Plej – Electronic Music from the Swedish Leftcoast

Plej is a Swedish electronic music duo from the left coast of Sweden. They are known for their catchy melodies, lush soundscapes, and warm, inviting production.

Introduction

Plej is an electronic music duo from Gothenburg, Sweden, consisting of producers Johan Soderqvist and Jakob Sjoberg. The group’s musical style has been described as a mix of “house, jazz and electronica.”

Plej’s debut album, Electronic Music from the Swedish Leftcoast, was released in 2003 to critical acclaim. The album was awarded the Swedish Grammy for Best Dance Album and was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize.

Plej’s second album, We Are, was released in 2006 and featured the singles “You” and ” Anticipation.” The album charted in several European countries and was nominated for two Swedish Grammy Awards.

Plej’s third album, Ensam (Alone), was released in 2009 and featured the singles “Ett Steg Foran” and ” Aldrig Mer.” The album charted in several European countries and was nominated for two Swedish Grammy Awards.

Plej’s fourth album, Mellan Rummen (Between Rooms), was released in 2013 and featured the singles “Dansar Inte Lika Bra Som Oss” and “Allt Jag Ser.” The album charted in several European countries and was nominated for two Swedish Grammy Awards.

History

Plej is an electronic music duo from Gothenburg, Sweden, consisting of Alexander Zarate Freije and Johan Dahlbäck. They are known for their emotive and melody-driven composition style within the deep house genre.

The early days

Plej began in the late 1990s as a collaboration between Joachim Nordwall and Alexander Bard, two music producers based in Stockholm, Sweden. The pair had previously worked together on a number of successful dance and pop projects, including the popular Swedish band Army of Lovers.

In Plej, Nordwall and Bard created a more downtempo and atmospheric sound that drew inspiration from IDM, techno, and ambient music. The duo released their self-titled debut album in 2001 to critical acclaim, with many reviewers citing Plej as one of the most promising new acts in electronic music.

Plej’s second album, Emitting , was released in 2003 and featured a more minimalist approach than their debut. The album was well-received by critics and helped to solidify Plej’s position as one of the leading lights of the so-called “Swedish leftcoast” scene.

Since then, Plej has released a further three albums: 2008’s Elements of Life , 2010’s En , and 2013’s Receptacles . Each album has seen Plej refining and expanding their sound, while still retaining the atmospheric quality that has become their trademark.

Today, Plej are widely regarded as one of the most innovative and accomplished electronic music groups working today. Their music has been used in films and TV shows such as The OA and Mr. Robot , and they continue to tour extensively throughout Europe and North America.

The breakthrough

It was not until the release of the eponymous album “Plej” in 2005 that they received serious attention outside their home country. The album was very well received by critics and became one of the most played albums on Swedish national radio P3 that year.

The present

Plej’s sound has been defined as “electronic music with a warm heart and a cold precision”, by The Sunday Times.

Techno, minimal and jazz are the three genres that have influenced the music of Plej the most. “We love Detroit techno, but we also love Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis”, says Alexander Bard. “And we love Swedish pop music from the 60’s and 70’s like Abba and Ace of Base”.

The result is a sound that is both danceable and accessible, but with a depth that is not usually found in pop music.

The music

Plej’s music has been described as “electronic music from the Swedish leftcoast”. The music has been influenced by genres such as nu-jazz, house and techno. Plej’s debut album, Electronic Music from the Swedish Leftcoast, was released in 2004.

The sound

Since the late 1990s, when “electronica” became a commercial catch-all for anything that wasn’t rock or hip-hop, Sweden has been one of the most reliable sources of quality dance music. In the last few years, a handful of Swedish producers and DJs have been responsible for some of the most inventive and influential club tracks around.

The sound of Swedish electronic music is hard to pin down. There are elements of techno, house, drum & bass, and dubstep, but often it’s a blend of all those genres (and more). What ties it all together is a focus on melody and atmosphere. The best Swedish dance music is beautiful and propulsive, and it has a way of getting under your skin and staying there.

If you’re looking for a starting point, check out the tracks below. They’re all by artists who have been at the forefront of the Swedish electronic music scene in recent years, and they’ll give you a good sense of what the country’s sound is all about.

The artists

Plej is an independent record label based in Gothenburg, Sweden. The label was founded in 2002 by brothers Joel and Stefan Hammesfahr, and specializes in electronic music.

Plej’s first release was the album “Electronic Music from the Swedish Leftcoast” by Swedish duo ebb & flow. The album was well-received by critics and led to Plej signing other artists such as Basement Jaxx, GusGus, and Koop.

Plej has released albums by a number of Swedish artists, including The Knife, Mintzkov Luna, Andreas Tilliander, and Johnossi. The label has also released music by international artists such astelepathE (UK), Cism (US), DJ Miss Fit (US), and Joakim Skogsberg (SE).

The scene

The Plej-scene is a collective name for a number of artists, djs and producers within the same musical genre, namely Electronic music with a jazzy or latin-american touch to it, often spiced up with elements of funk, soul and rare groove.

The clubs

In the fall of 2010, a group of music-loving friends from Gothenburg, Sweden, decided to start a club night together. little did they know that this would be the beginning of something much bigger.

The result was Plej – a club night that soon became one of the most popular in town, known for playing a mix of electronic music from all over the world.

With a sound that can be described as a blend of deep house, techno and electronica, Plej has something for everyone. And with DJ’s like Adrian Lux, The Field and Kode9 on the bill, you can be sure to hear some of the best music around.

So if you’re ever in Gothenburg, make sure to check out Plej – you won’t be disappointed.

The festivals

Plej is a music production duo from Gothenburg, Sweden, comprising Alex Infascelli-Smith and Erik Holmström. The pair met in the mid-1990s as students at Chalmers University of Technology. Their musical style has been variously described as downtempo, nu jazz, and IDM.

Plej’s debut album, Electronic Music from the Swedish Leftcoast, was released in 2003. The album was well received by critics and was nominated for a Swedish Grammy Award.

Plej have performed at a number of music festivals, including Coachella (2004), Glastonbury (2005), and Roskilde (2006).

Conclusion

It is safe to say that Plej have had a profound impact on the Swedish electronic music scene. Emerging in the early 2000s, the trio quickly established themselves as one of the leading forces in what has come to be known as the “Swedish leftcoast” sound. Combining elements of house, techno, and IDM, Plej have crafted a unique and instantly recognizable style that has won them a devoted following both at home and abroad. With a string of critically acclaimed releases to their name, Plej show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. For fans of Swedish electronic music, Plej are definitely an act not to be missed.