Sweden’s Grammy-nominated rising star Venus Anon has released her highly anticipated EP Catharsis—a transformative four-track project delving into the raw complexities of love, betrayal, and self-discovery. This deeply personal work showcases Venus’ creative prowess, as she wrote, recorded, and produced the entire EP herself. With pre-released singles “Shoulder” and “Spooky” featuring UK trailblazer Denzel Himself already gaining praise from platforms like COLORS, Ones to Watch, and Notion, Catharsis solidifies Venus’ genre-defying status as a boundary-pushing artist to watch.
Each track on Catharsis lays bare the liberating yet often painful process of self-discovery. Departing from her usual use of metaphors, Venus adopts an unfiltered and heartfelt lyrical style, bringing listeners closer than ever to her artistic vision. The EP’s lead single, “Shoulder,” a vibrant blend of dance-pop energy and candid reflections on co-dependency, has already earned a spot on P3’s B-rotation. On the other hand, “Spooky,” featuring Denzel Himself, ventures into shadowy, gothic territory, where Venus’ ethereal sound meshes with Denzel’s dark intensity, creating a haunting contrast of vulnerability and resilience. Tracks like “Ready for Slaughter,” an elegant yet fragile ballad, and “Nothing’s Really Over, Not With Anyone” encapsulate her signature ethereal sound while highlighting her emotional depth.
Speaking about the EP, Venus Anon explained:
“Catharsis is four songs, four different relationships, and how they changed me. These aren’t always romantic relationships but connections rooted in trust, betrayal, and discovery. The process wasn’t always beautiful—it was messy, chaotic, and at times, I felt like a hostage to my own creativity in the studio.”
Venus Anon, born Venus Rami, spent her formative years on Sweden’s west coast, immersed in the sounds of Googoosh and Timbaland. Her teenage years saw her thriving in Stockholm’s underground and queer scenes, where influences from contemporary R&B, innovative pop productions, emotional indie, and electronic dance music merged to shape her unique sound.
Her 2023 mixtape Nocturnal—a seven-track exploration of her distinctive sonic universe—set the stage for her meteoric rise. This success was followed by standout performances at Nordic festivals like Way Out West in Gothenburg, Power Pose Festival in Umeå, and By:Larm in Oslo, earning her critical acclaim from Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop) and others. By 2024, Venus had received a Grammy nomination for Soul/R&B Album of the Year and attracted co-signs from brands like Adidas and Dr. Martens. With her innovative artistry and support from outlets like Notion, Viper Magazine, COLORS, and Fantano, Venus Anon firmly stands as one of Sweden’s most exciting emerging artists.
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