Break out the good headphones and crank the gain into the red—NOREA’s debut single “Submarines” is a jolt of pure voltage, a declaration that chants aren’t always forged in fancy studios—they’re also born in bedrooms, built on stubbornness and vision. This Malmö-based artist, known for holding down the beat for Junodef and The Garage Flowers, has finally stepped out from behind the kit and into the spotlight, and the outcome is nothing short of thrilling.
“Submarines” started life years ago as a shelved acoustic ballad, deemed too sentimental for its own good. But NOREA—refusing to let a killer hook die—dug it up and rewired it with a new heart. The mission: sound like a homemade, heart-on-sleeve version of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven.” And holy hell, did they ever nail it. This track is a shining, forceful instance of indie-pop transformation, built on misty vocal lines, weightless synth pads, and a lively beat that seizes your attention and maintains its hold. It’s exceptionally lively, yet shot through with an exposed, lo-fi sincerity that gives it real, undeniable weight.
This is the sound of an artist in full command. You can feel NOREA’s drummer DNA in every propulsive, insistent beat—this is an artist who knows rhythm is the damn heart of the matter. The production is a proud, self-built puzzle of bedroom recordings, later mixed by Nils Nilsson and mastered by Estrid Nyman. It’s got polish, but it never sells out its original, home-crafted soul. It’s a perfect blend of the electronic and the organic—expansive enough to fill a room, intimate enough to feel like a secret.
The song goes into the turbulent, murky waters of a damaging relationship—one that pulls you under, makes you lose your footing, turn into a stranger in your own skin. It’s that emotional conflict, paired with the track’s upbeat, almost bold delivery, that creates a tension so powerful, so relatable, it’s damn near explosive.
“Submarines” is a bold, confident declaration from an artist who’s done waiting in the back row. It’s a shot across the bow of the Swedish music scene—proof NOREA is building a world. And we’re all invited in.
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