Stockholm-based electronic music extraordinaire Kasbo has released his first new album in four years, The Learning of Urgency. His third studio effort to date, the project is out now via ODESZA’s revered Foreign Family Collective Label and features Shallou, Frida Sundemo, ViVii, and more.
The Learning of Urgency is Kasbo’s most personal work to date, opening a window into the mind of the Swedish artist, who used to bear a heavy burden of acute, self-induced pressure to constantly achieve and do more. This type of mindset unexpectedly led to a rare, stress-affiliated hearing loss issue that almost prematurely ended Kasbo’s career in 2019. Through a major shift in perspective on his work ethic and mental health, Kasbo took his time over the course of the next four years to write the album, which is a statement that rejects the “rise and grind” mentality of today that plagues modern society.
The Learning of Urgency is a project rooted in “stillness,” which Kasbo imagines through various connected underwater themes in the songwriting (“Atlantis” w/ Shallou), the imagery (MTV-supported “I’m In Trouble” video), and the sound, which “easily transmits a message of cerebral bliss,” according to Billboard.
“To me, there’s this direct relation to being on a stormy ocean surface, trying desperately to keep your head above water,” Kasbo says. “Whereas the world beneath the surface represents this stillness where you allow yourself to move at a slower pace and appreciate the beauty of things around you. And sure, as much as you need to move forward and build something in life, you also need to swim up to the surface and take that next breath. I think it’s important not to let that thought consume us and prevent us from appreciating those moments of tranquility.”
Heard in pensive, invigorating tracks like the seven-minute progressive house journey that is “Resenären,” the new album reflects Kasbo’s newfound reverence for euphoric club music. Ever a creative mind, for Kasbo, the past years of isolation were quick to transform into an era of curiosity and introspection. Time spent off the road and at home in Sweden galvanized him to turn to what he knew best—music. He found solace in honing in his DJing and sharing music with his friends, bonding over nostalgic memories and music that encouraged them to keep it moving, even during this time spent away from the dancefloor. Months spent away from touring the world transformed into an invaluable period of deep diving into a newfound realm of music.
He then set off to perform his first-ever official ‘Club Sets’ at the end of 2022, in addition to releasing an exclusive DJ Mix for Spotify. This year, he partnered with DJ Mag to release the first edition of his Labyrinth Mix Series, which follows Kasbo around the world performing sets in unique, beautiful locations. The video took viewers on a journey of stirring, melodic dance music, as the camera flew through the breathtaking views of the Skokomish River and the endless greenery of Olympic National Park in Washington State.
Kasbo’s music has received over 500M combined streams to date. He’s been awarded Sweden’s P3 Gold Award for ‘Dance Artist of the Year’ and has received praise from Billboard, The FADER, Stereogum, and more. With an increasingly expanding skill set, Kasbo has reached the trifecta of modern dance music as a live performer, a DJ, and a producer. Four years in the making, Kasbo recorded The Learning of Urgency largely while living in Gothenburg and Stockholm. He had the opportunity to record the majority of the upcoming album at Stockholm’s Arresten, a serene and unique former jail-transformed studio owned by ABBA’s Benny Anderson and located on the island of Skeppsholmen.