Europa (Molly Nilsson album)
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| Europa | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 17 June 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2009 | |||
| Studio | Lighthouse Studios, Berlin | |||
| Genre | Synth-pop | |||
| Length | 36:29 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | Molly Nilsson | |||
| Molly Nilsson chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Europa | ||||
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Europa is the second studio album by Swedish singer-songwriter Molly Nilsson, released on 17 June 2009.
The album marked the formation of Nilsson's self-run label Dark Skies Association.[1] The flag of Europe is used as the logo of the label.[2] In an interview, Nilsson said the following about Europe and the EU:
The idea of the EU – and by that I mean a unified and peaceful Europe and not some of the political realities – is something beautiful, visionary. The simple message of working together instead of fighting each other in competition or warfare.[2]
Europa was conceived against the backdrop of the Great Recession and the then-incoming 2010s decade.[3] The album has been described as idealistic, hopeful, and dealing with the ideas of "having no borders to imprison people" and "people coming together to make things better".[3]
Production
Europa was written and recorded in 2009.[3] Nilsson described the album's production as "kind of difficult".[1] It was the first of her releases to be recorded in her own Lighthouse Studios in Berlin.[3]
The song "Berlin, Berlin" is notable for being in Nilsson's native Swedish, as opposed to her usual English. She has not written any songs in Swedish since.[4]
Release and reception
Europa was originally self-released through Nilsson's label Dark Skies Association on CD and vinyl on 17 June 2009.[5][6] It was her first release on vinyl, and it marked the formation of her self-run label. The album did not sell as well as she had expected.[1]
The album was released as a digital download on 12 March 2021.[3] A reissue on both CD and vinyl followed in April 2021, co-released by Night School Records.[7][8] For its 2021 reissue, the album was remastered by James Plotkin.[3] Europa was the last of Nilsson's entirely self-released albums to be reissued on Night School Records.[3] As of 2021, 25% of the album's profits are said to be donated to Sea-Watch.[3]
Looking back at the album in 2022, Nilsson gave a mixed opinion, calling it a "transitional record" and a "middle child" between These Things Take Time and Follow the Light, while noting that there are "some songs" on Europa that she loves.[1]