“Blu-ray Land”, above, is the first song I’d heard by Stockholm-based artist Miynt. The low-key grungy vibe and outdated DVD reference captures an early 2000s vibe perfectly. Fredrika Ribbing’s simple keyboard melodies matched with a Lou-Reed-via-Beach-House vocal made it the first of her songs to echo endlessly around my head. Not the last. Rooted in tie-dyed psychedelia of the early 70s, Miynt has been making funky and lo-fi indie rock for a while now, channeling a warm, laid-back California vibe all the way from Sweden.
“Blu-ray Land” is promoted as the first single from her imminent Rain Money Dogs album, scheduled for May 30. It’s the first track on the record, though two other tracks have been previously released as standalone singles. “Blue-ray Land” is a strong gateway drug to her stylistically diverse, psychedelic-influenced indie rock.
The follow up track on the record, “Moneydog” brings a wistful and nostalgic sound and amps up the psychedelia, with the noodly guitar and organ evoking a lazy, sunny afternoon drive.
The last track on the upcoming album, the hypnotic, six-minute trip called “Data Life” is a slow-burner, groovy and reverb-heavy. These three songs have been on constant rotation recently. The laid-back approach and retro style makes for an addictive and repeat-worthy tease for the record.
Another favourite is a non-album track, a collaboration with producer Katmando, 2023’s “Gravitation”. It’s hazy, funky and disco-infused, with a more pop-focused vocal performance from Miynt, reminiscent of early-00’s Zero 7 or Hooverphonic:
The relaxed pacing of the music is matched by the release schedule — she took two years to prepare her 2022 debut album Lonely Beach, and Rain Money Dogs is coming more than three years after that one. Her sound has evolved in the interim — Lonely Beach sounded like it could have been released in the early 70s. It leans hard into groovy, organic psychedelia, with long improvised interludes throughout, and a surprise disco interlude on “Of the Sun”.
Going all the way back to her debut EP No. 1 in 2016, Miynt’s music has felt disconnected from time — rooted in the late 60s and early 70s, but drawing in elements from other eras. Her releases of the last few years lead me to think Rain Money Dogs will lean more contemporary. So far it sounds like a trip worth taking.
Further reading
Equate: 5 Questions with Miynt (from 2020)
