Erik Hassle to Release 'Innocence Lost' on RCA Records, 1/27

Swedish soul-pop favorite artist, Erik Hassle is BACK and ready for big things in 2017, starting with the release of a brand new forthcoming album, INNOCENCE LOST, due January 27th 2017 via Record Company Ten/RCA Records.

The 12-track album is available for PRE-ORDER now and features five fan favorite tracks that are available immediately as instant grat tracks: " No Words ," " Pathetic," " Talk About It " (feat. Vic Mensa), " If Your Man Only Knew " and the title track, " Innocence Lost" featuring fellow RCA recording artist Tinashe.

Recorded predominantly in Los Angeles, INNOCENCE LOST was co-written by Erik Hassle and executively produced by Daniel Ledinsky (Shakira, Rihanna, Tove Lo). Other special collaborators on the record include Eshraque "iSHi" Mughal (Tinie Tempah, Emeli Sandé) and TV on The Radio's Dave Sitek, with additional production from SOHN (Banks, Lana Del Rey), Oskar "Sikow" Engstroem (Giorgio Moroder, Kate Boy), John Hill (AlunaGeorge, Elle King), Billboard (Britney Spears, Robyn), Gorgon City and Al Shux (Alicia Keys, Elliphant).

"As funny as it is to say, this feels like a debut album," Hassle admits. "It's all of these short stories of my first meeting with Los Angeles. Stockholm is pretty small comparatively. Most of the songs were written quickly, because I was just so in the zone. It was therapeutic and emotional."

Elsewhere on the album, his seductive vocal interplay with Tinashe immediately transfixes throughout the title track, while Vic Mensa delivers a stunning cameo on " Talk About It." Produced by TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek (Santigold, Wale, Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs), "Silver & Gold" struts between a funky bass line, nineties-style harmony, and a heavenly plea. "Most of this album was written when I was between relationships," he goes on. "One relationship had ended, and the next one began, so there were all of these crazy feelings I tried to capture."

In the end, Hassle honestly delivers pure and powerful pop music that instantly connects. "I hope people can feel these songs were made in the moment when everything was the most acute and real," he leaves off. "This is really me. I hope that comes through and it can mean something to someone else."

With a voice steeped in simmering sultry soul, a funked-up sense of international swagger, and unbridled lyrical honesty, Erik Hassle immediately makes an impression. Case-in-point, 2015's "No Words" made a pretty significant impression on Taylor Swift, who added the song to her "Favorite Summer Tunes" playlist last year. As the first single released following 2014's critically acclaimed Somebody's Party EP, " No Words" went on to become a certified viral smash, reaching the Top 10 of the Global and U.S. Spotify Viral Chart and achieving Gold certification in both Sweden and Denmark.

As the follow-up " If Your Man Only Knew" carried this buzz a year later, he garnered praise from the likes of Entertainment Weekly, New York Magazine, Spin, and many more. Along the way, he supported Tove Lo on a high-profile North American tour. Now, "Innocence Lost" introduces every facet of this dynamic and diverse vocal dynamo.

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