mixtape maestro (2.0)

Say what you will about Grey’s Anatomy not really being the “must-see” event it once was (we wouldn’t necessarily argue with you), but you got to admit, they still know how to alert viewers to great under-the-radar pop finds. “Die Young”, from (previously MM-approved) Swedish indie duo The Sweet Serenades, is one of the prime-time soap’s latest compelling scene-soundtrackers.

Effectively pairing the rustic tenor of Serenades’ singer/ rhythmic guitarist Martin Nordvall with the sighing, featherweight coo of Club 8 vocalist Karolina Komstedt atop a melancholy recipe of wistful guitar, synth squiggles, cracking drums and rumbling bongos, midtempo ballad “Die Young” hones in on the all-too-familiar awkward scenario of a couple waking up from a one night stand with differing reactions.

“It’s a lie, we knew it all along”, emotes Nordvall on the hook, yet despite being fully aware of the “rules”, he’s still hesitant to budge from bed, wanting to milk every single second out of his post-lay state of bliss (“Oh I don’t wanna leave/ I just wanna lay here and watch you breathe”). Too bad Komstedt doesn’t share that same sense of euphoria, all she wants is for him to quickly depart before he falls for her any deeper: “I’m not looking for love/ I told you that I just wanna dance,” she pointedly reminds him, her words bathed in a weighted remorse.

Peep the MP3/ video below, followed by a dark n’ dubby “Die Young” remix put together by the Artymove gang.

From Sweet Serenades’ latest, Balcony Cigarettes.

DL: “Die Young” (alt)

DL: “Die Young (Artymove Remix)” (alt)

Last fall/ winter, Sweden duo The Sweet Serenades “sweetly serenaded” many blogs-watchers with their fun and bouncy offering “Mona Lee”…and nearly a year later, they’re prepared to heat up the cold months all over again with this second addictive cut pulled from their Balcony Cigarettes album.

An indie-pop rhythmic rush that refuses to let up, “On My Way” charges out the gate packing an energetic blend of rumbling bass, stormy guitar bits, toms, cowbell and some overtime-working drum pounding as illustration for the intense sexual tension between singer Martin Nordvall and some sexy looker he’s hot on the heels of.

Urging her to “have a drink, put that red dress on” via a wiry croon that sounds half out of breath trying to keep up with the track’s rapid-paced power-pop tumble, Nordvall’s intent on snatching up his target by any means necessary, assuring her “I’m on my way” in a haunting falsetto vocal peak that’ll ring in your head long after the song has galloped into silence…at which point, you’ll hit “rewind” just to be swarmed by the track’s catchy goodness all over again.

Preview the rest of the Serenades’ output here or via the widget below (our favorite, the whistle-perked “Smack You Up”).

DL: “On My Way” (alt)