When punk-pop whirlwind FELIN played her EP release party at Marshall Stage in Stockholm, we knew we wanted to be there to capture some of that unrestrained live energy! So we bring you some pictures that should give you just a little idea about what goes down at a FELIN show.
Elin Blom first caught my eye when she was just 16 and had moved to Stockholm to participate in Swedish Idol. It’s kind of hard to believe that was already waaay back in 2010.
It’s also difficult to believe it was like in 2018 that I last saw her play live, at the Finnish Institute in Stockholm, being as she is a Swedish speaking Finn, ie. finlandssvensk. Already then I remember writing she was a total rockstar!
I do remember having tickets to see her show that ended up never happening due to the pandemic, though.
In the meantime Elin, and her now husband Fredrik Etoall, who put that F in FELIN and takes care of all the amazing visuals, have been building her artistry and putting out music in the pop-punk vein with catchy choruses and disted guitars.
Her debut album Reckless Dreamers came in 2019 and her third and latest, Whatever, was released in 2024.
More recently she gained attention for her participation in the Estonian Eurovision qualifications, Eesti Laul, in early 2025. She performed her song Solo Anthem, and took sixth place in the competition.
Solo Anthem is a self-empowering song about learning to love yourself and believe in yourself, rather than conforming to what others expect of you. Thus becoming the president of your own fanclub…
The newly released EP takes the cue from that line, and is indeed called President of My Own Fanclub. The other songs included explore similar themes, about breaking up with your own negative thoughts, leaving toxicity behind and breaking the chains, to become at least Happyish.
The unbridled live energy really defines FELIN. She is a force to be reckoned with and commands attention. The larger-than-life rockstar attitude is in your face, but it feels like it comes totally natural to her.
Her music is not just heard, but it is felt, and the audience becomes part of the moment. She engages with themes that matter and transfers the strong self-expression into a powerful live performance. She really brings an electric and compelling presence to the stage.
So I am most definitely a member of the FELIN fanclub! Who wants to join?
All photos © Nina Uddin
