'Aniara' By Harry Martinson: Poem Analysis

Finishing as a runner up in the Swedish version of the television karaoke contest “The Voice” in 2012 isn’t exactly the most likely origin story of an artist who taps into the darkwave/gothic sounds of the 1980’s. Since then, Nicole Sabouné has undertaken a journey of self-discovery, intending to detach herself from these past affiliations, and has become dedicated to exploring uncharted territories in the darker realms of music.

Conceptually based around a classic 1956 poem by the writer Harry Martinson, entitled “Aniara”, it tells a tale of a dystopian future where humans are forced to board a star ship in search of a new home after unintentionally orchestrating a cataclysmic downfall of Earth. Knocked off course, the star ship hurtles into oblivion and the inhabitants are forced to accept they are doomed to extinction. The twist in Nicole Sabourné’s interpretation of the poem is that her second album, “Miman”, showcases different perspectives from the crew members, made up by Nicole, of Aniara’s voyage. Additionally, Miman is an actual character who represents the ship’s A.I, storing humankind’s memories on the ship’s computer system. However, Miman dies of grief when she realises what humans have done to Earth.
To evoke the sensation of being deserted in the infinite vastness of space, Nicole incorporates various electronic and synthesiser arrangements in “Miman”. The alienating sounds in ‘Right Track’ collide together in a tense, constricted manner that suggests a discomforting and anxious viewpoint from one of the crewmembers. Yet, this is contrasted when the anxiety splits into a spacious, breathable and soothing ending. Considering each song is a different viewpoint, other sentiments are unearthed throughout the album. Cheer is presented in the jazzy ‘Rip this World’ and ‘We Are No Losers’, where the simplistic drum beats and pulsating synth offer more confident