Synth Pop / Electro Dance from Sweden
Marlon Son, the Swedish project led by Lars Johansson, has just released a vibrant reimagining of their iconic track “Smithereens”—this time as an Electro Dance Remix, created in collaboration with electronic producer Baeka, a Swedish artist specializing in electronic, deep, garage, and psychedelic music.
While the original version journeys through power pop, punk, and garage, this new iteration dives into synth pop and electro dance, offering a more danceable experience—yet preserving the comforting message about faith, hope, and love that has defined the song since its inception.
The Essence of “Smithereens (Electro Dance Remix)”
In the words of Marlon Son:
“The song is a collaboration with house producer and artist Baeka. With roots in glam rock and punk which can also be heard in this remixed version of Smithereens. We were especially inspired by Sparks during their NO 1 in heaven and In outer space period when the song was mixed and it sounds completely different to the original power punk/pop version, but we think the melody is so strong that it holds up no matter what sound it is surrounded by. We hope you like it as much as we do!”
What Bad Wolf Records Said
Bad Wolf Records, known for its rigorous curation in the global alternative music scene, shared a detailed assessment of the release. Below is their full response:
“This is a very interesting release, and in many ways it sits right in the middle of what we typically curate. In our opinion, that speaks positively about the uniqueness of the composition and how well the song adapts to different sonic approaches.
More About Marlon Son
Marlon Son’s origins trace back to Ljungskile Folkhögskola, where Lars Johansson and Tommy Malm discovered a shared musical passion and the ambition to form a band. With punk in mind and countless ideas, they launched “Every Dog Bites”—“the greatest band name in history,” according to Lars, the group’s former bassist.
Though EDB never left the garage, it became a vital creative laboratory. After numerous gigs, Lars decided to launch a new project with the help of his friends—and thus Marlon Son was born.
Together with Anders Johansson (now known as Anders Rosengren), a talented multi-instrumentalist and producer, they released a three-song demo written by Lars and Tommy: “Home,” “Love,” and “Cowboy.” These tracks became part of the album “Chosen Reality,” capturing the best of EDB and transforming it into catchy power punk pop songs with narrative lyrics and clear artistic ambition.
In 2015, they released the four original tracks along with additional material worldwide via Record Union, and today they are available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Tidal, and other platforms.
Their single “Boy” has aired on Mexican radio and was highlighted by the Italian magazine Nuove Scoperte–Atom Heart as one of their favorite songs of 2022.
Smithereens (Electro Dance Remix) • Marlon Son • Baeka • Indie Valley Music Review
“Smithereens (Electro Dance Remix)” is, without a doubt, a version that makes you vibrate at full volume. While the original breathes raw rock energy, this reinterpretation invites you to dance, to move your feet, with even greater intensity.
Navigating between synth pop and electro dance, the track also incorporates new wave influences and post-punk flashes, evoking echoes of Joy Division, Pet Shop Boys, and Depeche Mode. It’s a timeless fusion that dialogues with the 70s, 80s, and 90s, creating something fresh, vibrant, and masterful.
The song opens with a pulsing electronic beat—a rhythmic loop that swells from the first second, inspired by drum machines and disco textures. It’s a deeply percussive and danceable intro.
At 0:11, the drums enter with a distinctly 80s sound, straddling new wave and post-punk—steady, vibrant, enveloping, and reverberant. They take center stage, and together with the percussive loop, build a solid, dynamic foundation.
At 0:14, the vocals arrive: direct, slightly above the mix, with reverb and subtle chorus that give them a forward-thinking vocal production. The treatment is electronic yet organic, processed with precision to retain human warmth without losing the remix’s synthetic identity.
Simultaneously, the synths unfold in two distinct layers:
- A sparkling, bubbling synth bass, rhythmic and full of personality, driving the pulse with attitude but never overwhelming.
- An atmospheric “alarm-like” loop, reminiscent of an office phone underwater—constant, immersive, adding tension and depth.
The verses flow in harmony until 0:41, when the chorus explodes: energetic, danceable, with a processed electronic crash that amplifies the intensity. The melody—already memorable in the original—now invites dancing while reflecting. The instrumentation gains prominence, sounding wider, more alive.
The chorus concludes at 1:07, giving way to a second verse section with greater attitude, carried over from the chorus’s momentum. The narrative remains introspective, but the body can’t stop moving.
At 1:34, the second chorus arrives, now enriched with processed backing vocals panned left to right, creating a three-dimensional, immersive feel. It extends with power until 2:16, when a vibrant instrumental climax begins.
Here, something masterful happens: a controlled-distortion electric guitar solo emerges with an 80s post-punk edge, charged with rebellion and executed with millimeter precision. It carries a hint of glam and versatility that elevates the track to another level. It fades into a bubbling tremolo, leaving the stage to synths and the rhythmic foundation.
The track closes at 2:53 with a reprise of the chorus, accompanied by celestial, atmospheric keyboards, crafting an ending that feels immersive, ethereal, and reflective—as if saying: “You’ve danced. Now breathe.”
It’s a great honor for us to present this new release, “Smithereens (Electro Dance Remix)” by Marlon Son and Baeka. Go listen to the song on your favorite streaming platform.