ADVERTISE
CONTACT US
SUBMISSIONS
  • News
    Norwegian soul band eight people

    Three Souls and Adama Janlo release stimulating single / Dopamine Activism

    Booby Oroza

    [WATCH] Bobby Oroza / My Place, My Time

    Juviia

    [WATCH] Juviia colorizes her sumptuous R&B with blue

    Nana Rashid

    [WATCH] Nana Rashid’s bluesy single releases her pain / They Call It Love

    Yoël and Majabou serve mood-lifting summery soul / Stick Around

    Les Imprimés

    Les Imprimés impresses with late-night retro soul / If I

    nikkipax

    nikkipax debuts a soulful serenade to women / FPW

    Colour image of black girl afro

    RÜ’s debut single stuns with 90s flavour / ZENsations

  • Reviews
    • All
    • Album Review
    • Live Review
    • Single / EP Reviews
    Album cover design muscular

    On the One – Muscular

    Elna Romberg christmas

    Christmas – Elna Romberg 

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Lost EP - AME ARDAI

    Lost EP – AME ARDAI

  • Features
    • All
    • Interviews
    • Scandinavian Soul Sessions
    • Soul Talk
    Black & white soul singer

    Soul music – the sound of societal change

    Johan Nilsson

    [INTERVIEW] Behind the groove with Band of Pockets

    Aureola

    I wanted it to sound like the feeling of running your hand over silk – Aureola

    Naomi Vaughn

    ‘We just broke out laughing and kept laughing’ – Interview with Naomi Vaughn

    Fredrik Hjulmand

    Behind the groove with FHIO and his debut single – I Never Knew

  • Events
    • Scandinavian Soul Music Awards
    • Scandinavian Soul Festival 2013
  • Artists / Bands
  • Videos
    • Playlists
  • Shop
    • SOUL SHOP
      • STYLE
      • MERCHANDISE
      • VINYL
      • BOOKS
      • SALE
No Result
View All Result
0

No products in the basket.

  • News
    Norwegian soul band eight people

    Three Souls and Adama Janlo release stimulating single / Dopamine Activism

    Booby Oroza

    [WATCH] Bobby Oroza / My Place, My Time

    Juviia

    [WATCH] Juviia colorizes her sumptuous R&B with blue

    Nana Rashid

    [WATCH] Nana Rashid’s bluesy single releases her pain / They Call It Love

    Yoël and Majabou serve mood-lifting summery soul / Stick Around

    Les Imprimés

    Les Imprimés impresses with late-night retro soul / If I

    nikkipax

    nikkipax debuts a soulful serenade to women / FPW

    Colour image of black girl afro

    RÜ’s debut single stuns with 90s flavour / ZENsations

  • Reviews
    • All
    • Album Review
    • Live Review
    • Single / EP Reviews
    Album cover design muscular

    On the One – Muscular

    Elna Romberg christmas

    Christmas – Elna Romberg 

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Lost EP - AME ARDAI

    Lost EP – AME ARDAI

  • Features
    • All
    • Interviews
    • Scandinavian Soul Sessions
    • Soul Talk
    Black & white soul singer

    Soul music – the sound of societal change

    Johan Nilsson

    [INTERVIEW] Behind the groove with Band of Pockets

    Aureola

    I wanted it to sound like the feeling of running your hand over silk – Aureola

    Naomi Vaughn

    ‘We just broke out laughing and kept laughing’ – Interview with Naomi Vaughn

    Fredrik Hjulmand

    Behind the groove with FHIO and his debut single – I Never Knew

  • Events
    • Scandinavian Soul Music Awards
    • Scandinavian Soul Festival 2013
  • Artists / Bands
  • Videos
    • Playlists
  • Shop
    • SOUL SHOP
      • STYLE
      • MERCHANDISE
      • VINYL
      • BOOKS
      • SALE
No Result
View All Result
0

No products in the basket.

No Result
View All Result

Rebekka B Mæland / Summer Feeling

Darwin Day / All Night

Dolla Lova – Fall for You

Andy Collins by Andy Collins
21/06/2013
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Pinterest

Normally, I would save my applause for things I enjoy until the end but Finnish band Dolla Lova definitely deserve a show of appreciation, and I’m happy to give it to them early. It wasn’t long into listening to the track ‘Millionaire’, which sadly isn’t on their album, that I realised this band was more than good, and in fact, far, far better than average.

The response from listeners after ‘Millionaire’s‘ first airplay on my radio show immediately told me I would be far from alone in admiring this group.



fall coverFrom Helsinki, Finland, Dolla Lova is a three-piece trio consisting of Heini Ikonen on vocals, Eliel Viitala on drums and Tatu Santaniemi on bass. Together they combine elements from different shades of soul, such as hip-hop and golden sprinkles of Mary J. Blige, and transform them into a sound they like to call “soulhop”. 



So, could the album Fall for You, which was released in May 2013 be anywhere near as good as the track ‘Millionaire’?

I won’t review every track but here’s an overview:


After a cinematic intro we are warmed into Dolla Lova with ‘Gotta Have‘ – which is an excellent first track, followed by ‘Hopeless Dreamer’. Both really enjoyable and soulful, you are immediately aware of the how engaging this band is.


’Be Mine’ – Just seconds in and the bass kicks in with strings samples and the excellent vocal talents of Heini Ikonen grab you! I really like Heini’s vocals, Go Girl! I really love the lyrics and the sample in this song.

Next is the delicate track ‘If You Knew’ followed by … more goodness! ‘Made me’ features strong lyrics, sung from the heart. Emotional and soulful, this is a real favourite of mine with Heini sounding like a soul sister who seriously can’t take it anymore and tells it like it is! In your face!


More quality follows with ‘Flying High’ a soulful, bassy sound with a jazzy piano which is followed by the simply lovely ‘Smallest Thing’.


One of Dolla Lovas’ strongest points is their songwriting, combined with beautiful harmonies, and a perfect example is ‘Lost My Way’. Big, bold and beautiful with emphatic gospel voices filling the chorus while Heini pours her Scandinavian soul out like a flood.

‘Fall for You’, the album’s title track, uses another excellent string sample that I adore. (It reminds me of a sample Dimitri from Paris used on ‘Epilogue’ from the album Sacrebleu.) The track travels along beautifully. On my version purchased from iTunes (support the artists!), ‘Fall for You’ has a long pause before it continues into a brilliant bonus track.

Without doubt, this is a superb debut album. There aren’t many soul artists or bands in Scandinavia who produce a complete album that’s so well balanced, doesn’t suddenly throw in you different creative directions, and just delivers track after track of quality music like this one.

This easily takes its place next to Nanna B – Vitaphone and Oaklyn – Chasing the Sun, for my Scandinavian Soul album of the year 2013.



Take a bow Dolla Lova, I’ve fallen for you!

Scandinavian Soul rating: 5 / 5

www.dollalova.com

5star rating

buy itunes

Update: UK DJ Soulvation from TropicalFM has added Dolla Lova to his playlist.
Tags: Dolla Lovareview
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

Live band black and white
Features

Reverse Lights on Oscar Soul Experience

by Andy Collins
12/02/2021
CD
Reviews

Whose Rules – Whose Rules EP

10/11/2020
Striking album cover
Album Review

Tulpa – Astrid Engberg

25/09/2020
Green background recover cover with girl on wall
Reviews

Commuter Diaries, Vol. 1 – Karin Fransson

20/04/2020
Load More

Discover more

Norwegian soul band eight people
Latest News

Three Souls and Adama Janlo release stimulating single / Dopamine Activism

21/03/2023
Booby Oroza
Latest News

[WATCH] Bobby Oroza / My Place, My Time

21/03/2023
Juviia
Latest News

[WATCH] Juviia colorizes her sumptuous R&B with blue

20/03/2023
Prev Next
MVH LIVE

Archives

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

  • In this clip, we didn’t even get to the part when she sings…wait for it…❤️❤️❤️❤️
This is @rumusicog and her debut single Zensations is out now. We’ve got a great feeling about her and when you hear the full song, you will too! 💕🔥
Strongly recommend following @rumusicog. This souful artist from Scandinavia is only just getting started! #scandinviansoul #newmusicalert #newartist #ru #rnb #90s
  • The soundtrack for memories of the night after or bear for the night ahead! Bug Eye the new video and single from @julicapelius has old school drum and bass beats we love ❤️.
It’s also her debut video too! Find it on our site, YT and follow @julicapelius  #scandinaviansoul  #julicapelius #newvideo #newmusic #drumnbass
  • If you found the image arresting just wait till you hear the track! @tildaallie dropped her single - Say No last month and it’s contemporary blend of soul and hip hop is just as captivating as the image! Expect the unexpected here! Love it! ♥️
Follow @tildaallie and discover this UK based Swedish artist/producer 
*Edited and reposted*
#scandinaviansoul #tildaallie #newmusic #contemporary #swedishmusic #soulful

Little extra details…

  • Our services
  • My account
  • Customer Service
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Behind the scenes

  • ABOUT US
  • EVERYTHING SCANDINAVIAN SOUL IS AND ISN’T
  • JOIN OUR TEAM

stripe

© 2023 scandinaviansoul.com. Design by 68-design.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Single / EP Reviews
    • Album Review
    • Live Review
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • Soul Talk
  • Events
    • Scandinavian Soul Festival 2013
  • Videos
  • Playlists
  • Artists / Bands
  • SOUL SHOP
  • Cart
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • About us
Close