solence

No matter where we come from, music draws us together and bonds us. For as much as SOLENCE sonically conjoin elements of metal, electronic, alternative, and pop, the Swedish group also appeal to an expansive swath of personalities with a universal message. Equally suitable for the mosh pit or Coachella, the band—Markus Videsäter [vocals], David “Viking” Vikingsson [drums], David Strääf [guitar], and Johan Swärd [keys]—rally around a familial energy meant to be shared as loudly as possible. After quietly generating north of 200 million streams and counting, they welcome everyone closer on their third full-length offering and Hopeless Records debut, _hope is a cult_, and more to come. “We want to build up this family around positivity, hope, and the belief you can change things,” notes Markus. “We want you to forget everything that bothers you when you listen to this album. If we’re doing our job, audiences feel like they’re a part of it. When you go to a SOLENCE show, you have a good time, so hope is a cult for us.” As the story goes, the band formed in high school in Norrkoping, Sweden with Johan and Viking. “They’re all one year older than me, and David got me to go to their school and eventually join the band,” recalls Markus. “It was all a part of his scheme!” In between writing and recording for the band, David and Markus made waves in pop music, working on a myriad of projects for award-winning multiplatinum megastars. As a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, David’s discography grew to include “Don’t Cry For Me” by Alok, Martin Jensen, and Jason Derulo in addition to multiple cuts on Bebe Rexha’s Better Mistakes and more. Meanwhile, Markus collaborated with the likes of Bahjat, Violet Skies, and Nova Miller, to name a few. SOLENCE emerged on the global stage with Brothers [2019] followed by Direction [2020] and Deafening [2021]. Along the way, fan favorites “Heaven” and “Good F**king Music” each