Echo Ladies are Matilda Bogren, Mattis Andersson and Joar Andersén, three school-friends who, after playing together in a few different bands, realised that they worked best on their own. In 2014, after looking for “a name that represented our sound”, they became Echo Ladies, partly inspired by the name of the drum machine from another of their favourite bands, Echo & The Bunnymen. With the luxury of developing the music over several years, their second album Lillies is built on the same foundation that Echo Ladies laid during their past releases, but with a more unyielding presence—though you still find clear inspiration from shoegaze greats Jesus and the Mary Chain, A Place To Bury Strangers, Slowdive, and many more. Echo Ladies have always tried to balance juxtaposing emotions on their songs, but commenting on the new album they say: “While our past material conveyed feelings of nostalgia and hope for the future mixed with worries and anxieties about defining who you are and what you will become, Lillies instead tries to balance the emotions of sorrow and loneliness, with anger, frustration, and the determination to make a change for the better. This album really carries the Echo Ladies mantra that ‘Nothing Ever Lasts’—good things can come to an end, but bad things will also pass.”. Their debut album Pink Noise was out in 2018 on Sonic Cathedral and was one of Rough Trade’s albums of the year. Their second album, Lillies, recorded and mastered by Joakim Lindberg at Studio Sickan in Malmö, was released on 8th September 2023 via Rama Lama Records / Gazehop Records.

What They Say: “This song is heavily inspired by two of our favourite bands, A Place To Bury Strangers and The Jesus & Mary Chain. Our aim was to make the song feel like a big wave of noise, feedback and guitars that hits you in the face. Can’t remember how many layers of fuzzed and distorted guitars are on this track, but it’s maaany.“

“The saddest song we’ve ever written. Two friends of ours both lost their fathers during a short period of time, and one of us went through a bad break-up. So the song is mainly about suddenly losing someone close to you, and the experience of trying to move on in life. And we’ve always talked about having a key-switch in one of our songs but never came to it, so this time we added two.“

Their Mixtape:

A Place To Bury Strangers – What We Don’t See 

(Joar) This song was a heavy influence on the more uptempo and distorted songs on our new album “Lilies”. I think it’s great when music videos really enhance the sound and feeling of a song. That’s the main reason I wanted to share this song and video. Just wonderfully playful and a very, very clever representation of the song’s explosive energy!
A Place To Bury Strangers means a lot to Echo Ladies. Not only through their lovely distorted chaos, but also through Death By Audio’s(Oliver Ackermann’s own effect pedal business) fuzz pedal “Apocalypse”. That pedal has had a great impact on our sound in general.

The Jesus And Mary Chain – Just Like Honey

(Joar) Impossible to make a mixtape without including this masterpiece. Ever since the start of Echo Ladies we’ve loved “Just Like Honey”. It’s always there for you, whenever you need it. In the tour van, on DJ gigs and wherever really. We, Echo Ladies, actually even played a cover version live at a wedding a couple of years ago. Felt “just like honey”…

CCFX – Ode

(Joar) I actually only listened to one of their songs (“Venetian Screens”) for years. But it was not until earlier this year that I discovered that it was part of a wonderful four track EP. “Ode” quickly became my new favourite. Sounds like The Cure back in the day, only more naked and better. But every song of the EP is perfect in its own way. Don’t know how active CCFX are, but it’s a pity they haven’t released anything in a while. I am really looking forward to more.

Black Marble – Private Show

(Joar) Could’ve picked any of Black Marbles songs. He’s been a favourite of ours ever since me and Matilda saw him live in a basement in Paris ten years ago. Really fascinated by the outro of this song. It’s like a little treat or hidden gem at the end of the road. Feels like the end of a fairy tale in the best of ways. We actually tried really hard to implement something like this into one of our own songs, but never made it sound as good as Black Marble.

Soviet Soviet – Ecstasy

(Joar) Don’t know if we ever mentioned Soviet Soviet as an influence but indeed they are. Great post punk from Italy! I always had their bass sounds as a reference to my own. Basically built my effect chain around that sound.

Sinead O’Connor – Mandinka

(Joar) The chorus of Mandinka is just truly PERFECTION! Feels like the song really comes together. What a queen she was! RIP Sinead.

Makthaverskan – In My Dreams

(Joar) Don’t know if there’s a better indie band on…the planet? It’s the perfect blend of jangly guitars, desperate vocals and upbeat drums. And Maja Milner sings her heart out in every song. They’ve already released four albums and they just keep on delivering beautiful indie pop at its best. Echo Ladies are so proud to share the Swedish music scene with Makthaverskan.

Lilies is out now on Rama Lama Records and Gazehop Records. Look HERE for more information on Echo Ladies.