BOYTRONIC has had a colourful and at times turbulent history, after Holger Wobker and Peter Sawatzki honed their musical craft at sex shows in Hamburg’s red light district on the Reeperbahn. Known best for their top ten hit YOU, they also released two timeless synthpop records; The Working Model (’83) and The Continental (’85), with both albums considered well ahead of their time and remaining popular to this day. With the band shrouded in mystery, by the late 80s their management had claimed ownership of their name and with a new line-up they continued on without Holger. After a ten year hiatus, original vocalist and songwriter Holger Wobker (Kamerata/Beachead), returns with former frontman James Knights (Scarlet Soho/KNIGHT$), working on what would later become their eighth studio album “The Robot Treatment” released in 2019.
Following glittering appearances at European festivals WGT (Germany) and Sinners Day (Belgium) in 2022, the band are very much back, and are enjoying every moment on stage. With the addition of Justin Deaktivere on keyboards, the band are looking forward to celebrating 40 years of “The Working Model” album in 2023 and releasing brand new music. We’re excited to invite them to this year’s electriXmas!
Listen: Boytronic @ Spotify
CAT RAPES DOG is one of the Swedish pioneers of electropunk, starting out as a duo back in 1986. After adding new members, changing lead singer in 1995 and releasing six albums in the nineties, they ran out of fuel in 1999. They still performed live throughout the first decade of the new millennium, but after 2009 the band fell silent until 2013 when the seventh album was released. However, no live performances accompanied this release.
After a ten year pause, Cat Rapes Dog returned to the stage in 2019. With some recent European shows in Prague and Germany, notably Amphi Festival, they seem set to continue. Older and only little wiser, but stronger live than ever. Their last show at electriXmas was 2006 in Lund, and it’s probably 20 years since they last played Malmö, so we’re delighted to welcome them back once again!
Listen: Cat Rapes Dog @ Spotify
CRYO was created in 2002 by Martin Rudefelt, who acts as both composer and performer. But it wasn’t until 2006 that the debut album Cryogenic was released on Progress Productions. After a change of members during the formative years, Torny Gottberg eventually joined the band to establish the current live lineup.
The mechanical and electronic style that Cryo stands for contains heavily processed sounds as well as simplistic textures. Heavy basslines and drums form the backbone of repetitive, aggressive pattern throughout the music. On top of this foundation, melodies and vocals create variation, warmth and softness.
Cryo is on the leading edge of Swedish electronic music, constantly seeking new paths and exploring new ways to bring you nothing else than pure perfection.
It’s been a long time coming, but we’re excited to finally welcome Cryo to the electriXmas stage!
Listen: Cryo @ Spotify
EMMON, Sweden’s electro queen Emma Nylén, returned to the Electronic Body Music scene in 2019 after a 5 year long break. After releasing 4 stand alone singles under the working name “Under construction”, Emmon is now back in 2022 after 8 years since the last studio album to reclaim her throne. The brand new album “RECONS”, was released to critical acclaim on October 7th and a launch party at Bodyfest in Stockholm.
The new album is harder and darker than her previous sound of the 00’s electroclash scene that Emmon was created and descends from. Mixed with progressive old school synth in a postmodern production RECON is primarily produced to be performed live. ‘RECON’ is a ruthless EBM-album, packed with thundering basslines and gritty synths, all coming together seamlessly under Emma’s characteristically smooth soprano vocals.
Finally, another premier at electriXmas for a long standing Swedish artist!
Listen: Emmon @ Spotify
ME THE TIGER was born in Falun, Sweden in 2012 and received international attention after releasing their second album ‘Vitriolic‘. In the summer of 2016, the band performed at some of Europe’s largest electronic festivals, including Mera Luna (Germany), Infest (England) and Nocturnal Culture Night (Germany).
The lyrics and the band’s message is a central part of Me The Tiger. In days when individualism thrives, the band wants to highlight the solidarity values and contribute to a fairer and warmer society. We live together and we have a shared responsibility to care for each other – regardless of class, ethnicity or gender. Their skill, however, is the actual craftsmanship. Me The Tiger know how to create pop tunes, balancing the tension between melodic content, hooks and lyrics.
After their unforgettable performance at electriXmas in 2017 we welcome Me The Tiger back again!
Listen: Me The Tiger @ Spotify