Josefin Öhrn, the acclaimed Swedish singer-songwriter currently based in London, has announced her long-anticipated debut solo album, Cherry, with a scheduled release date of September 25, 2024. This new project marks a significant milestone in Öhrn’s evolving musical journey, following her celebrated role as the frontwoman of the Grammis-nominated band Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation.
The album’s lead single, Cherry Tree, is available starting today. This track serves as a bridge between the mesmerizing psychedelic rock of Öhrn's past work and the more intimate world of her solo expression. In keeping with the artist's reputation for deeply felt music, the single places Öhrn’s evocative vocals at the center, weaving together themes of unrequited love and bittersweet longing.
A Collaboration-Focused Journey
Cherry features notable contributions from several prominent musicians. Bobby Gillespie, frontman of Primal Scream, adds vocals to the song Electrified. Anton Newcombe of The Brian Jonestown Massacre collaborates on Lose Yourself, while Ride’s Andy Bell also appears on the album. Synth textures on Dreaming Of You are crafted by Björn Yttling, known for his association with Lykke Li and Peter Bjorn and John.
Öhrn’s choice of producer for this project—Kalle Jerneholm Gustavsson of The Soundtrack Of Our Lives—further distinguishes the album. The recording took place at Svenska Grammofonstudion in Gothenburg, a renowned studio setting that fostered an immersive and focused creative process away from Öhrn’s London home.
The album resonates with a new wave of Swedish music that candidly explores women’s experiences. Öhrn’s songwriting on Cherry is intensely personal, reflecting on themes such as longing, transformation, loss, and renewal. Songs dissect the emotional complexities of desire and connection, all delivered with unguarded honesty and luminous vulnerability.
In addition to original material, Cherry showcases Öhrn’s interpretive range with covers of classic songs. She delivers a sensual rendition of Always On My Mind, originally made famous by Elvis Presley, and pays tribute to her Swedish roots with a version of Jag ger dig min morgon, the 1970s cult classic by Fred Åkerström and Tom Paxton.
Tracks like The Real Thing offer psychedelic disco energy, while I Want You leans into infectious pop melodies enhanced by swirling percussion and vintage synthesizers. Meanwhile, Shoreline draws on Öhrn’s multicultural background, meditating on themes of belonging and cultural identity that reflect her upbringing in Sweden, ties to France and Belgium, and more than a decade spent in London.
The ten-track album presents a vibrant tapestry of sound and emotion, capturing a pivotal phase of transformation in Öhrn’s life. Her ability to channel personal transition, experience, and heartfelt yearning into dreamlike and immediate music stands at the heart of Cherry’s appeal.
The complete tracklist is as follows:
- Always On My Mind (Elvis Presley cover)
- Cherry Tree
- Dreaming Of You
- Electrified
- I Want You
- Jag ger dig min morgon (Fred Åkerström cover)
- Lose Yourself
- Shoreline
- The Real Thing
- What If
This solo debut not only highlights Josefin Öhrn’s artistic growth but also affirms her voice as a vital force in Swedish and international music. With Cherry, she steps confidently into a new chapter, channeling universal emotions through collaboration and a distinctly personal lens.
