It’s easy to describe the Swedish Kristoffer Ragnstam as a jack-of-all-trades kind of guy. Sure, he has toured with Debbie Harry and Mumford & Sons and scored a #1 album in Japan with Maia Hirasawa. Lately, he’s been busy co-producing albums for Zander Hawley and Hästpojken and hitting the road with Timo Räisänen – as his constant hitting drummer. But his true passion lies in his main project, They Owe Us. With They Owe Us, Kristoffer gets to create exactly what he wants, the way he wants it, and is surrounded by musicians he loves working with.
On one of his latest offerings as They Owe Us, “Mindfulness Mañana,” Rangstam blends his pop tendencies with folk’s quaintness and lo-fi warmth. What starts as a tender pop ballad quickly evolves into a swaying, optimistic anthem with bright tones and infectious melodies. Rather than lean on pop tropes like some of his contemporaries, Rangstam filters his views of the modern scene through a psychedelic lens, giving his natural knack for songwriting an otherworldly feel. Therein lies the magic of Rangstam’s music: The middle ground between familiar and refreshing. “Mindfulness Mañana” effortlessly becomes a part of your daily rotation as the artist as the breezy melodies stick to the inside of your ear like wax. They Owe Us allows Rangstam to bring his lofty visions to life, and his latest single brings the summer sun to a cold night in a flurry of relaxed melodies.
