Urban Cone
| Company type | Indie pop band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Emil Gustafsson, Rasmus Flyckt, Tim Formgren, Jacob William Sjöberg, Magnus Folkö (former member) |
| Headquarters | Stockholm , Sweden |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Urban Cone is an indie pop ensemble originating from Stockholm, Sweden, established in 2010 by high school friends Emil Gustafsson, Rasmus Flyckt, Tim Formgren, Jacob William Sjöberg, along with former member Magnus Folkö, all united by their enthusiasm for music.
Their first full-length record, Our Youth (2013), was crafted in Flyckt's living room. This was succeeded by Polaroid Memories in 2015 and 10-18 in 2018. Following a short break, the group made a comeback in 2021 with the release of the single Never Enough.
Music career
Urban Cone experienced initial recognition at the end of 2010 with their debut single "Urban Photograph," which climbed to #2 on Hype Machine after the launch of their Our Youth EP in December 2012. The EP was met with favorable responses from the music industry, emphasizing their genuine dance/pop sound.
In 2013, the band ventured into the American market through shows in New York City, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Their debut album Our Youth achieved over nine million streams within a few months post-release and received acclaim from prominent music outlets such as BrooklynVegan, Vice/Thump, Idolator, and Stereogum.
The year 2014 saw Urban Cone collaborating with electronic musician Porter Robinson on the track "Lionhearted." Their 2014 single "Sadness Disease" was characterized by Billboard as emotionally layered yet uplifting. Gustafsson highlighted their goal to produce serious music that remains danceable. Their sophomore album, Polaroid Memories, was launched in April 2015.
Their collaborations extend to artists like Porter Robinson, John Dahlbäck, and Swedish singer Tove Lo. The third album, 10-18, released via Interscope Records and Universal Sweden, integrates hip-hop elements while retaining Swedish pop sensibilities. Gustafsson remarked on a lyrical progression towards more candid storytelling compared to previous works.
Urban Cone acknowledges Tame Impala and Arcade Fire as significant influences on their musical style.
Live performances
The band has performed widely throughout Sweden and Scandinavia, appearing at key festivals such as Roskilde, Peace & Love, Way Out West, Reeperbahn, and Popaganda. In January 2013, they completed five shows across U.S. cities including New York, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Before releasing Our Youth in April 2013, Urban Cone toured Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
In March 2015, they joined forces with Tove Lo to perform "Come Back to Me" at the SXSW Festival. That year also included European dates touring with Tove Lo and U.S. performances alongside The Griswolds. Early 2017 featured a U.S. tour covering Brooklyn, San Francisco, and Los Angeles with labelmates Nightly.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| SWE | ||
| 2013 | Our Youth | 20 |
| 2015 | Polaroid Memories | 26 |
| 2018 | 10-18 | Template:Spaced ndash |
| 2021 | West Coast | Template:Spaced ndash |
Extended plays
| Year | Title | Highest Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| SWE | ||
| 2012 | Our Youth | Template:Spaced ndash |
Singles
| Year | Title | Highest Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| SWE | ||
| 2015 | "Come Back to Me" (feat. Tove Lo) |
Template:Spaced ndash |
| 2017 | "Old School" | 45 |
| 2017 | "Pumping Up Clouds" | Template:Spaced ndash |
| 2018 | "Sugar" (feat. Blenda) |
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| 2021 | "Never Enough" | Template:Spaced ndash |
| 2021 | "Body Conversation" | Template:Spaced ndash |