Red Mecca – I will be that dying star on your sky
Red Mecca officially released their eighth studio album, I Will Be That Dying Star in Your Sky, on May 22, 2026, through their long-time label Massproduktion, with distribution managed by Playground Music Scandinavia AB.
Formed in 1997 in Sundsvall, Sweden, the electronic act Red Mecca has carved a distinct niche on the border of darkwave, post-rock, and cinematic electronica. Founded by composer and instrument designer Jan Strandqvist (formerly the keyboardist and percussionist of the Swedish post-punk band Brända Barn) the group spent over a decade recording unreleased material before returning to public performance in 2010. In 2013, the addition of Frida Madeleine established Red Mecca as a formal duo on the Massproduktion label, culminating in critical acclaim for early studio albums such as Covered With Rain and the award-winning Electricity.
The band describes its music as an exploration of the thin line between “warmth and fright,” drawing inspiration from classic post-punk acts like Cabaret Voltaire (whose 1981 industrial masterpiece Red Mecca inspired the band’s name), as well as contemporary classical and drone-ambient compositions. Following Madeleine’s departure in mid-2018, vocalist Susanne Jonsson joined the project. Jonsson’s introduction initiated a fertile creative era characterized by deeply personal lyrical themes and a sophisticated blending of wave-pop, dream-pop, and dark electro-pop structures.
Representing the eighth tier in their studio releases, the album stands as a monument to psychological resilience. The writing and production cycle took place amidst severe personal tragedy. During the finalization of their previous double album Stay in late 2023, Jan Strandqvist suffered a critical relapse into drug and alcohol addiction, while Susanne Jonsson endured the murder of her sister and the collapse of her romantic relationship.
These heavy experiences initially resulted in pitch-black musical arrangements. However, a transformative shift occurred in January 2024 when Strandqvist achieved sobriety and Jonsson utilized the songwriting process as an outlet for emotional recovery. This turning point allowed hopeful elements and light to filter into the darkwave arrangements, creating a unique synthesis of desolation and danceability. Visually, the album cover features photography by Lia Jacobi, marking the first time both Strandqvist and Jonsson are pictured together on one of their releases. The record was mastered by Björn Engelmann at the Cutting Room and made available digitally as well as on black vinyl LP featuring printed inner sleeves with full lyrics.
