Ninsun Poli

Ten years is a long time for any musician. Sometimes it’ll span the length of a whole career, and in other circumstances it’ll prove to only be the maturity stage – in the case of Ninsun Poli – it’s both. First making waves in 2004 in her home country of Sweden – being touted as their very own future of soul music, Ninsun has since veered towards a brand of electronic pop that has become synonymous with Scandinavia – and she’s really doing an exceptional job.

Blending the finest elements of fellow Swedes Lykke Li, and (early) Icona Pop, the title track from her forthcoming EP ‘Breaking Rules‘ is a no-holds-barred electro-pop smash hit in the waiting. Poli’s powerful voice elegantly glides over the top of luscious synth arrangements, whilst trance infused drum loops pound along in the backdrop. There’s something a little different about Ninsun Poli, and this track stands as a startlingly good introduction to an artist who is sure to have a very busy year.

The ‘Breaking Rules‘ EP is set for release on 28th April. - Joly Checketts

Mariah Carey, New Kids on the Block, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston are the reasons why Swedish singer Ninsun Poli does what she does. We caught up with the soul turned Scandinavian electropop singer .

When Swedish singer Ninsun Poli first emerged in 2005 with her debut EP, The Real, she made soulful, Amy Winehouse-tinged retro soul such as Sugar Man

So to KICK it all off who is Ninsun Poli? in three words only

Natural. Real. Fun

Q. Tell us a bit about your music?

It’s a very raw and organic sound. I don’t like to limit myself in music and you can hear that in the songs, They are all different from each other.

Q.Who did you grow up listening to and what are you listening to right now?

I grew up listening to a lot of Mariah Carey, new kids on the block, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Assyrian music like Habib Mousa. Right now I’m listening to the war on drugs, Coldplay, Rick Ross, little dragon to name a few.

Q. If you could work with any Singer/Producer on a record who would it be and why?

Rick Rubin ”99 problems” and ”fight for you right to party” style. Because he is Rick Rubin.

Q. We have a few easy questions for you now- Pick two Celebrities to be your parents- Who?

Angelina Jolie and brad Pitt. Please adopt me too!

Q. Rate yourself(s) on a scale of 1-10?

10

Q. If Hollywood made a movie about your life who would you like to see play the lead role as you?

Ozzy Osborne

Q.If You could trade places with another person for a week- famous or non famous/living or dead / real or fictional who would it be?

Zlatan

Q.Any gigs/events planned for this / next year?

I will be playing at the great escape in Brighton on May 9th and at Storsjöyran in Sweden in July.

Q. London or LA life?

Both!

Q. Where can we find you (YouTube/Facebook/ Sound cloud etc.)?

ninsunpoli.com/‎ - Distract TV

You're scheduled to release your debut EP 'Breaking Rules' at the end of April, can you tell us about the creative process behind this record and what went into it?

This EP came about in a very natural way. There was really no thought behind it when I wrote these songs. I just wrote whatever I felt like and had no limits. It was all recorded in my parents living room, together with my brother. If you listen very carefully to the voice recordings you'd probably hear my mom shouting in there somewhere! It was liberating and fun!

How was it working with Johan T Karlsson who produced the EP?

He's the best. He worked his magic with the sound and sealed the deal.



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by Daniel Falconer | 23 April 2014
Credit: Loella Billner

You're scheduled to release your debut EP 'Breaking Rules' at the end of April, can you tell us about the creative process behind this record and what went into it?

This EP came about in a very natural way. There was really no thought behind it when I wrote these songs. I just wrote whatever I felt like and had no limits. It was all recorded in my parents living room, together with my brother. If you listen very carefully to the voice recordings you'd probably hear my mom shouting in there somewhere! It was liberating and fun!

How was it working with Johan T Karlsson who produced the EP?

He's the best. He worked his magic with the sound and sealed the deal.

Do you find it easy to work with others on your projects or do you like to have a lot of creative control?

I always start off by myself before I invite others if I find it necessary. I find it easy and [am] developing working with other people, but I am involved during the whole process since it's very important for me to be able to stand behind what I do!

How best would you describe yourself as an artist and performer?

Hm... that's a difficult question. I would rather leave it up to the audience to answer. Everything I do comes from a real place and I stand behind every word I sing.

Where do you draw inspiration from, and who would you note as influences for your work?

Music, life experiences, people around me... and a very crazy imagination! It’s very hard to pick one person, but most of all my family and I guess everything that I have come across in my life so far.

Do you remember some of the first experiences you had with music, and the time you came to the decision this is the path you want to take?

I grew up surrounded by music. I loved to sing and I was obsessed by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston and wanted to sound just like them! I never missed an opportunity to perform on any family gathering or party. It was never a decision, I just kind of knew. And I was never really good at anything else!

What plans do you have for the UK following the release of the EP?

I’m performing on Vintage TV and The Great Escape. Hopefully there will be a lot more performances coming.

Where do you hope to be by this time next year?

Hopefully on tour somewhere around the world.

What's the big aim and hope for all of this?

To live the dream and be happy! - Daniel Falconer

Ninsun Poli – Breaking Rules: New music
Another big, thundering electropop moment from a Swedish singer with a penchant for recording songs in her living room
When Swedish singer Ninsun Poli first emerged in 2005 with her debut EP, The Real, she made soulful, Amy Winehouse-tinged retro soul such as Sugar Man. Nine years later and it seems that she's decided, quite rightly, to succumb to that very specific brand of Scandinavian electropop on her forthcoming second EP, Breaking Rules, which apparently was recorded in the living room of her family home. That's not to say that she's just about featherlight vocals and melancholic synths however. The first track to emerge comes in the shape of Hey Lover, a song that has more in common with an electronic Garbage than the heart-bursting sadness of Robyn. But it's on the thundering title track Breaking Rules – premiered here – that Poli hits her stride. Produced by Johan T Karlsson, aka Familjen - who's best known for remixing the likes of Lykke Li and Fever Ray - the song feels like it's constantly building, but by the time the final third rolls around it's just one massive exhilarating chorus.

The Breaking Rules EP is out on 28 April. - Michael Cragg

NINSUN POLI - EP REVIEW
Ninsun Poli - Breaking Rules EP
Ninsun Poli - Breaking Rules EP

Release Date: 28th April 2014

I'm of a generation that existed before the internet and so I still get that moment of wonder from time to time. Ninsun Poli is a prime example of this - a Swedish musician who creates songs in her living room passes it to a PR company in London who distribute it to their mailing list and then here I am with Family Guy on mute in the background listening to her music. I've never been to Sweden, she's probably never been to Cornwall and I don't even know if Ninsun Poli is a normal name in Sweden or translates as Eskimo Toaster. Anyway, once I got over my wonder at technology out of the way (next week, the camera) I actually got around to giving this EP a listen....and it was goooood.

Title track 'Braking Rules' kicks off with a pulsating, Ladyhawke-esque bass line and a Robyn shaped thud of a beat with Poli's desperate, breathy vocal lifting the melody up to luxurious heights. As the song progresses, the drums get more skittish and our Swedish heroine relaxes in to her role as defiant alt-pop star. 'Hey Lover' is up next with wonderfully rolling drum beat and rock vocals that find me imagining myself somewhere between Led Zeppelin and Lykke Li, such is the raw power of Poli's voice. 'Do It' starts like a mid-90s rave tune played out by the cast of Stomp and instantly you are transported to a dark underground club in Berlin where your only reference points are the strobe lit gurning faces of shaven headed dancers and the intertwined faces of the inexplicably aroused. To finish this dance-rock odyssey, Ninsun Poli serves up 'Faces' which is a gentler, more early morning tune with washes of synths and a gentle pulse that could be the sleepy, resigned grunts of a beast giving up on the fight and retreating to the shadows. This is impeccably dark pop from Ninsun Poli and it's something that you can both indulge yourself in and dance to which is a delicate balance to pull off. Touché, Poli, touché. - Roland Monger