Hello Saferide – More Modern Short Stories

Releasedate: 07-08-2009; Label: Universal/Vertigo
By: Nina Mende

Hello Saferide is a Swedish twee pop band fronted by songwriter Annika Norlin. According to Norlin’s MySpace, the stage name “Hello Saferide” was “inspired by an intelligent bus driver in a drug-addicted small town, don’t ask.” The Swedish-language version of the band’s bio identifies the town as Willimantic, Connecticut.
Based on the Internet success of the song “Highschool Stalker,” Hello Saferide was signed to Razzia Records in 2005. In 2007, Norlin released a Swedish-language album under the band name Säkert! (“Yeah, right!” or “Safe!”). The album won her two Grammis awards in 2008, for best female pop act and best lyrics. Annika Norlin is a journalist, and has worked for several newspapers in Sweden. She has also hosted different radio shows at Sveriges Radio P3.

The vocals on the album are very clear accompanied by mostly acoustic like music. On some songs there is a male co-singer. “Parenting Never Ends” begins with counting in Swedish. The album is very slow and thoughtful. It reminds of typical singer/songwriter music. The short stories somehow sound like a diary. The music is somehow sometimes quite dreamy and girly, childish and free minded, sometimes quite serious. When listening to the lyrics you can tell that they are mostly about experiences in Sweden or about Sweden itself. It is a nice and pure little piece of art. Free from mainstream and trends.

Links:
Hello Saferide MySpace
Hello Saferide Official