Talk all you like about Cool Japan — the Nordic countries have been exporting their sound for years, and it’s positively freezing. From the sweetly kitsch pop sound of The Cardigans to the otherworldly soundscapes of Sigur Ros to the black metal of Bathory, the region has a habit of throwing up acts that are as extreme as its weather.
The Nordic region has long realized the export potential of its music, and nowadays it regularly sends battalions of bands to perform at industry festivals such as South by Southwest in the United States and The Great Escape in Britain, with financial support coming from government coffers.
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