Erik Hassle – Somebody’s Party

What fascinates me about Erik Hassle’s Somebody’s Party from 2014 is that his music often does not work immediately.

The EP was released on 3 March 2014.

It is not straightforward. Not entirely predictable.

In places, it even reminds me a little of Prince: unusual harmonies, small melodic shifts and songs that do not behave like conventional pop music.

Songs that are allowed to grow

You have to listen your way into it, but that is exactly the point. Many pop songs work immediately. Here, the opposite often happens: a little awkward at first, then suddenly incredibly strong. That is what makes the EP Somebody’s Party so interesting, including the way those unusual harmonies stop feeling unusual after you have listened a few more times.

Erik Hassle comes from Sweden and became known in the late 2000s with songs such as Hurtful. But although he makes fascinating music, he was never really a typical mainstream artist.

What stays with me

Music you grow into

As a solo artist, I feel he is far less visible than he deserves to be. This EP alone shows how interesting his music is. Tinashe and Vic Mensa appear as guests here; as a songwriter, he also contributed to Shakira and Rihanna’s “Can’t Remember to Forget You”.

A shame, really…