sir Was

Listening to sir Was feels like stepping into a sun-drenched room where every object has a story. The music is built on a foundation of 'wonky' hip-hop beats and dusty samples, but it is elevated by Joel Wästberg’s remarkably fragile, breathy vocals. It is soul music filtered through a Swedish indie lens, resulting in something that feels both deeply personal and pleasantly detached. It is the sound of someone thinking out loud over a MPC.

What sets him apart is his restless musicality. As a jazz-trained saxophonist who traveled through Africa to study rhythm, he brings a sophisticated harmonic and rhythmic sensibility to what might otherwise be simple bedroom pop. You will hear sudden bursts of woodwinds, unexpected polyrhythms, and a unique way of 'swinging' the beat that feels human and slightly off-kilter. It is sophisticated without being showy.

Start with the album 'Digging a Tunnel' to hear his most eclectic and foundational work. It perfectly captures his ability to blend disparate influences into a cohesive, melancholic, and ultimately comforting sonic world. It is the ideal companion for those moments when you want to feel tucked away from the rest of the world.