True love, connection, and commitment lie at the heart of the music of flora cash.
Exploring the duality of light and dark, sincerity and irony, the Swedish indie-pop duo released their fourth album, behind every beautiful thing, via Flower Money Records today, October 24, 2024.
The duo that is flora cash is composed of Shpresa Lleshaj and Cole Randall. The pair met in 2012 living some 4,000 miles away from each other. Lleshaj, who is from Sweden, stumbled upon Randall’s profile on SoundCloud, who lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the time. The pair began messaging, working on long distance collaborations. They were drawn to each other, calling and video chatting constantly. Lleshaj visited Randall in the States, and the couple now resides in Sweden making music together.
To kick off behind every beautiful thing is the tragic yet moving track “Should’ve Dressed for the Event,” which delivers a mellow and haunting ambiance with chilling strings and harmonies. With vocals reminiscent of Bon Iver, Randall gently sings about a relationship in which one partner becomes estranged, appearing as a ghost of their former self. Despite this, he still feels for them: “Don’t lie to me my friend / Are the waves upon the sand / And they rip you from my hand / But I know we’ll meet again… I loved you until the end.”
Released as a single earlier this year, “Like No One Could” is one of many songs about the strength of the pair’s relationship. With delightful strings and trip-hop elements, the duo sings about how their relationship will always be sound, no matter what life brings them. “I will always / Even when we’re older / When the darkness is closer / I will always be into you.”
“My Ex Would’ve Left By Now,” the duo’s September single, is an honest and vulnerable confession of uncertainty: “Deep down I’m afraid of a good thing / I know that I’ve let you down.” With lo-fi beats and light guitar, the track is about being thankful for those who stick by you in dark times.
A sweet track about unconditional love and not to be confused with The Ronettes’ classic song, “Baby I Love You” features a more acoustic-sounding instrumental, with kicking drums, chilling pedal steel, and bright guitar. The duo imagines their future together with lines like, “In my mind / We’re already old / You’re by my side / The story told.”
The duo’s captivating intercontinental story and connection are central to their work. In 2017, flora cash gained notoriety with their single, “You’re Somebody Else,” which currently has nearly 500 million streams on Spotify. Their tender themes of love and all the happiness and hardships that come with it continue to shine through on their newest 11-track release.
Behind every beautiful thing is a touching and complex reflection on love and companionship as one goes through life’s journey. The core relationship behind the unique duo that is flora cash allows for a depth in their music that is haunting yet uplifting, delivering an exciting blend of well-produced synth-pop and honest, reflective songwriting.
Featured photo by Maren Celest
