Boy In Space’s stratospheric adventures span alt-pop, electronica, rap, punk and more, taking the storytelling Swedish songwriter over the landmark of 300 million streams – despite having just one EP, last year’s ‘FRONTYARD‘, to his name. Also known for his huge collaborations with Alan Walker, Boy In Space now tees up the September 16th release of his second EP ‘BACKYARD’ with the new single ‘Lean On’.
Lean On’ pulls select traits from divergent styles – Nordic pop, R&B vibes and bedroom indie production – but Boy In Spaceconstructs them into one laidback and yet hauntingly nostalgic pop-leaning track. On first take, it sounds like a direct love song with the romanticism of spending late nights driving around following stars. But the opening line “Some nights I think I hear you when the wind blows” suggests the story isn’t what it first seems. Is it a story of a new infatuation or a long-distance relationship? Or does it take a darker turn into an unrequited obsession?
Boy In Space – aka Robin Lundbänk – says, “‘Lean On’ really speaks to me in a mellow yet powerful way. It’s like I can’t get a grip of it like I’m observing a daydream. This song leaves so much room for interpretation, which I love.”
The low-key ‘Lean On’ video doesn’t seek to answer any of those questions. A Chevrolet Camaro drives as nightfall descends upon the city. But who is driving? Where is it heading? That’s for you to decide… The visual was produced and directed by previous Boy In Space collaborators ofbendz.
Boy In Space has previously described the ‘BACKYARD’ EP as focusing on the stories and emotions that you’d prefer to keep hidden, which suggests ‘Lean On’ isn’t as pure as it first seems. He launched the EP with ‘A**hole’, a tale of some of the lowest times in his life set to a high octane pop-punk sound. And that contrast explains Boy In Space’s ever growing following. We all have those downbeat moments that you want to keep well away from social media, so why not lose them in escapist music which helps you forget about it all?
There’s no real image to Boy In Space – what you see is what you get. It’s surely a reaction to the global attention he attracted in his teens as his pop trio JTR became more successful than any of them had expected. That too was a huge change in circumstances for him, having struggled through school just a few years earlier due to a mental health issue that hadn’t been diagnosed. Starting a solo career liberated him, allowing him to follow what music (reference points: The 1975, The Weeknd, Blink 182) and lyrical themes he liked. He also stayed true to his roots, and still lives in the small city of Alingsås rather than chasing his dreams in a major cultural hotspot abroad.
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