Josef Slunge

Few artists in Sweden today have followed their own inspiration as uncompromisingly as Josef Slunge. Just a couple of years into his career, he has moved freely between genres, sounds and expressions, without losing the core of the storytelling and communication that drives him forward.

His debut album "ikväll, inatt, men aldrig imorgon" (2022) was met with attention from, among others, P3, Aftonbladet, Nöjesguiden, Göteborgs-Posten and Gaffa. This was followed by the mixtape "I LOVE YOU" (2024) and the single "Zoey" — a duet with Håkan Hellström that opened up Slunge's music to a new audience. As a live artist he has continued to grow, room by room, through both club shows and guest appearances alongside, among others, Håkan Hellström and Cleo.

In his continued work, Slunge has developed a more organic and band-based expression, where songs have increasingly grown out of jams and collective music-making together with Gustav Olea Aspenrot, rather than traditional laptop production. This way of working shapes the upcoming album, set for release this autumn.

— We have been very careful to preserve the organic, raw and human quality in the process. This is our way of revolting against today's very polished, almost — or often — AI-driven sonic landscape that seems to dominate the charts, says Josef Slunge.

The music is also marked by a movement back toward what feels like home, where family, relationships and the musical references of his upbringing have taken on greater significance in the expression.

Lyrics have always been a central part of Slunge's artistry, from early recordings to the poetry workshops he runs for young people in Malmö and Göteborg. The transition from rap to a more song-based expression has brought new challenges, but writing continues to be the foundation of his work. The new music keeps moving around themes of complicated relationships, escapism and identity, with a more stripped-back and direct expression taking on greater space.