When they started the band in 2020, three of Dina Ögon's members had long careers in lesser-known groups. The fourth, Love Örsan, had left music and devoted himself to trees.
Now, in a short time, they have gone from total unknowns to millions of streams, sold-out tours and international acclaim.
If it had happened ten years earlier, I would have been terrified. But I have been working with music for so long, honing in on it and playing live in different contexts, so I felt ready, says Anna Ahnlund.
She is supported by Daniel Ögren:
I felt the same way. And that maybe I should make some money playing and not just go back, like I had done for almost 15 years as a solo artist.
"State of emergency"
The big breakthrough came with the album "Oas" in 2023. Since then, they have collected Grammy Awards, acted as the house band in "På spåret" and played on bigger and bigger stages. But they are rarely recognized in town.
It's more that my children wonder what I'm doing on the posters, says Christopher Cantillo.
With chips and Gott och Blandat on the rider, however, accompanying dad to a gig has its advantages.
It's some kind of state of emergency where they can run wild.
Cantillo lives in Gothenburg, the rest of the band in Stockholm, so there will be some video meetings and train trips. They describe music creation as a constant gathering.
Each of us in our own chamber, and then we bring the parts we have collected together and try to put them together when we meet.
The dream of a fjord
"Människobarn", the band's fourth and longest album to date, will be released on February 6. They summarize it as "a little more of everything". A long-awaited tour starts in Copenhagen in March.
It's when we go out and play and see what the music means to the listeners that it usually sets in. Then you understand that this is the worst cry song and this is what they dance to, says Love Örsan.
Dina Ögon's dreamy mix of pop, soul, jazz, prog and psychedelic rock has given them a loyal audience in the Scandinavian countries, but also elsewhere.
In London and Berlin they sing along, even though they don't understand, says Anna Ahnlund.
Daniel Ögren would like to see more international gigs in the future.
I still have a dream that we will stand on a stage with a fjord and high mountains in the background.
Formed in 2020, they released the self-titled debut album "Dina Ögon" the following year.
They subsequently released "Oas" (2023) – which was nominated for four Grammy Awards and won in the categories Album of the Year and Alternative Pop of the Year – and "Orion" (2024), which was nominated for Alternative Pop of the Year.
The band consists of Anna Ahnlund (vocals and guitar), Daniel Ögren (guitar), Christopher Cantillo (drums) and Love Örsan (bass).
They are releasing their fourth full-length album "Människobarn" on February 6.
They are going on tour in March, starting in Copenhagen on March 13, followed by Aarhus on March 14, Oslo on March 21, Malmö on April 10, Lund on April 11, Stockholm on April 17 and 18, and Gothenburg on April 24 and 25.
They are also doing an outdoor concert in Uppsala on June 5.
