Sigrid releases first new single of 2023, ‘The Hype’

Sigrid has released a new single, ‘The Hype’, her first new music since last year – you can hear it below.

The track, which the Norwegian co-produced, is her first since releasing her second album, How to Let Go, to critical acclaim last year. It arrives as she gears up to headline Øya Festival in her homeland tomorrow night (August 12), in what will be on of her few live appearances of the year. According to the singer – full name Sigrid Solbakk Raabe – the track was born out of a period of musical experimentation, having aimed to go back to the basics of her songwriting process in recent months, spending time in the studio in both London and Oslo.

Speaking about the themes that ‘The Hype’ deals with lyrically, Sigrid said: “We’ve all been there, when you wonder if you’ve lived up to the expectations. I thought about the term ‘hype’, in love and at work, and the questions you ask yourself of did you really live up to the hype.”

“So I wrote a song about it!” she went on. “With my artist job, I’ve sometimes felt that I’ve tried to live up to myself in a way – but a version of myself that looks like me, but cooler, more confident and touring the world. I’ve probably brought that into my private life, and all those things is what Hype is about. We’ve wrapped it in ethereal melodies and bass, synth and drum heavy production, but I love how there’s so much strength in my vocals – there’s power in being vulnerable!”

Sigrid has two festival dates still to play in the UK before the summer is out – you can see the full details below. Last year also saw an unlikely team-up between Sigrid and metal giants Bring Me the Horizon, on the anthemic ‘Bad Life’. Rolling Stone UK went behind the scenes of that track’s video shoot, with Sigrid saying at the time: “it’s a song that I hope can offer some comfort for anyone who’s having a rough day, knowing that it will pass.”

Sigrid, August 2023:

25 – Cotswolds, Big Festival

27 – Portsmouth, Victorious Festival