New Music: Bonander – edith

The last single from Bonander’s upcoming and we stood there LP, edith is a moving and innovative meditation on the soul, expressed through technology.

The artist has revealed that edith has its roots in a poem titled Dagen svalnar by Edith Södergran, building on its final line, ‘You looked for a woman and found a soul – you are disappointed,’ repetition reinforcing, then adding to and possibly changing its meaning.

The spectral shift of the vocals, both those of Bonander and the featured Tusen Tungor choir, opposes the sounds found in nature that feature on edith, before shifting into an uneasy synchronicity, leaving you unsure about what you have just experienced.

I was reminded at times of the soundtrack to the Ghost in the Shell anime series and films, especially Stand Alone Complex: nature, technology, and boundaries change before we even realise, we are something different.

“I wanted the soul to feel broken, layered, and uncomfortable,” Bonander says about the song’s meaning. “Not idealized, just very human. It’s about how your limits slowly change,” Bonander explains. “How your bar for what’s acceptable gets lowered, almost without you noticing.”

You can hear edith on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. Bonander’s new album, and we stood there, is out on the 13th of February via Icons Creating Evil Art and can be pre-ordered on vinyl over on Bandcamp. For the latest album and artist news, head over to her Bonander’s Facebook and Instagram feeds.

Header photo by Siri Wallentén