Swedish indie-pop duo JUNG is racing into summer, top-down, shades on, and soundtrack blaring. On their new single, "Tom Cruisin," brothers Tom and Henrik Ljungqvist offer a bouncy, high-energy banger that manages to bottle up a rush of sun-dappled joyrides, wild club nights, and poolside ecstasy. "Tom Cruisin'" balances boisterous memories and cinematic cool, having a little fun with the Hollywood icon whose name inspired the track. And that nod evolved into a bizarre full-circle moment.
JUNG was invited to the Mission Impossible premiere in London, where they met Tom Cruise himself. The duo even played it live at the iMax theater premiere in Sweden, proving that the song sounds like a blockbuster and lives like one. Bright synths, bouncy beats, and a smooth-as-sunset groove provide the framework, with the brothers' trademark pop polish and natural charisma kicking the energy into overdrive. There's a cocky swagger in the air, momentum that's the equivalent of slipping on your favorite sunglasses and hitting the gas.
Self-released on their independent label, Känslofabriken, "Tom Cruisin'" is the band's first single as an entirely independent band. But if anything, the change has only made their sound cuter and their ambition louder. National Swedish TV and radio both shine a light on the song and with that kind of heat, it's clear JUNG is behind the wheel. At a time when summer anthems often feel formulaic, "Tom Cruisin'" breaks out of the mold. It's unfailingly cool, irresistibly uplifting, and ideally suited for blasting with the windows down. If this is how JUNG starts the new era, we're in for one hell of a journey.
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