Norwegian musician, producer and composer Andie Loui will released her debut album today, marking a decisive step into the spotlight after years of working behind the scenes.
The project is the solo work of Andréa Louise Horstad, a familiar name in Norwegian music and film circles through her production work and her compositions for screen, including the TV series POWERPLAY. With Another Bad Idea, Loui turns inward, using the album as a document of restlessness, contradiction and emotional imbalance that often define your twenties.
At its core, Another Bad Idea is about inner conflict. The record traces an ongoing tug of war between wanting to hold on and needing to let go, between intimacy and noise, control and collapse. Across its runtime, moments of quiet vulnerability are frequently interrupted by swelling intensity, giving the album a sense of constant motion and unresolved tension.
The opening track and lead single, “Someone Else”, sets the tone. Built around piano and low, restrained vocals, the song unfolds slowly without percussion, drifting rather than driving forward. As the track develops, Loui’s voice rises into a soaring register, offering a powerful emotional release that makes it a fitting introduction to the album’s themes. It highlights her dynamic range and her ability to move from fragility to force within a single song.
The title track, “Another Bad Idea”, leans further into chaos. Opening with retro-tinged synths, the song blends indie rock and alternative pop while Loui’s vocals build steadily before cutting sharply through the mix as the track intensifies. The delivery feels intentionally reckless, mirroring the push and pull of toxic relationships and impulsive choices that the album repeatedly returns to.
“Has He Ever” follows with a darker, hypnotic tone. Anchored in alt-pop textures, the track feels tense and brooding, with Loui floating between grounded verses and ethereal higher notes. It is one of the album’s most atmospheric moments, maintaining a sense of restraint while still carrying emotional weight.
Elsewhere, Another Bad Idea allows space for stillness. “This Is The Worst Idea” is a gentle piano-led track with no percussion, where soft vocals and sparse arrangement leave room for emotion to linger. “Under My Skin” shifts gears again, introducing a dreamy, almost space-age palette. The song moves through phases of calm and chaos, with drum breaks and layered synths pushing the track forward before it fades out quietly, as if exhaling.
The closing track brings the album to a cinematic end. Beginning gently with Loui’s vocals and subtle background textures, it slowly builds tension and drama before stopping abruptly, leaving the listener suspended rather than resolved.
Stylistically, the album moves fluidly between pop, alternative and indie. Quirky 90s-inspired synths, distorted organs and unconventional organic elements give the record a tactile, physical feel. Loui’s background as a producer is evident in the detailed arrangements, but the focus remains firmly on her voice. Her vocals shift from intimate and delicate to raw and commanding, sometimes within the same track. There is a clear 80s influence in her phrasing and tone.
The debut single “Another Bad Idea” received early attention when it was listed for several weeks on NRK P3 Music in autumn 2025, introducing Loui as a solo artist with a distinct and confident identity. The full album expands on that promise, offering fragments of stories about leaving, not being chosen and daring to give up control.
As a listener, this is not an album that demands constant replay at any time of day. It asks for a certain headspace.
Another Bad Idea was released on CrazyPop Records. It is an intense and emotionally charged debut that captures the uncertainty of losing yourself, and perhaps finding something honest in the chaos along the way.
Another Bad Idea is available now on all major streaming platforms here: https://ffm.to/anotherbadidea_andieloui
