Sylvan Esso is back on Spotify
One year ago, electro-folk duo Sylvan Esso decided to take a dramatic stand against the commercial forces of the music industry. In a protest against founder Daniel Ek’s investment in the military defense contractor Helsing, the band made the rather radical choice of removing their entire catalog from Spotify.
Their reasoning was clear and uncompromising: they simply could not continue to place their life’s work on a platform that, in addition to its other flaws, directly funded war machines. As the group stated, they felt they had to refuse to contribute to a system they viewed as fundamentally unjust.
The decision sparked a conversation about artistic integrity versus accessibility, pushing the boundaries of how musicians interact with massive streaming platforms.
Fast forward to September 2026, and the landscape had shifted. Sylvan Esso emerged not only as artists but also as self-sufficient creators, having established their own label, Psychic Hotline. With this foundation of independence, the duo chose to release their latest creative work, the album Ow ∞.
This new release demonstrates the enduring power of their vision. Now, Sylvan Esso is bringing their music back to the mainstream, releasing Ow ∞ on Spotify alongside the rest of their catalog, proving that artistic conviction can ultimately find its way to a wider audience.
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