Emerging from a beautiful twist of fate, Elephant Run is a band that exists at the intersection of two distant yet remarkably connected worlds. Born from a chance meeting between Swedish musician Amanda Wahlström Plantin and Brazilian drummer Ladislau Kardos at a São Paulo music festival in 2014, the project quickly blossomed into something extraordinary. Soon joined by guitarist Fernando Coelho and later seasoned bassist and producer Renato Cortez, the quartet carved out a sound that is as unusual as their origin story. This union of Nordic introspection and São Paulo’s experimental rock undercurrent created what the band fittingly describes as their “Nordic Tropical” sound, a captivating fusion of haunting vocals, textured instrumentals, and intricate rhythms. Elephant Run’s music is not merely a product of collaboration but a living testament to cross-cultural synergy, resilience, and shared passion that transcends borders. The band is signed to a small indie label in Brazil called: +um HITS.
The journey to their latest album, “Leftover Land,” released on 12th April 2024, has been anything but straightforward. After years of fruitful collaboration, the band faced an unexpected hiatus when Amanda returned to Sweden in 2018. While the group initially intended this to be a temporary break, global events and the challenges of distance turned it into a much longer separation. Yet, the flame of creativity never truly extinguished. In 2022, Amanda’s return to Brazil rekindled their collective spirit, and with an emotional reunion in São Paulo, the band found themselves jamming and rediscovering the unfinished ideas that once lay dormant. What followed was a bold decision to record anew, an adventure that took them to Mato Records Studio in São Lourenço, Minas Gerais, where, over five intense days and nights, “Leftover Land” was born. “Leftover Land” is the band’s sophomore album, and it is “self-released”.
The album Itself stands as a vivid representation of Elephant Run’s eclectic identity. With Amanda’s haunting and ethereal vocals floating over Fernando’s richly layered guitar textures, Ladislau’s dynamic and fluid percussion, and Renato’s groove-heavy bass lines and sharp production sensibilities, “Leftover Land” becomes more than just a collection of songs, it transforms into a deeply immersive sonic landscape. Drawing inspiration from artists as diverse as Björk, PJ Harvey, Os Mutantes, and Radiohead, the band navigates themes that reflect the complexity of the world around them. The title “Leftover Land” aptly symbolizes both the fractured beauty and the chaos of modern existence, while also paying homage to the band’s creative process of breathing life into long-shelved ideas.
Leftover Land Album Track List:
Hanoi:
Opening the album with a sense of hushed anticipation, “Hanoi” immediately sets the tone for what Elephant Run promises to deliver throughout “Leftover Land”. The track gently unfurls with vintage guitar tones drenched in a late-60s psychedelic glow, while warm organ swells blanket the background, creating a sonic atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and otherworldly. This carefully crafted introduction invites the listener into a soundscape that balances intimacy with mystery, drawing from the band’s rich palette of influences while establishing a distinct identity right from the first note.
At the heart of “Hanoi” stands Amanda Wahlström Plantin’s remarkable vocal performance. Her voice rises boldly from the subdued instrumental foundation, delivering a powerful blend of clarity, expressiveness, and raw emotion. The sparse plucked guitar lines and gentle keys provide an intimate canvas for her vocals, allowing every nuance to shine through. As the song progresses, the instrumentation gradually swells, evolving with masterful precision. Rhythmic pulses intensify, drum textures become more layered, and the guitar work blossoms into a thrilling crescendo that feels unpredictably wild yet perfectly controlled. The seamless interplay between voice and instruments showcases the band’s deft musicality and their ability to blur genres while maintaining a cohesive narrative.
The atmosphere of “Hanoi” is both suspenseful and cathartic, carrying a weighty emotional undercurrent that builds toward a climactic release. In just a few minutes, Elephant Run crafts a cinematic journey that feels grand in scope yet deeply personal in execution. The track serves as a compelling gateway into “Leftover Land”, capturing the introspective adventure that lies ahead while leaving a lingering resonance long after its final notes fade. It is a masterful opening statement that not only highlights the band’s unique “Nordic Tropical” sound but also underscores their ability to create music that is as emotionally gripping as it is sonically adventurous.
We Are Heroes:
Positioned as the fourth and standout track on “Leftover Land”, “We Are Heroes” emerges like a slow-burning fever dream, immediately immersing the listener in its atmospheric embrace. The opening is quiet and cinematic, with delicate melodic guitar plucks, ambient whispers, and a soft undercurrent that draws you gently into its emotional world. Amanda Wahlström Plantin’s vocals enter with a tender balance of intimacy and quiet intensity, guiding the song with an almost meditative grace. Subtle rhythmic pulses, jazzy brushes, and understated percussion gradually build alongside ambient keys and guitars, creating a spacious and melancholic soundscape that patiently unfolds.
Over its nine-minute runtime, “We Are Heroes” evolves with hypnotic precision, shifting from contemplative minimalism to waves of cathartic release. As the arrangement swells, drums gently intensify, guitars shimmer with emotional texture, and Amanda’s vocals ascend toward a powerful affirmation that feels deeply human. The musical interplay remains honest and unhurried, with each element breathing naturally, allowing the composition’s emotional weight to grow organically. This slow, deliberate build reflects the band’s deep investment in the song’s meaning, as they revisited and reshaped it years after its initial inception in 2018, finally bringing it to full life during the 2022 recording sessions.
At its core, “We Are Heroes” is a moving meditation on the duality of the human experience, the beauty and horror that coexist within us all. The band’s complete immersion in the track during the recording process is palpable in every moment, with an emotional gravity that lingers long after the final note. The song’s expansive atmosphere, combined with its raw honesty, transforms it into one of the album’s most poignant statements. Without ever forcing its energy, “We Are Heroes” exudes a simmering emotional charge, offering a transcendent reflection on vulnerability, resilience, and the quiet strength that defines what it means to be heroic.
Pega Mal:
Arriving as the sixth track on “Leftover Land”, “Pega Mal” immediately shifts the album’s emotional current into a playful, mischievous terrain. Bursting into life with a vibrant swirl of sound, the song embraces a deliberately unpolished charm that stands in contrast to the album’s more introspective moments. The male vocals swagger in with a slurred, intentionally tipsy delivery, punctuated by a spontaneous burp that playfully breaks the fourth wall and invites the listener into Elephant Run’s more irreverent side. Rather than aiming for perfection, the track thrives on its looseness, inviting a sense of spontaneity and humor that feels refreshingly unfiltered.
Beneath the seemingly casual vocals lies a tightly constructed groove where punchy percussion and jagged guitar stabs weave together in a delicate but deliberate balance. This interplay between controlled musicianship and the illusion of disorder reveals Elephant Run’s deep understanding of their craft. The track walks a fine line between structure and chaos, creating an unpredictable jam-session atmosphere that feels both effortless and alive. Every off-kilter moment seems perfectly placed, as though the band is inviting the listener into an after-hours gathering where the formalities have long since dissolved into free-flowing expression.
“Pega Mal” serves as a much-needed palate cleanser within “Leftover Land”, injecting a burst of carefree energy that disrupts the album’s emotional weight with humor and spontaneity. It captures the essence of a late-night session where imperfections become the charm and the joy of making music takes center stage. In its raw, self-aware playfulness, the track reminds the listener of Elephant Run’s versatility, showing that beneath their atmospheric, cinematic layers lies a band unafraid to embrace their lighter, more unrestrained instincts.
Utsålt:
As “Leftover Land” reaches its final chapter, “Utsålt” emerges with a profound sense of stillness, grounding the listener in its deliberate calm. The track opens on a deep, low-end bass rumble that feels almost elemental, like the slow, inevitable rotation of the earth beneath one’s feet. Amanda Wahlström Plantin’s voice enters with a ghostly delicacy, soft, almost whispered, creating an intimate yet distant presence that floats within the widening sonic space. From the very beginning, the song establishes an atmosphere that feels weightless and introspective, inviting the listener to surrender fully to its meditative pull.
The instrumentation on “Utsålt” unfolds with masterful restraint, carefully layering ambient guitars, droning synth textures, and subtle percussion that gently pulse beneath the surface. Each element breathes organically, blending into one another with a seamless fluidity that blurs the boundaries between structured song and freeform soundscape. Unlike earlier tracks that build towards cathartic release, “Utsålt” thrives on its sustained tension, allowing unresolved emotions to hang delicately in the air. The entire composition feels suspended in a moment of reflection, as if capturing the quiet breath between endings and new beginnings.
As the album’s closing statement, “Utsålt” leaves a haunting imprint, encapsulating the emotional journey of “Leftover Land” without offering neat resolution. Its contemplative energy resonates like twilight settling after a long, eventful day, neither fully at peace nor in turmoil, but quietly questioning. In this final moment, Elephant Run demonstrates their ability to channel vulnerability through sonic nuance, offering a deeply reflective ending that lingers in the listener’s mind long after the last note dissolves into silence.
The production of “Leftover Land” is as meticulous as it is organic. The decision to record live drums, guitar, bass, and piano at Mato Records captures an authentic energy that permeates every track. Special attention to detail showcases the band’s commitment to sonic integrity. Vocal overdubs, solos, and synthesizers were layered with care, with Amanda completing the final vocals back in Sweden. This cross-continental recording process exemplifies Elephant Run’s unique ability to adapt and thrive, leveraging their collective experience in music production to seamlessly bridge geographical divides without compromising their artistic momentum.
Listening to “Leftover Land” is akin to embarking on an emotional voyage through Elephant Run’s world, a place where old ideas find new meaning, where distance only fuels creativity, and where cultural contrasts become the driving force behind innovation. The album resonates with an unfiltered honesty, capturing both the vulnerability and strength that define the band’s journey. Even after years of uncertainty, what becomes abundantly clear is their unwavering love for making music together. “Leftover Land” is not just a record; it is a celebration of rebirth, resilience, and the extraordinary power of musical kinship. Hurry now and go check out this album!
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