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Taken from Popzine (Aug 14, 2026)
Jacqline releases her most personal project yet with the new EP ‘Forever June’
by Ove Svensson
Jacqline. Photo: Anthony Tajaddod (Press image) |
Jacqline continues to make her mark on Sweden’s pop and R&B scene and is now releasing her most intimate and revealing project to date. On August 14, she released the EP ‘Forever June’, marking a milestone in her artistic development. With songs centered around identity, love, and change, the project explores themes of letting go of the past and embracing the person one is becoming. Through honest lyrics and a rich soundscape, Jacqline weaves storytelling that is both deeply personal and universal.
After her breakthrough in Idol 2021, where Jacqline impressed the TV audience and landed in second place, she has purposefully developed her artistry. Her television appearances gained her a dedicated audience and paved the way for greater successes with entries in Melodifestivalen. With songs like "Effortless" and "Woman," she has further broadened her audience and established herself as one of Sweden’s most interesting new voices in pop and R&B.
The single “On Top”—written together with Marlene Strand, Emelie Eriksson, and Oliver Lundström—showcased a new side of Jacqline and offered a first glimpse into the EP’s themes and sound. Here, listeners encounter a more playful, confident, and flirtatious Jacqline, yet one whose vulnerability shines through the expressive exterior. Jacqline herself has described “On Top” as a manifestation: a step toward the energy of the person she is becoming, even before the feeling of security in the new identity has fully settled.
The title track "Forever June" stands out as a warm and romantic pop and R&B song. It is inspired by the transformative power of love and captures how a strong relationship can brighten everyday life and make summer—with everything it represents—feel endless. Jacqline describes the song as a love letter to the kind of relationship that colors even the grayest days in brilliant hues and makes time stand still. The song has grown in tandem with Jacqline’s own personal and artistic development and carries traces of her current emotional state.
Musically, ‘Forever June’ is characterized by classic R&B and soul, influences that have shaped Jacqline since childhood. She highlights role models like Babyface, Luther Vandross, and Chaka Khan as major inspirations in songwriting and production. The result is a blend that unites a timeless and soulful feel with modern playfulness—uniquely her own yet rooted in a rich musical tradition.
At the heart of Jacqline’s music-making lies a pursuit of authenticity and the courage to embrace change. She sees her artistry not as fitting into molds but as daring to show her full emotional spectrum and many sides. Being true to oneself, both emotionally and artistically, is the foundation—and ‘Forever June’ is very much an expression of this. The EP reflects where Jacqline stands today while also pointing toward paths she may take in the future.
In summary, ‘Forever June’ showcases Jacqline’s unique blend of self-reflection, heartfelt storytelling, and dynamic musicality. As she strengthens her position as one of Sweden’s most promising and authentic voices in pop and R&B, this EP is a clear step forward in her personal and artistic development.
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