Each July, I like to compile a list of the best synthpop songs from the first half of the year. That’s coming soon. But one band you can expect to see on that list is an emerging talent called Rymdverket. In fact, they’ve released two excellent songs this year worthy of consideration.
Rymdverket is a Swedish duo comprised of music producer Henric Byström and singer Linda Ganters. They’re a new act that emerged in 2024 with their debut song, “Stuck in the Reality.” Additional singles followed, and in 2025 they released a debut album called Some Kind of Start that demonstrated a remarkable range from traditional synthpop to unexpected bursts of techno. I included Some Kind of Start in my 25 best albums of the year.
Henric and Linda picked up the momentum and wasted no time following up the album with new material. Earlier this year, they released an explosive, knob-twisting banger called “A Moment to Save.” A few months later, they released a quieter though no less powerful ballad called “In Silence” that reveals another side of the duo. Both songs are so good, I’m not sure yet which one I’m going to include on my midyear list.
I reached out to Rymdverket to learn more about the project, their influences, their 2026 songs, and why space excites them. Rymdverket loosely translates to “space agency,” by the way. Here’s what Henric and Linda told me.
Rymdverket sorta arrived out of nowhere in 2024/2025. What were you both doing before this project? Were you involved in music in any way?
Linda Ganters: I’ve been singing all my life, mostly in choirs and across different musical genres, but never synthpop. Some people might think pop is one of the easiest genres to sing, but it really isn’t. It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s so much fun.
Henric Byström: I used to work as a DJ when I was younger, and I spent all my money on vinyl records. I also wrote music on my own, but I never managed to create anything that I actually wanted to listen to myself. So I gave up music for about 25 years. Then, in 2023, I started writing songs again. The first ones weren’t very good, but I loved the creative process and learned something new every day. That eventually became the foundation of Rymdverket.
Your debut album covers a lot of ground, from lush synthpop to harder, full-throttle techno. What artists, scenes, or sounds helped shape your identity?
Linda: Since Henric writes and produces the music, he’s naturally shaped the sound of Rymdverket. My contribution is my voice and the feeling I have for music per se. When it comes to synthpop, I also listened to Depeche and I loved Eurythmics as a youth, but I think for me the most important thing is music and the joy in it overall.
Henric: My biggest influences right now are Röyksopp and Kite. I can’t praise them enough. I’m also inspired by Emmon and Karin Park. Depeche Mode and Kraftwerk have always been hugely important to me, as have Pet Shop Boys and early Erasure. But you’re right—our debut album covers several different styles, and we consciously allowed it to do that.
Let’s talk about the music you released this year. “A Moment to Save” was your first new song after the debut album. Did the reaction to the album change the way you approached making new music? Did you use any new techniques, instruments, or production ideas this time around?
Linda: Our debut album included quite a few songs about breakups, so I think Henric felt it would be nice to write something a bit more uplifting.
Henric: Yeah, and I really wanted to make a dance track. So I listened to a lot of different music for inspiration, and eventually I came up with a hook and a beat that I really liked. Many of our songs feature some kind of acid sound, and I think it’s fair to say that’s become part of our signature sound, at least for now.
“In Silence” is such a powerful song. I think a lot of people can relate to experiencing bullies, problematic uncles, abusive neighbors. How did this song come about? Are the lyrics based on actual experiences?
Henric: “In Silence” was written shortly after “A Moment to Save,” and this time the lyrics were written alongside the music. Normally I write the melody first, but I felt very strongly about the idea that we all have a choice: we can either look away because it’s easier, or we can stand up and do the right thing. And yes, many of the lyrics are based on real experiences.
You recently performed live for the first time. What went well during that first show? And what are you hoping to improve in future performances?
Linda: It was just so much fun. The concert lasted for more than an hour, but it flew by. We received so much love both during and after the show. It gave us a huge boost of energy, and we definitely want to play many more live shows.
What’s next for Rymdverket? Do you have a long-term vision for the project?
Linda: Apart from playing more live shows, we’ll continue releasing new music. Henric has also inspired me to write music, so maybe I will write some melodies or/and lyrics.
Henric: We’re working on a project right now that we can’t say too much about yet, but it will definitely result in new songs. Beyond that, we honestly don’t know what’s ahead. We’ve never really had a master plan for Rymdverket—for better or worse—but that also means we’re free to do exactly what we want.
Rymdverket means “space agency” in English. What excites you about space right now?
Linda: I have always been interested and fascinated by space and the universe. For me, the most exciting and amazing things about space are string theory, black holes, wormholes, and the thought of other dimensions. The insight of how small we are.
Henric: A more accurate translation is actually “Space Administration.” We wanted a name that sounded like a government agency. I also associated it with Kraftwerk—it sounded electronic and synth. I do realise though it’s probably not the easiest name for English speakers to pronounce.
I think it’s exciting that people will soon be walking on the Moon again. Maybe one of them will even be the Swedish-American astronaut Jessica Meir.
