Lennixx
Scandinavia has a rich heritage when it comes to pop music, with the likes of Sigrid and Dagny becoming global superstars in recent years. Sweden has been particularly productive, bringing us Tove Lo and Tove Stryke, the queen, Robyn, and of course, pop royalty in the form of ABBA. Now there’s a new duo throwing their hat in the glittery ring, Lennixx. Comprising Hanna Larsson and Andrea Kallström, the duo’s debut, Enough To Get Away, is an exciting blend of luscious R&B and irresistibly catchy pop.
Hanna will know all about stardom, being the younger sister of Zara Larsson, the Swedish pop superstar and activist. But Hanna isn’t striding the path alone, and the warmth of her friendship with Andrea burns throughout the record. Friends since attending dance school together as children, the duo first caught attention with their debut EP, hapap, in 2018, creating slinky, soulful late-night R&B jams. After releasing a further string of singles, the duo headed into the studio to record their debut, Enough To Get Away.
The record focuses on emotions, exploring love, friendship, desire, and respect. Lennixx is their shared voice of navigation: “confident and secure in a way that you yourself may not always be”. The duo’s synchronicity is evident throughout the record, their silky smooth vocals weaving in and out of each other, the harmonies razor sharp. Enough To Get Away represents a culmination of their previous work, with everything a little bit sharper and brighter.
Lennixx primarily deals in R&B but explores different strands of the genre, benefitting from some lush production and creating an effortlessly smooth ride. ‘Be There’ and ‘Letting Me Down’ have funky undertones with their warm basslines, while ‘One Of Those Days’ has a jazzier vibe. The opener, ‘Think Of Two’, is wonderfully hazy, like lounging on the beach with a cocktail watching the sun going down, its languid rhythm washing over you. ‘Raindrops’ has a more sensual energy, with its soft, pattering beats, gently echoing keys, and a suitably confident chorus line: “Better off dimming the lights I’ll be staying the night”.
One of the highlights is ‘Outside’, driven by its jittery beat and wobbling bassline; it features some of the album’s most vulnerable lyrics: “So much lighter with my guard down/So can you tell me why there’s something left to hold on?”. ‘Letting Me Down’ is similarly vulnerable, exploring the wounds of a past relationship: “Did you feel much better when I/Started crying in front of your eyes?/Heart of mine in front your knives”. But there are also moments of optimism, such as ‘Look In My Eyes’, a song about giving into love: “Let go of all your listed old fears/Notice our same twisted ideas”.
While the duo’s music would be primarily classed as R&B, they showcase their pop sensibilities; the whole record is laden with hooks and sharp choruses. The single ‘I Might’ proves they can craft a pop/R&B crossover banger with its bopping rhythm and insatiably catchy chorus. ‘Contemplate’ falls short, but ‘Minute’ hits the mark with its bouncy beat and sharp vocal interplay. ‘Look In My Eyes’, with its sunshine-dripping guitars and warm synth keys, is another standout, all tied together by a gorgeous soulful chorus.
Enough To Get Away is a confident and exciting debut, combining the alluring intimacy of R&B and the enticing hooks of pop music to create something fresh. Larsson and Kallström demonstrate impressive vocal dexterity throughout, occasionally echoing the likes of Kali Uchis and SZA, if lacking their emotional intensity. The duo undoubtedly have a bright future ahead of them, and if they can take their songwriting to the next level, they could replicate the success of some of their Swedish contemporaries.