Since their formation in 2015, Swedish band Koala Bar has been on a relentless quest to push musical boundaries. With their latest EP, ‘The Antelope,’ they take that exploration to bold new heights—merging acoustic instruments with electronic elements and lo-fi beats to craft a hypnotic, introspective soundscape.
From their early days to earning a Newcomer of the Year nomination from GAFFA, Koala Bar has built a career on evolution. Their last album, ‘Ingest ≈ Digest’ (2022), leaned into Americana and organic indie rock, but their latest collaboration with pianist, composer, and producer Leon den Engelsen introduces an entirely new dimension. Recorded in a secluded studio surrounded by deep forests and nature reserves, ‘The Antelope’ absorbs its surroundings—folding in organic field recordings from the woods and blending them with analog warmth and digital experimentation. The result? A seamless interplay between the intimate and the cinematic.b
The journey begins with LIONS, where modulated vocals and soaring beats collide with pulsing basslines and raw, emotive lyricism. Sparse melodies and intricate electronic textures guide the listener through a dreamlike experience, culminating in the seven-minute title track—an expansive, ever-evolving composition that is as majestic as it is deeply moving.
“Into the woodlands, we thought. Into the forest with an axe and saw, and come out with something new. We turned to our friend Leon den Engelsen and his studio on the edge of the breathtaking Söderåsen nature reserve in Scania. The landscape itself became part of the music. For us, the most important thing has always been to follow inspiration wherever it leads, and collaborating with Leon—whose artistry we deeply admire—felt like the natural next step.”
With ‘The Antelope,’ Koala Bar continues to blur genre lines and create music that resonates on a visceral level. To celebrate the release, they’re hitting the road with Öland-based artist Starur, bringing their mesmerizing soundscapes to Stockholm, Malmö, Gothenburg, and Norrköping.
LISTEN TO ‘THE ANTELOPE’
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