Indie pop singer, songwriter and producer LonelyTwin (Madelene Eliasson) recently emerged from Stockholm with a new single & lyric video for “If I Know Myself,” out now via Ultra Music (Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki, Deadmau5, Kaskade, Kygo, Sofi Tukker). Astral vocal harmonies glide over an understated, yet propulsive mix of synths and guitars as Madelene reflects on a relationship forever stuck at ‘what if.’
The single is the first hint of what else is in store for LonelyTwin’s debut album due later this year: a genre-blurring combination of inventive trip-hop, smart indie pop, and evocative electronic folk that subtly slides between blue mood and hard-earned joy.
“I often end up writing in a very conversational way. Like I’m talking to someone. So I think my relationships and things I want to say but maybe haven’t are what inspires me most. I write about the conversations I wish I would have had.”
“Same thing happened for ‘If I Know Myself.” I wrote it when I was in LA and was going home in like a week. I had met a girl there that I really liked, but I knew that It wasn’t gonna work out so I sat down and wrote that song. It was one of those songs where it all just happened very naturally and quickly.”
Though LonelyTwin is new and evokes longing (Madelene herself being a Gemini), it builds on Eliasson’s past lives in music: working for others as half of the pop songwriting/production team MAD FUN (Le Youth, SHY Martin), teaming up with Jonathan Olofsson as Jo&Me for blog-approved cover of Drake’s “Too Good” along with recent solo releases of “My Heart” and a remix of MGMT’s “Electric Feel” (1.6M+ Spotify streams).
When faced with the dilemma of coming up with a number one musical influence she had to admit that “I have so many but Robyn is for sure one of them. The way she always stays so true to what she wants to do and that she’s such an amazing writer and performer. Jose Gonzales is another one. He’s a guitar wizard and just puts so much emotion into the instrument. He also shows that you can do so much with just your voice and an instrument.”
Together it all hints not just at her vast array of influences, but the general vibe she’s going for: sensual, end-of-the-night party jams built from rich guitar loops and yearning, feather-light vocals…
“I love the beginning of writing a song. When you get that feeling in your stomach that something needs to come out and you get into that flow. And then of course going home from the studio and you’re listening to your song for the first time out in the world! and it says everything about what you’re feeling right now. I think any creator would agree that that is such a rush every time.”
Who inspires your style and aesthetics?
Idk! I’ve always liked things that are a little trippy and colorful cause I feel like works with my music! I get inspired by collaborating with other people a lot on my aesthetics. For example Chloe Scheffe made the cover art for my upcoming singles and I love what she did!
What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why?
Hard question! I got a scholarship from musikförläggarna (the collected society of all the publishers in sweden) a couple of years ago. A lot of people I look up to have gotten it before me so that felt really cool!
What is your advice for aspiring artists that want to do what you do?
Sometimes it’s hard to know how I got here haha, but I think to just focus on what you’re doing and your journey. Everyone is different and you’ll only end up turning your art into something it’s not supposed to be if you too concerned with what other people are doing. If you’re true to yourself and what you love things usually fall into place I think. And you will also be so proud of what you’ve done. And have more fun doing it!
What would you change in the music and entertainment industry especially after this past year?
Songwriters need to get paid more from streaming platforms. That line of work will disappear if that doesn’t change cause you need to be an artist to make a living and some writers don’t want that. I’m so lucky that I’m a producer and that I want to be an artist so I can get paid through that but I have so many insanely talented songwriter friends who have had huge streaming songs that still can’t make ends meet, just cause their big songs didn’t make it to pop radio. And that’s just not right in my opinion..
