Sälen showcase their unique take on a break-up song with new track "Heartbreak Diet"

Their new single “Heartbreak Diet” is a crystallisation of the feelings after the end of a relationship, with the band explaining:

“Almost every person we know inescapably goes on a heartbreak diet after a particularly bad breakup. People should always remember why they broke up: they're probably bad for you.”

This theme of love lost is conveyed by the lyrics, full of memorable phrases and wonky metaphors, with Ellie proclaiming: “I am done with sticky people/They’re too hard to pick out of my teeth.” A perfect way of describing the person who you just can’t get out of your mind, no matter how hard you try.

This melancholy slant is balanced by production that sounds like it’s been ripped straight out of a classic Nintendo video game, all bleeping synths and electronic drum samples that elevate the song above a standard pop love ballad and make it into something far more bizarre, and a hell of a lot more interesting.

Sälen are a real breath of fresh air; pop music with intelligent lyrics and foot-tappingly good production, topped off with an intriguing skew towards the weird and wonderful.