Kanoniska

Kanoniska is a Swedish experimental music duo formed in 2004 in Uppsala, comprising vocalist and composer Erik Sundqvist and guitarist/producer Lars Berg. The group emerged from the city's burgeoning ambient and shoegaze scene and quickly established a reputation for blending lush atmospheric textures with intricate guitar work and understated vocal melodies. Their sound incorporates influences from early 1990s post‑rock, classical minimalism, and contemporary electronica, often featuring layered synth pads, delayed guitar effects, and subtle rhythmic loops.

The duo's debut studio album, Tonalitet, was released in 2006 on the independent label Glasplatt. It received critical acclaim for its immersive sonic landscapes and earned a feature in the Swedish music magazine Sound & Vision as one of the year's most innovative debuts. In 2009, Kanoniska followed with Sonic Canvas, a triple‑album concept that explored the interplay between sound and perception. The project was noted for its experimental use of binaural recording techniques and a track that included an uncredited isometric guitar solo by the late guitarist Tomas Jensen. By 2013, their third full‑length, Dimensions, had taken a more narrative approach, telling a fictional story through its songs and culminating in a 12:32 minutes long closing track considered a milestone in ambient-rock crossover.

Beyond their studio releases, Kanoniska has performed regularly at Swedish film festivals, notably the Gothenburg Film Festival where their music was featured in the documentary segment “Echoes.” The duo has also collaborated with artists such as ambient composer Petra Nilsson and shoegaze band Luminous Dream on several remix projects. In recent years, they have experimented with analog synthesizers and improvised radio plays, continuing to influence the Swedish experimental music scene.