Up and Comers Music

Do you ever crave a return to the glory days of 90s R&B when Usher, Nelly, and Alicia Keys topped the charts? Search no more because Swedish singer songwriter Sophia Bolinder has answered the call. In her latest single “My Own Company” and other recent tracks, Bolinder is bringing back the genre with a decisive bang. 

Grabbing us from the start with a strong groove in the bassline, Bolinder defines her style early on in the song. When a modulated synth and silken vocals join a few moments later, she has planted us firmly within the iconic sonic universe of 90s R&B. In the lyrics, she speaks of strife in a relationship and shaking off a former lover who just won’t stop lingering around. A defiant “I don’t need your love, I don’t care who comes after me” is repeated in the refrain and shapes the attitude of the song. Bolinder is no longer tethered and no longer interested in being bothered by this past love. We appreciate the simplicity in her approach, which feels like yet another ode to the uncomplicated, romantic minimalism of the 90s.

At just 2 minutes and 25 seconds, the song is concise. In particular, the verses don’t last very long before bleeding seamlessly into the choruses. While perhaps a stylistic songwriting choice, this brevity is also possibly emblematic of the length of the relationship she had with the person talked about in the track. Alternatively, maybe it simply represents the fact that she just doesn’t need much time here to make her point. She’s moving on and doesn’t need to sit around to think any further about it. Whatever the reason, the pithiness of the track feels like the right choice of length for the subject matter.

If you’re looking for a nostalgic ode to 90s and 2000s R&B, Sophia Bolinder’s “My Own Company” is your ticket to those glory days. Her songwriting is really a no frills, no bells and whistles approach that is hard to find in the more maximalist pop music zeitgeist of today. 

Stream “My Own Company” and follow Sophia Bolinder on Instagram to stay up to date on her latest. Follow our Up and Comers playlist for more emerging artists and new music discovery.