘s debut track grows on you with each listen. On “Luzon”, the Swede sets the tone from the very beginning with a driving synthesised brass chord progression and smooth, yet forceful kick drum. The incorporation of a shaker and splashes of bell chimes as the track builds immerses us in a nostalgic love story.

“Luzon’s” chorus elevates the track to new heights, bursting into life with Augustine’s vocals transitioning to powerful and elegant falsetto tones. Indeed, the 22-year-old originally from a small town outside Gothenburg has a very large and impressive vocal range. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up as he delivers a catchy and quirky hook that can’t help but put a smile on your face as you listen.

Augustine‘s “Luzon” is also accompanied by a stunning music video filmed in Italy that is heavily influenced by 1960/70s environments. Inspired by trailers of movies including Rum Diary and The Talented Mr. Ripley, the vision for the song and the video was for it to suit an old smokey Carribean bar vibe.

With a narrative focused on living to enjoy the moment, letting go and daring to fall in love, “Luzon” inspires each of us to feel the same. Watch below.

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Blood Orange‘s tracks are always a pleasant dabbling of R&B and Electronica, resulting in very chill and relaxing songs that are easy to unwind to. “Augustine” is no exception to this, and is not only both mellifluous and soothing but also subtly powerful. It pours into your soul and fills you with an emotion that is somehow both cool and crisp, but also pleasantly warm and citrusy.

“Augustine” begins with a simple drum machine, clearing the air and setting a solid foundation to the song. It’s snappy, but striking, with strong beats punching through the soundscape. With the drop of the first guitar note, the song transforms into something surreal and ethereal. The sounds of the guitar seeps into the gaps left by the pounding beats, painting a new color and breathing in a new vibe. It spreads through the song like spilled ink dissipating into water.

With the very first piano chord, Hynes begins to sing. Through the first verse, he talk-sings his way through a backdrop of bright and relaxing piano notes. The vibes are very toned down and low-key. His voice is low and subtle, riding through just under the music. You would almost miss it if you weren’t paying close enough attention. His voice and the words he speaks makes you feel like you’re walking through the sidewalks of the city at night, with street lamps gently lighting your way. It’s dark and cool and crisp, but softly illuminated by the chords wrapping around you. These are the sounds played in your head when you’re alone, but not lonely. The kind of aloneness you feel when you’re weaving a new experience, and walking through the threshold of life with gumption.

The chorus picks up, and Hynes‘ voice rises up and swells, and it almost feels churchy (which is supplemented by the fact that he’s quoting Saint Augustine). His voice fills the air and echos and wraps around your ears. The subtleness of the first verse is contrasted by the fullness of the chorus. The sound grows and intensifies, but succeeds in maintaining the same mellowness that makes it appealing and refreshing to vibe to.

Through the second verse his voice is strong, and filled with more inflection. He directly references Trayvon Martin and his words reflect the helplessness and loss felt in situations like this in America. He encapsulates the susceptibility of black individuals in everyday American life. The words that particularly struck me in this verse were “Tell me, did you lose your son?/Tell me, did you lose your love?”.

Samantha Urbani lends her smooth vocals to the outro of the song, her voice intertwining with Hynes‘. Hynes references Nontetha Nkwenkwe, a South African prophetess and leader that was, in an attempt to subdue her, declared mad by the government and institutionalized until her death. He also sings in Krio, the national language of Sierra Leone, a nod to the ethnic background of his father. It’s a quite the powerful auditory experience. It feels rallying, especially with his use of the word “we”. By using the language of his father’s homeland, he builds a lovely cross cultural bridge, bringing together the different human experiences felt throughout the world.

“Augustine” is the perfectly subtle blend of vibes. It’s mellow and cool, and easy to close your eyes and just get lost in the tapestry of sound rising and falling. Heck, the beat even loops perfectly so it’s easy to keep repeating. However, at the same time the richness of the sound and the quality of his lyrics invokes powerful imagery and emotions associated with struggle and the novelty of life experienced ubiquitously around the globe.

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