A native of Sweden, Simon Öman aka Sam Florian, is delivering all his indie pop gems created in the comfort of his bedroom. In 2018, Sam started releasing his original songs, and “In My Body” featuring Ia Öberg gained some recognition, allowing the singer to start building his audience. In 2019, we got to experience Sam’s debut album, “Youth”, a pop infusion with intense synths reminiscent of the 80’s. The following year, we were gifted with another solid album, “Avocado Daydream.” This amazing piece of work got to have a part 2 released later in 2021: “Avocado Daydream Pt 2.” Later that same year, Sam also released a polished single, “Can’t Have My Heart,” which features the soothing vocals of Rakel, blending perfectly with Sam’s tone.

2022 is only halfway through, and Sam has already released an EP and 3 singles. So let’s dive right into it. “Pretty Lies” is a 5-track cohesive EP filled with cool guitar riffs. It begins with “Now or Never,” a song that carries a faint beat but brings all the old-school vibes along with bright, delayed guitars that stunningly accompany Sam’s ultimatum. The title track that follows, “Pretty Lies,” packs a colorful instrumental with wobbly synths that are overtaken by the artist’s calm tone as he describes a toxic relationship. “Fire” instantly starts with a dense and captivating beat. The song is filled with production details and wonderful poetic lyrics that echo through your head: “Being alone is a state of mind,” he intones. Coming in with some Lo-Fi vibes meets Arctic Monkeys, “Love U Better” is one of my favorites from Sam’s collection. The song incorporates a playful bass that builds a seductive atmosphere where Sam’s vocals can demonstrate a wider range and create more dynamics in an already well-textured instrumental.

The singer surprisingly concludes the EP by performing his version of “Dreams,” originally by Fleetwood Mac. The collection proves to be perfect for a road trip, with all the soft melodies and guitars full of flavor, but it doesn’t end here. One month later, the youngster joined forces with Elsa Carmona, with whom he had worked previously, and they released the catchy track “Runaways.” It bears an intense beat accompanied by a driven bass and the beautiful voice of Elsa that commands the inspiring song. Come the middle of June, we were presented with “Wintertime Is Over,” featuring ANT. The fast-paced song offers an interesting, unique beat blended with retro vocals and added effects that transport you to a danceable, fluid environment. On a darker note, “cntrl:” conveys a disappointment that is translated into the melody sung with distant vocals that later are enhanced by ravishing harmonies. Sam Florian is coming in hot with all these bold but timeless releases, so make sure you try to keep up with this Swedish talent because I believe it’s time for his name to be known worldwide.