The Hearing's latest album "Demian" and Stinako's solo debut "Ikuisuus" are nominated for Hyundai Nordic Music Prize 2019 – an award for the Best Nordic Album of the Year – given annually during by:Larm, the music industry conference held in Oslo, Norway.

"Demian", the third and latest album by The Hearing has been describes as "a dense, cutting edge piece of experimental electronic pop" which contains "stuttering bleeps, swooshing synths and beautiful, ethereal melodies". Stinako a.k.a. Stina Koistinen is the singer and songwriter in the indie pop group Color Dolor, and "Ikuisuus" is her intimate and minimalistic solo debut sung in her native Finnish.

The candidated are shortlisted by a Nordic jury, comprising of Audun Vinger (NO), Arnar Eggert Thoroddsen (IS), Ilkka Mattila (FI), Annah Björk (SE) and Anna Ullman (DK). An international jury consisting of Jeanette Lee (Rough Trade), Jude Rogers (The Guardian), Eric Deines (Jagjaguwar) and Stuart Maconie (BBC) will decide which one ends up as this year’s winner – and receives a price of 10 000 euros.

This year's nominees:

Stinako – Ikuisuus (Finland)
The Hearing – Demian (Finland)
Jada – I Cry A Lot (Denmark)
Lowly – Hifalutin (Denmark)
Cell7 –  Is Anybody Listening? (Iceland)
Countess Malaise – Hystería (Iceland)
Hildur Guðnadóttir – Chernobyl (Iceland)
Erlend Apneseth Trio – Salika, Molika (Norway)
Karpe – SAS PLUS / SAS PUSSY (Norway)
Pom Poko –  Birthday (Norway)
Jenny Wilson – Trauma (Sweden)
Nadia Tehran –  Dozakh: All lovers hell (Sweden)

Inspired by UK's annual Mercury Prize, the Hyundai Nordic Music Prize was introduced in 2010 to create an even stronger unity across the Nordic region, to further increase international interest and awareness of what the region has to offer musically and to refocus on the full length album as an art form. The first Nordic Music Prize was handed over by the Prince Of Norway during by:Larm i2011. 

Previous winners:

2010: Jónsi – Go
2011: Goran Kafjes – X/Y
2012: First Aid Kit – The Lions Roar
2013: The Knife – Shaking The Habitual
2014: Mirel Wagner – When The Cellar Children See The Light Of Day
2015: Band of Gold – Band of Gold
2016: Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch
2017: Susanne Sundfør – Music For People In Trouble
2018: Robyn – Honey
2019: TBA

Read our recent feature article on The Hearing.