Review: Dagny Mixes Soulful Vocals and Addictive Pop on Debut Album Strangers / Lovers
- by Joe Sharratt
- in Reviews
Dagny Norvoll Sandvik, known as Dagny, grew up in a musical family in Tromso, Norway. After moving to London in her early twenties, she was propelled to fame with her single Backbeat, which was used on the TV show Grey’s Anatomy and launched her on the path being one of Norway’s biggest stars, with over 450 million streams and a host of sold out tours to her name.
Strangers / Lovers is her debut album, and follows 2016’s Ultraviolet EP. Come Over opens things in typical soaring, power pop fashion, while Somebody revolves around an intoxicating disco beat and falls and rises in a captivating way. Paris is a slower, soulful number, that signals the end of the high tempo opening tracks and introduces the next phase that’s filled with smart, well constructed and well balanced pop songs like Coulda Woulda Shoulda and Moment.
Bad At Love (Interlude) is a sweet and delicate break from the blueprint, which sees Dagny mournfully reflect on a dying relationship as she sings: “Don't know why it doesn't feel the same as before / Back-to-back instead of face-to-face, but I want more / We don't even touch when we're alone at night / Now there's only smoke, it used to be a fire”. Cleverly that song is followed by It’s Only A Heartbreak, a glorious ode to recovering from a breakup. Coast To Coast, meanwhile, is a gentle ballad that closes the album with a demonstration of Dagny’s immense vocal power.
In support of the new album, Dagny has announced an eleven-date European tour to take place in April 2021. Taking to her official Facebook page to announce the news, Dagny wrote: “I can't believe I'm actually writing this but I've decided to stay optimistic and stick to my guns: WE'RE GOING ON A BLOODY EUROPEAN TOUR IN 2021.”
The tour will see Dagny open in Dublin, and visit London, Amsterdam, Zurich, Munich, Vienna, Warsaw, Berlin, Hamburg and Copenhagen, before the closing show in Stockholm.
Strangers / Lovers tracklist:
1. Come Over
2. Somebody
3. Paris
4. Let Me Cry
5. Coulda Woulda Shoulda
6. Tension
7. Moment
8. Please Look At Me
9. Bad At Love (Interlude)
10. It’s Only A Heartbreak
11. Bye Bye Baby
12. Coast To Coast Watch the official video for It’s Only A Heartbreak here.
Find out more about Dagny, including tour dates and ticket information, on her official website.
