Hailing from Stockholm, Colleagues formed in 2012 and proceeded to release a number of singles and EPs in the subsequent decade. Having picked up radio play in their native Sweden, and on BlackPlastic, they became known for their dreamy Scandinavian pop sound.
Here, ten-years on, Colleagues’ sound is darker, and influenced by the diverse musical paths of the group’s members. Taking in sounds as disparate as neoclassical and minimal pop, the sound we get here on James is modern and emotive. Opening with 80s-style electronic bass notes and ambient-sounding synths, layered vocals weave a hushed melody before giving way to a stark, clean-and-modern falsetto chorus. That chorus switches out the playful bass for a series of sharp lines, delivered in the form of crisp, melodic synth stabs.
The contrasting sounds in James are a pleasure to experience, the song switching gears on the fly and keeping the listener guessing as the two distinct sounds blend in the closing third. Clocking in under three-minutes long, I wish there was a bit more — I find myself hitting play as soon as it finishes, almost to check what I heard is still really there… But isn’t that a great place to leave a listener, wanting more, somewhat disbelieving what they heard?
James itself is a song about caught the moment before a relationship ends — both looking back and looking forward. Opening with the lines, “Stay here, take your time, I won’t let you down, your heartbeat next to mine”, there is a moment of clarity evoked in these lyrics. Taking a moment to appreciate what has been, before moving on. The band note the duality in the production is deliberate, containing “a touch of nostalgia in the bass line but a beat that strives to move forward”.
Check out James below, and look out for a debut album in early 2023.