Start Listening To: Agnes Rangel

Get your heart pierced by the raw vulnerability of ‘Blindsided’, a story of one horrible night.

In between spending sweet seconds with friends in Copenhagen and enjoying highs of the small moments, Agnes Rangel found some time to share with us a few secrets on a new single ‘Blindsided’ and her Swedish pop-divas musings. Coming from an academic family, Agnes spills the tea on how to make it happen in music and get accepted in a Danish DIY scene. Stay alert, she is one to watch.

Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming single ‘Blindsided’?

The single is a culmination of all of my feelings the night of a horrible fight between my best friend and I. I was just about to declare my very unrequited love for him, so it really stung. It’s such a raw song for me, every time I listen to ‘Blindsided’ I’m pulled back into all the emotions I had that night. It had - and still has - a great impact on my voice as an artist. 

What do you hate right now? 

I’m trying not to use the word hate as much at the moment. I will say though, I’m not a huge fan of cilantro. 

What do you love right now?

I’m honestly really grateful for where I am in life at the moment. I’m in love with Copenhagen, my friends, all the new experiences that come with releasing new music. I get these moments where I’m doing something I really love, and time suddenly moves a lot slower, and I get to really appreciate everything I'm doing for a second. It’s like that quote “how do you know you’re in the good old days before they’re over”, and I just feel like I know. I’m in the good old days.

Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make? How did it all start?

Well, my name is Agnes Rangel, I'm 21, and I grew up to the sound of Swedish pop-divas and Danish rock-kings. I come from a very academic family, so even though I've been surrounded by music, it’s never really been a path laid before me -I just couldn’t stop once I got started. It all began when I moved into a tiny studio-apartment. I’d stolen my sister's guitar, just so I would have something to do with my hands. I added lyrics and melodies as a cover-up to how horrible my guitar-playing skills were and it kinda flowed from there. At first, I had no intention of doing music professionally, but I started playing with some guys from my school, got accepted into a Danish community called SheCanPlay, started working with a producer from Copenhagen and my confidence in my music gradually grew for every small step I made in my career. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else.

If you were to describe your sound to someone who’d never heard you before, what would you say?

I’d say it’s vulnerable. The way I sing, what I write about, the way it’s produced is all very close to how I am and how I’m feeling. When you’re listening to my songs, it’s basically an invitation into my world. 

Are you planning any other releases this year?

I’m still learning a lot about the process behind releasing music, but I have a couple of songs up my sleeve that are ready to be released in 2022. But it’s not something I can tease about just yet.

What inspires your music?

It can be anything. A sad movie, an intimate song, a beautiful piece of art. Usually, I write my lyrics based on my own life, but the inspiration behind a song can be anything that tickles my mind. 

How do you find operating in the Danish music scene?

It’s a bit slow at the moment. Denmark has very strict restrictions so live shows is very hard to come by at the moment. But it’s one of the things I’m really looking forward to opening up again!

If your music were a film or TV show which would it be?

Oh, what a tough question... Maybe Young Royals because of the very pure but difficult love that grows there and the back-and-forth relationship that evolves. I mean, Rojda Sekeröz and Erika Calmeyer, hit me up!

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you?

It’s an album from the 90s called ‘Himlen Runt Hörnet’ made my Lisa Nilsson. I grew up in Sweden, and my mom used to play it every time we were in the car. I have very fond memories from it, and it always puts me in a better mood.   

What comes next in the Agnes Rangel story?

Hopefully a lot of new collaborations, experiences and challenges. I’m learning a lot about the music industry as I go, and I’m loving every second of it. I’m looking forward to learning a lot more.

What upcoming 2022 music releases are you most excited about?

I know this is just wishful thinking, but every year since 2015, I’ve dreamt about a release from Rihanna. I mean, who hasn’t?

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me a bit. It won't be the last time you’ll see me! And I hope you like my song. It’s very close to my heart.