Simako – Closer / Further

It’s not every day a sister duo steps onto the Scandinavian soul scene, but with Closer / Further, Danish newcomers Simako, sisters Sigrid and Katinka, mark their arrival with a confident debut.

Their four-track EP takes its title seriously. Emotionally and musically, it moves closer to you and then further into its own unique space, mixing R&B, soul, and pop with experimental edges and heartfelt intentions.

Their musical influences are broad and deep. Raised on Hungarian folk choirs, Swedish choral music, Italian opera, and soul royalty like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, these influences don’t sit awkwardly beside each other as one might think. Simako blend these themes into a varied but cohesive palette, rich in texture and nuance.

The EP opens with Won’t Pretend, and the sisters’ harmonies shine, wonderfully warm, harmonic, and natural, carried by crisp guitar chords and a groove that flows with ease. This is organic R&B, polished but not overproduced, and sets the tone for a record best described as soulful pop with delightful sweetness.

Next up, Dancing on the Moon takes a more sober turn. Written in memory of a friend who battled mental health issues, it’s heartfelt and vocally sincere. It doesn’t quite feel as sonically tight as the opener, but that rawness may be intentional. Still, it hits because it is personal, vulnerable, and real.

Then came the pop-pulse racer. Who You Are, written during the early days of the war in Ukraine, bursts with energy and defiance. It’s long, bold, and brimming with life. The sound staging here is fantastic. Listening on my iLoud Micro speakers (recommend), the vocals appear right in the centerstage, with everything else dancing around them. It’s dynamic, driven, and layered, with flaming electric guitar chords that flirt with chaos but never lose control. It’s so cinematic and pacy, it makes you feel like you’re in a movie. I kept seeing someone running in slow motion as this 5+ min track played.

The EP rounds out with my personal favourite Stay All Evening.

Now, this is the one. If I were the producer sitting behind the glass in a studio session, I’d press the talkback switch and say, “Ladies, this is a hit!”

From the first funky strum, a groove inspired by Nile Rodgers (Chic), it instantly captures you. And when those soft, distinctly Nordic style harmonies slide in, it’s done. It’s got that sparkle. That something. It’s the kind of track that makes you move even if you didn’t plan to. A modern disco delight and a confident finale.

Closer / Further is a compact sampler of what Simako can do. Soulful, emotional, political, danceable. This is a promising start and I admired the variety they offered.

The sisters are here, and they’re doing it for themselves.