August
BEST OF: WAY OUT WEST
Two Star & The Dream Police - Mk.gee
Existens - Hurula
Hans Petter Hurula is a Swedish artist from Luleå who, after several years in various
bands, launched his solo career in 2014. Since then, it has shot straight upward, and
his latest album Existens – released just a day before his Way Out West performance (which, by the way, was his only show all summer) – does not disappoint.
Standout track: Ett annat språk.
Warlord - Yung Lean
While both Mk.gee and Hurula drew big crowds, Yung Lean was one of the artists who truly pulled in the numbers – likely helping set this year’s attendance record.
The rapper has had a huge impact on both hip-hop and internet culture, becoming
almost mythic within Swedish hip-hop circles. With a style that’s hard to pin down – best described as a kind of cloud rap infused with a mix of other genres – Yung
Lean’s skewed soundscape rewrites all the rules of music.
Like Hurula, Yung Lean dropped an album just ahead of his Way Out West set.
However, if you really want to dive deep into his world, an older album like Warlord is
a solid place to start.