“Du Varg” is a moody collaborative single from Swedish-Hungarian artist Antonia Vai and British producer mimike. Solemn, haunting vocals and glistening synths assemble for a hypnotic intrigue. Antonia’s gripping vocals are sung in Swedish, a departure from their usual English vocals. “I felt ready to return to my mother tongue, and to explore how that opens me up to feeling and expressing different emotions,” Antonia explains.
Percussive ruminations arrive around the three-minute mark, invigorating as soaring vocal adornments arise shortly thereafter with a ghostly effect. The atmospheric engrossment is palpable throughout, and exudes a sense of spontaneity, which feels reflected by the organic creative and recording process. “It was around midnight. I showed Antonia a synth piece I had been working on,” mimike says. “I put the track on a loop and left the studio for a few minutes. When I came back, Antonia was doing something magical into the microphone.”
The track, which translates to “You Wolf” in English, takes inspiration from the Swedish lullaby “Vargsången.” A protective mother, vowing to protect their child from wolves howling outside, is the singing protagonist — set aptly amidst this climactic soundscape. Antonia elaborates: “The mother feels a profound compassion for the wolf. But she is resolute: she will defend her child.” The result is resonating, and an artful accomplishment.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
