Let us tell you about a new Swedish boy duo called JA.
A pair of chaps who have made a name for themselves doing YouTube covers of other people’s songs (their version of Ace Wilder’s ‘Busy Doin Nothin’ is a corker). A well-trodden path for budding popstars and also for new signings to major labels who have been told to pretend to be budding popstars. We’re pretty sure that JA fall into the former camp though. Although they’ve certainly started to gain attention now. The producers of UK X Factor invited them personally to London to audition for the judging panel. So we might be seeing them on the new series of the show which starts at the end of the month.
Back in Sweden though, they’ve been signed up by Ace Wilder’s management team. A couple of months back they released their first single through 100 Songs – a cover of ‘Waves’ by Mr Probz. And now they’re finally gearing up to release their first original single. It’s called ‘Caroline’ and the single and video comes out in 2 weeks time (coinciding with the launch of UK X Factor, as it happens…).
‘Caroline’ starts off a bit The Sons part of Mumford & Sons. But thankfully a great big POP moment transpires in time for that ever faithful old pop medium that is the chorus. It’s a bright and breezy folk melody that is delightfully catchy. And lest we forget that other faithful old pop medium – the “oh-oh-oh-oooohhhh” post-chorus. That’s here as well. And brilliantly harmonised (as is the rest of the song).
JA are Anton Hagman and Jonas Peker. And whether we see them on UK X factor 2014, or Swedish Melodifestivalen 2015 – we’re going to be seeing a lot more of them over the next 12 months. ‘Caroline’ is the start of something big.
The song is written by Oskar Nyman and Joel Isaksson.
