The distinct sound of Swedish composer/producer Badlands—a.k.a. Catharina Jaunviksna—has been dubbed "outlaw electronica," which is an apt description for her gritty mix of electro and orchestral instrumentation, fusing hints of classic trip-hop, new wave, warehouse dub, and disco.
Exploring analog midi and sampling as a teenager, Jaunviksna first gained acclaim in the Dublin electro scene, bringing a punk and DIY approach to her electronic compositions. Releasing her debut EP Battles Within back in 2012, she later formed her own record label and music and arts production company RITE out of the famed Tambourine Studios in Malmö, Sweden, providing a base for her original music and sound designs for film and theater, as well as production and mix work for other labels and artists (including her role as a touring musician for legendary Swedish dream pop band The Radio Dept.).
Today Jaunviksna announced her new album Call to Love will be released November 18 via RITE, building upon the soundscapes of her acclaimed 2021 album DJINN. Incorporating vinyl samples, field recordings, and analogue malfunctions and overdubs into her mix, Call to Love brings to mind the best elements of Bristol legends Portishead and Massive Attack.
“The soundscape has been crucial in getting my message across," she reveals. "What’s beautiful and vulnerable emerges through imperfection and letting yourself lose control. The record is a call to/for merciless, intuitive love, in an age where love is capitalized and being emotionally unavailable has become a desirable ideal. It’s a tribute to love in all its wonderful, brutal, mean, horny and embarrassing forms."
The announcement arrives with the unveiling of the album's hypnotic lead single, "My Time Will Come Again."
“I am an expert at storing and using my emotions creatively, to the point where they’ve become currency for me," she explained to FLOOD. "The track 'My Time Will Come Again' is a typical example of that process, where I sometimes can triumph over and even enjoy an emotional setback, because I know in the end it will work in my favor."
Listen to "My Time Will Come Again" below and pre-order Call to Love here.
