Full Review

Elina, Remember Review

Elina is a Sweden born singer-songwriter that has built a strong reputation in the music industry with her writing and co-writing. An Ivor Novello-nominated singer-songwriter, she co-wrote the multi-platinum 2016 single ‘Sexual’ for NEIKED, and has penned songs for Zara Larsson and Astrid S, amongst others. Elina has been nominated for several awards in her native Sweden, including winning ‘Song of the Year’ at the 2017 Swedish Publishing Awards and being nominated at the prestigious Denniz Pop Awards in 2015. She launched her artist career in April 2018, with the release of her cinematic debut single “Wild Enough,” which quickly reached over 20 million streams on Spotify. She followed with three more singles, “Here With Me,” “Champion,” and “Mirage.” Collectively the songs have amassed over 150MM+ Spotify streams and counting. Elina’s songwriting comes from the heart, and with topics addressing self-belief and the fear of being seen as inadequate. Her solo project aims to break from today’s strict genre formats and instead focuses on an approach of stripped-down instrumentation coupled with timeless songwriting. Her debut EP, In Hindsight, was six-songs that marked a distinct period of growth and self-realization for the budding artist and songwriter. Elina is now releasing her six-song sophomore EP titled, Remember.

Bottom Line: Remember presents Elina’s singing in a stripped-down, organic setting, allowing the listener to savor the lyrically rich, delicately understated pop lyrics and melodies. The introspection of “How” will pull you in as Elina’s warm organic vocals are adorned with acoustic guitar and a full bass accompaniment that grows through the storyline. Elina notes: “This EP is all about embracing change. About accepting that everything is transient. I’ve had a complicated relationship to change all my life, and I’ve learned this about myself more than ever while writing these songs. They reflect a lot of what’s been going on in my own head and in my personal life this past year. It’s been therapeutic as always, writing alongside life. I’ve started letting go of the control I try to have over the uncontrollable. I’ve started taking care of my mental health in several ways. I think I’ve become a little more aware of the root of the anxiety I’ve had over the past few years, and I’ve found new ways to cope with it. Even though there is a sentimental undertone to the music, I want this chapter to be a bright one. I want it to spark new ways of thinking, just like it did for me. The end of something is always the beginning of something else. We love, let go and love again. We make new memories, find new paths. We’re all on a constant journey trying to navigate through life, and with every experience, we become a little wiser. I want to reach a point where I can stand before change without being scared of it. It is so important to be true to yourself and not stay in places, with people, or in situations where you don’t feel happy. Most of the time, it’s just the monsters in our own head, stopping us from exploring the love and happiness out there for us.”

With a razor-sharp lyrical sensibility, the folk-inspired sounds of “Free” captivates with Elina’s beautiful vocal timbre, range, and technical control in her embellishments. “Another Round” shows Elina’s gift of presenting a subtle sound in today’s over-processed and ‘slick’ productions. Presenting a stripped-down voice-driven track takes immense talent and vocal power. Elina can pull this off, keeping the music moving and adding variations in her singing that keep the music evolving and fresh through the form. “Remember” is carried by a percussive finger-styled guitar and light piano, giving Elina’s voice space to be heard and expressed. The added orchestration is subtle but supportive and tasteful. The sounds add a nice color variation on the EP’s flow. Overall, Elina is a talented vocalist, songwriting, and lyricist. That’s the short of it!