Norwegian Indie Artist Bo Milli Returns With New Single “How It Is”

Norway based indie-rocker Bo Milli has released new single “How It Is,” a hook ridden track that dances between themes of apathy and determination. A deconstruction of her birth name, Emilie Østebø, the 21-year-old Bergen based artist released the new single alongside the official release of previous track “At The Wheel,” and the promise of more new music to come throughout the remainder of 2022. 

“How It Is” grew out of an attempt at writing a “proper riff” according to Bo Milli, “something bold and power-chordy and maybe a bit dumb“. Lyrically the track speaks to personal themes that can be universally understood in the context of coming-of-age struggles, seeing her lament procrastination, admit to being on the verge of tears for days at a time and recount thinking she might die on the 10 hour bus ride home. Regardless of the touch of existential dread within the lyrics, the track is upbeat, steady percussion and guitar present throughout.

Speaking more on the original conception of the song and its lyrical inspiration, Bo Milli said: “Originally the chorus was this tiny bit where I say “you know how it is” — a sort of anti-chorus undermining the idea of a thesis statement. This song is mainly made up of lines gesturing towards a vague dissatisfaction everyone seems to relate to, without really saying much outright.

The second verse briefly references how this feeling and this way of writing seems to have been pervasive for a good while, as “that strokes hit” plays at some party. They debuted in 2001 with an album that I feel sums up this mode that a lot of music still operates within. Odd Martin came back to me suggesting the song have an actual chorus and when I messed around I found a riff I really liked, something kind of “big” in line with the original idea. I added a couple of lines I’d written while feeling horrible on a very long bus trip.”

Nodding to acts such as Phoebe Bridgers, The Beths, Diet Cig, Soccer Mommy and nostalgic mid-00s teen anthems, Bo Milli is quickly proving herself to be an essential new voice in music. Both “How It Is” and “At The Wheel” are set to appear on Bo Milli’s first EP, due for release later this year. 

Live Dates

19 August – Landmark, Bergen – Norway (Headline)

15-17 September – by:Larm, Oslo – Norway

22 October – Kulturnatt, Haugesund – Norway

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