Well, Swedish definitely and fronted by singer Jonna Lee along with a big dose of mystery. There is repeated symbolism, numerical codes, unusual imagery, cups of semen, mandrake root folklore (you know the thing put under the bed in Pan's Labyrinth), toilet roll, a black dog, beautiful forest scenes and all while she wears impressive fake eyelashes and very little else. Ticks a lot of my boxes anyway.
iamamwhoami (it takes a bit of practise to say but you get it in the end) are an ongoing stylised project backed by some pretty hook laden electronic music. They have been around since late 2009 but currently keep popping up in my radar. Interviews are few and far between, identities have been pretty obscured up until quite recently with a cult following of fans deciphering code heavy track titles in the pursuit of clarification of 'who'. Where some of the mystery is dispelled is via online gimmicky technology, that vacuous thumbs up social network, the little birdy information sharer and mostly in the 'go viral' world of uploading videos, deleting them due to copyright dilemmas, replacing them with more strangeness where needed and then re uploading. Clever teasing.
Who knows where it's all heading but I'm guessing not towards a straightforward EP or any traditional route. The package so far is superbly voyeuristic but not gratuitous photography and videos to promote toe-tapping tunes. To start with is 'john', at first glance looks like some sort of sperm bank with a queue of scantily clad people waiting outside a room. Meanwhile vocalist Jonna clad in a towelling fetishy gimp suit dances provocatively on a bed of toilet rolls before allowing a member of the queue in. At this point she is masked and the mysteries of what then goes on in the room are flashed quickly on screens for the waiting to view. To finish is the hanging of a bag of the collected above a doorway amongst levitating white coat hangers. All beautifully gift wrapped in her unique vocal style and some clever catchy bleeping.
I love the tunes and the videos for that 'did she just?' feel; weirdness for weird's sake perhaps but it works and holds your attention while listening to some very easy on the ear electronic music. 'Clump' continues in the same vain with another great track that links in video wise with Jonna again lying on a bed of toilet rolls, shot from above and only from neck up, moving in time to her own music...or perhaps something a little more penetrative?
For those who like The Knife and solo off shoot Fever Ray, she, they or whoever iamamiwhoami are, capture that signature Nordic clash of humanity, mystery, nature and technology while delivering some remarkably simple yet good layered tunes. It speaks for itself.
The BBC have unveiled the annual longlist of 15 rising stars for their highly influential Sound of 2012. After a year or more of blog love from the likes of In The Line of The Best Fit, Pitchfork and Electronically Yours - Niki & The Dove's unique mix of pop hooks and leftfield electro have impressed a panel of 184 music industry 'tastemakers' that includes PopJustice.
The BBC's 'Sound of' has an unusually good track record when it comes to predicting future acts, La Roux, Florence & The Machine, Adele and Little Boots all went on to secure impressive cross Atlantic chart hits following their BBC nominations.
Niki & The Dove have made that rare transition from universal blog love to wider recognition and have repeatedly impressed us with tracks such as their debut 'Mother Protect' that was first discovered for the site way back in the summer of 2010 by EY's Electro provocateur Babooshka. We also voted the b-side 'Under The Bridges' one place shy of being named as EY's Track of 2010. Niki & The Dove made their London live debut in May at the Electrowerkz in Islington (reviewed by Babooshka here) and their recent single 'The Drummer' was a 'EY Tune of The Week' in October.
This delectable Swedish duo have since supported Hurts on their UK tour and are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut album due for release Spring 2012.
Well, Swedish definitely and fronted by singer Jonna Lee along with a big dose of mystery. There is repeated symbolism, numerical codes, unusual imagery, cups of semen, mandrake root folklore (you know the thing put under the bed in Pan's Labyrinth), toilet roll, a black dog, beautiful forest scenes and all while she wears impressive fake eyelashes and very little else. Ticks a lot of my boxes anyway.
The BBC have unveiled the annual longlist of 15 rising stars for their highly influential Sound of 2012. After a year or more of blog love from the likes of In 
