Cut the strings and walk away. Malmö darkwave act Abu Nein return with Ghost Puppeteer, out on 30 October 2026 via Icons Creating Evil Art and the first single from their forthcoming album “Is Anyone Awake?”
The 3:39 track sets synthpop hooks over driving electronics with a steady pull towards the dancefloor. At its centre is a story about autonomy and cutting ties, and a baile funk-styled “Ye Ardina” vocal runs through the chorus.
Erica Li Lundqvist wrote the lyrics and produced the song with Tobias Bernstrup, who also mixed it; Doruk Özturkcan handled the mastering. After a line-up change, Lundqvist is now the band’s sole remaining songwriter, shaping the next chapter with Bernstrup.
According to Side-Line, “Is Anyone Awake?” is due on 5 February 2027, with “Ghost Puppeteer” the first of three singles leading up to it.
Abu Nein debuted in 2020 with “Secular Psalms,” which was nominated for a Manifest award and won the Synthsläggan award for Best Swedish Debut Album. Their third album, “III: Dark Faith,” took the Manifest award for Best Swedish Synth Album, and the band have played Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Amphi Festival, NCN Festival and Prague Gothic Treffen.
Ghost Puppeteer on Bandcamp – https://abunein.bandcamp.com/track/ghost-puppeteer
Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/us/album/ghost-puppeteer-single/6809310576
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/1p3AhuxPTt1uhk5mlc46eb
Side-Line – https://www.side-line.com/abu-nein-ghost-puppeteer/
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