Sweeter than Sorrow first started as the indie side project of Mattias Wåhlberg, an artist from Gothenburg in Sweden who’s previously found success as part of the Swedish alternative pop outfit Sombre View. Mattias uses the Sweeter than Sorrow moniker to explore another side of his sonic vision, influenced by artists like Cigarettes After Sex, Sufjan Stevens and Nick Cave.
First unveiling the Sweeter than Sorrow sound in 2021 with the debut single “Like Water Is Flowing,” several well-received singles have followed while winning over fans and racking up hundreds of thousands of streams online. Now bringing us his latest release, he shares the new single “I know better,” the fourth collaborative song between Mattias and multi-instrumentalist Jonas Franke-Blom, who first worked together on Sombre View’s cover of “Forever Young.”
“I know better now” is a heartfelt ode to remorse, forgiveness, and self-reflection; a poignant letter of apology to the past and a hopeful prayer for the future. Inspired by a conversation, the song distils themes of personal growth and transformation into an intimate and deeply meaningful musical experience.
As the delicate piano notes flow in a balletic dance, Mattias’ hushed vocals enter carrying emotive lyrics via an aching delivery that quivers with emotion. The enchanting dashes of the string quartet adds subtle cinematic beauty and magnifies the devastating impact of Sweeter than Sorrow’s truly profound songwriting.
The interplay between the piano and strings casts a spellbinding acoustic fabric that graciously wraps around the lead vocals to deliver an astonishing piece of music that completely stops you in your tracks. Brought to life by stunning vocals and instrumental performance, “I know better” ultimately hosts an optimistic message of self-forgiveness, acceptance and inner-peace.
Paired with the single is a music video that offers a serene visual pairing that perfectly captures the striking nature of the song on screen. Following Mattias through various scenes of natural beauty, the soft light of the golden hour washes over him as he performs the song in picturesque settings.
Commenting on the single, he shares, “The wonderful thing about the song is that it’s so full of expression though the tonal material is quite limited, and I love the simple and beautiful. That’s something I aim to accomplish.”
Watch the music video for I know better now below
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