Wilja

Wilja (2020 – 2023) was a contemporary Swedish folk duo blending English lyrics with a unique fusion of acoustic warmth and electronic textures. The band featured Axel Brundin (lead vocals, lyric co-writer) and Vilde (guitar, key harp, backing vocals), who also recorded, mixed, and shaped the sonic identity of every track. Together, they crafted songs that bridged tradition and modernity, weaving emotional storytelling into rich, layered arrangements.

Adventurous by nature, Wilja often travelled to capture the right imagery for their music. For the cover of their debut single Embrace (released in early 2021), they journeyed from Ängelholm to Dalarna, Sweden, to photograph themselves with Old Tjikko, the world’s oldest tree — a symbol of endurance and timeless beauty.

In 2022, the duo released their full-length album Take Me Away, mastered by Nicklas Johansson of Tungsten. The album captured their signature blend of heartfelt folk melodies, organic instrumentation, and subtle electronic undercurrents.

Wilja’s creative world was visually documented by filmmaker and photographer Zacharias Hulthén, whose imagery became an inseparable part of the band’s identity.

Though their journey concluded in 2023, Wilja’s music remains a testament to the beauty of artistic collaboration, the spirit of exploration, and the timeless power of folk music in a modern voice.