Recreating the music of the 1980s is a risky venture, as it is easy to be considered a novelty. Disco Romance, however, emulates the underground Italo disco sound that its Swedish songwriter/producer Johan Agebjörn appreciated as a kid in the 1980s.
He took a female who, in the music world, goes by Sally Shapiro (her real name is a secret) to sing over his arrangements. With the release of their first single, “I’ll Be by Your Side,” what was once Agebjörn’s side-project became forefront to the electo-pop world.
Whether she’s singing through a vocoder or “ooh-ing” in the background, Shapiro’s delicate voice is a perfect compliment to Agebjörn’s sad pop songs about love and the loss of love. In “Jackie Jackie (Spend the Winter With Me),” Shapiro is heard speaking, “Why don’t normal people fall in love with me? I don’t think I’m that strange,” over light synthesizers and a drum machine.
Shapiro’s vocals are sophisticated, charming, melodic, and undeniably sorrowful. This, with Agebjörn’s ability to build musical dynamics in his arrangements, makes for refreshing yet nostalgic pop music.
Although originally released overseas in 2006 with the help of Austrian label Diskokaine, the Paper Bag Records debut of Disco Romance is well worth the wait. It includes the extended version of the DJ hit “I’ll Be By Your Side,” which previously was only available on twelve-inch vinyl. The new version also includes three new songs, one of which is a cover of “He Keeps Me Alive,” originally done by Swedish pop outfit Nixon.
The musical collaboration between singer Shapiro and Agebjörn began when the two sang Christmas songs together for fun in 2004 and he took note of her voice. He wrote “I’ll Be by Your Side” half a year later and asked her to sing it.
The recording process of that song consisted of Agebjörn going outside to mow the lawn while Shapiro stayed inside and recorded the vocals. Though it turned out to be a huge hit in the electronic world due to internet networking, no one to this day, not even Agebjörn, has heard Shapiro sing any of her songs live, as she is known to be very shy.
Shapiro has yet to give live interviews, release a music video, or perform live. She may be an unlikely pop star, but Disco Romance is growing ever more celebrated.
– Kristine Capua
Sally Shapiro: www.johanagebjorn.info/sally
Paper Bag Records: www.paperbagrecords.com