Icelandic alt-pop singer Axel Flóvent recently released his latest album Away From This Dream, and he has a few words to share about the project!
Axel was born and raised in Húsavík, a fishing village in Northern Iceland. He released his first EP Forest Fires in 2015, and its title track “Forest Fires” has earned over 74 million streams on Spotify alone. Keeping the momentum going, Axel released a few more EPs throughout the years, leading into his full-length album You Stay by the Sea.
Now, Axel returns with a body of work that reflects his mission of showing off his versatility as an artist. Some songs (such as “Have This Dance” and “Chasing The Night”) might just lead you into a slow dance. Others (like “Wash It Away”) can make time feel as though the world around us all is slowing down. Axel said, “I’ve always been a big fan of artists who evolve on each album. I don’t feel limited
in terms of what I can do. It’s important for me to be able to explore a variety of sounds to show
different sides of myself. I wanted to create an album I could perform with a band for a lot of
people at a festival or you could listen to on headphones alone.”
Away From This Dream finds Axel navigating through countless memories and complex emotions, and he hopes this album will accompany you through life. Here’s more from Axel!
How would you summarize the meaning of Away From This Dream?
Away From This Dream is a collection of songs I wrote last year about my feelings toward something and someone I need to please for love and affection.
I’ve been struggling with codependency and OCD for as long as I remember being my own person. These songs contain my thoughts and feelings through various situations with many different people and moments I’ve met in my life.
What are your favorite memories from when you were in the process of creating this album?
I spent my month in the studio with MyRiot in London. Hearing this album come to life in their hands was my favorite time. I had lived with the demos for a few months, dreaming of what they could do to these songs. Being able to stand beside them while they puzzled the mixes and we added missing things was so satisfying that I don’t think I will ever experience anything like it, and I will cherish it forever.
What was your favorite song to write for the album?
I remember dancing in the studio alone when I wrote “Chasing The Night.” The feeling in that song and
“Have This Dance” came almost immediately, so those two will always stand out for me. The tone of the album was also showing up in the sound, so I was also happy about that.
Is there a new song in particular that you’re excited to perform at your upcoming shows?
Yeah, I love playing “Chasing The Night” with the band, but my favorites at the moment are “Moonlight” and “Honesty.” I can’t wait to play those.
What is something you’d like fans to know about this album that you haven’t revealed yet?
I’ve been quite open with my fans so there is nothing that comes to my mind but I probably haven’t emphasized enough on the fact that I’ve never been this proud of anything I’ve ever done.
Away From This Dream is out now on your favorite streaming service. You can listen to the album on Spotify below! If you love what you’re hearing, make sure you let Axel know on Instagram @axelflovent.
