AGNES Magic Still Exists | Disco music will free you

agnes
After being named the new Lady Gaga, thanks to her mega-hit Release Me, Agnes disappeared for almost 9 years, why?, and, what brought her back singing Disco music? This is the story of Agnes and her masterful new album, ‘Magic Still Exists‘.
Tunes and Playlists that make you thrill | Trembol
CATEGORY | News
AUTHOR | JC Trembol

Reading Time | 4 min

Listening Time | 12 min

Agnes Fingers Cross

Agnes biography

Agnes Emilia Carlsson was born in 1988 in Vänersborg, Sweden. From a musical family, she grew up knowing that music was her thing, so in the spring of 2005, when she turned 17, she was selected for the 2nd season of the Swedish TV show Idol, guess how won? Yes, she did 🥇

She was quickly signed by Sony BMG, debuting at the top of the Swedish charts with ‘Right Here Right Now’.

  • Her 1st album, the eponymous Agnes, also debuted at number one in the official charts.

In 2006 she released ‘Stronger, her second album, which, although not as successful, took her on her second tour of Sweden in less than a year.

In early 2008, Agnes left Sony BMG due to “creative differences”. She signed to Roxy and returned to the stage with ‘On and On‘, a single where her shift towards dance music is clearly visible. It became a big summer hit, selling over 10,000 copies.

That same style would be reflected on Agnes’ 3rd studio album, Dance Love Pop , which included ‘Release Me‘.

  • While it didn’t seem to catch on much at first, the track gradually began to receive more attention and was released internationally, resulting in the biggest hit of her career.

Success in the UK and then in Australia led Universal Music to hire Agnes for her US release.

  • She received a so-called “signing bonus”, a million dollars to promote ‘Release Me’ with a team of 35 people who had worked for Lady Gaga. All to make her the next big thing 🌟

Release Me conquered the US and was later released in Asia and South America selling almost 1 million copies.

Her next singles didn’t have as much impact, but that didn’t stop Agnes and in 2011 she released ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart‘.

  • The single failed to make it to the top of the Swedish chart, so the overseas release was halted.

For her 4th album, the label asked Agnes to move to the United States, but she refused because she didn’t feel at home. She decided to return to Sweden and record ‘Veritas‘ there, presented with the hit ‘One Last Time’.

agnes release me

Agnes (Facebook Image)

The album was a moderate success, but she continued to do music-related things:

  • In 2013 she participated in the TV show So Much Better.
  • The same year she released the compilation ‘Collection’, including the song ‘When you tell the world you’re mine‘, sung with Swedish artist Björn Skifs, which she performed at the wedding of Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria.
  • It also included a magnificent unreleased track, ‘You rain’.

In 2015, at the age of 26, she was at a crossroads in her life and decided to quit music. Having started at 16, he had not been able to enjoy those youthful years, so she decided to start travelling and enjoying other hobbies, without being sure if she would ever sing again. After two years she thought:

No, I am an artist, I want to make songs, but I have to find my way to do it.

So, she started a process to know herself better as a musician, composing more than 100 songs that were never released 🎶

Already in 2019, we would have new material from Agnes:

  • She collaborated with Avicii on the hit single ‘Tough Love‘.
  • She released a short album called ‘Nothing Can Compare‘, with hypnotic tracks like ‘I Trance‘.
  • Later, she would release 2 more very good singles: ‘Goodlife’ and ‘Stripped Down’.
  • She also participated in the tribute album to the late Roxette singer, singing the eternal ‘It Must Have Been Love‘.

And so, we come to 2021 when Agnes releases her new album, Magic Still Exists.

Agnes Magic Still Exists | Disco music is the light in the tunnel

With new music, a new aesthetic and renewed energy, Agnes released ‘Magic Still Exits‘ in 2021 on ‘Senga‘, her own label within Universal.

Agnes chose that title because:

Music is a space where there are no limits, you can do and be whatever you want and for me that’s magic.

Listening to the album is a pleasure, you can appreciate every second of the effort Agnes has put into creating disco music with a spiritual background. On Magic Still Exists we find:

  • 6 electro-pop, funk and, of course, Disco tracks.
  • 4 experimental and atmospheric interludes.
  • 1 ballad with piano and vocals that closes the album.

new Agnes album

Agnes. Magic Still Exists

The album was launched with ‘Fingers Crossed, whose music video is inspired by Chilean director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s bizarre cult film ‘The Holy Mountain‘ from 1973.

Agnes told us about ‘Fingers Crossed’:

It is inspired by the feeling that nothing is impossible…. It’s a song that can lift you to new dimensions… The song is unapologetic, “I welcome you to my party, and since it’s mine… I can do whatever I want to do“.

Among the most acclaimed songs we find ‘Selfmade‘, which talks about the frustration of everything going so, so fast. Agnes tells us that sometimes it is very important to calm down and take time.

One of Agnes’ favourite songs is ’24 Hours’, which she explains:

When we need to process a dramatic change in our life, we go through different stages of emotion. The video for 24 hours is based on that journey, and the different personalities that it brings to light.

If you ask us for our favourite track from ‘Magic Still Exists’, it’s undoubtedly ‘Here Comes The Night‘:

  • It starts with a sound that reminds us of Rocky.
  • The chorus could be signed by ABBA.
  • It is among the best songs of 2021.

It is a homage to all of us out there who are longing to just let go. It is a declaration to the dreamers, the night, the mist, the spirituality. Those that dare to fall in love – with the moment, the people around them and themselves. Hopefully it will guide the listener into a moment of something they can call freedom.

As Agnes herself says, there is only one thing in life, and that is the continual renewal of inspiration, so we can’t wait to see what her next musical revival will be like 🙂
Find more music related to: Agnes | Music 2021 | Music Sweden