Umano – Ensam I Gemenskap (EP)

Before you even press play, I think its best I make it clear – this isn’t ‘soul’, and you may now be rightfully wondering why I’m reviewing it?

Well, it comes from the soul.

A loose description perhaps, however, this website consistently strives to bring you music from across a broad spectrum of Nordic artists whose music contains the essence of such as Swedish band Artymove.

A new artist we recently discovered is young singer Umano who presents his sound in a new single/EP and video, and it’s incredibly hard to quantify. Though some may disagree with genres, they are a helpful device to help people like us find the music we love. Hence I’d thought we’d include him here.

Sung it Swedish the lyrics will resonate clearer with Swedish speakers; however language is no barrier to understanding emotions. Six months with sporadic sunshine and temperatures cold enough to store food outside have to have some effect on the population. It’s therefore only natural the darker side of ones ‘soul’ should be expressed through music.

Listen to the single Kläder (Clothes) for example.

Like an exploration into outer space, you glide gently into recognisable sounds such as R&B, Jazz, Indiepop and Hip-hop totally spellbound as you discover something new and fascinating.

Though sullen in tone the video is utterly fixating in its visuals and images of anger, affection and menace. Directors Joakim Bernardo and Carl Lundell demonstrate Nordic noir at its best and their earlier production for the single – Ta mig ifrån mig‘ only heightens the musical experience.

Both tracks are taken from Umano’s four-track EP Ensam I Gemenskap (EP) (Single/alone in Society). Though the complete EP concept could not be described as an uplifting experience, it’s intensely intriguing and compelling.

Umano (Joakim Bernardo) explains his music is highly unfiltered:
“This is the first time I felt that I had a clear direction in my music creation. The goal is to be recklessly honest with me, my environment and our reality. This EP is about frustration and willingness to break their loneliness in the community. A cry for help if you want to call it so”.

I applaud any music that’s lyrically honest, challenges the mainstream and draws deeper inner thoughts. Umano’s music achieves this with ease.

It’s from the soul Jim, but not as we know it.

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY – ITUNES – DEEZER