There’s something disarmingly sincere about music that manages to be both nostalgic and forward-looking at once. The first time I pressed play on “Some Angels Never Learn to Fly,” I found myself suspended in that exact sweet spot—a sonic world both familiar and strange, created by Arne Floryd under his delightfully whimsical moniker, Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends.
The former Redmoon member has quietly built a catalog that defies easy categorization. Floryd’s gift lies in his ability to blend heartfelt vulnerability with just enough ironic distance, wrapping deeply emotional songwriting in layers of vintage textures that feel both comforting and slightly off-kilter.
Just when you think you’ve got Floryd’s sound pinned down, he pivots. His recent cover of Paul Anka’s obscure gem “Your Love” transforms the original into something altogether more spectral—a dreamy, atmospheric piece that hovers like mist over water. Released as a B-side, it showcases Floryd’s talent for musical alchemy, turning familiar elements into something hauntingly new.
What makes Arn-Identified Flying Objects so compelling is Floryd’s refusal to be confined by genre boundaries. Elements of folk, power pop, and Americana weave through his work, but they’re always in service of his poetic explorations of love, regret, memory, and the passage of time.
The contrast between tracks like the playfully swaggering “Sing-Along Songs” and the ghostly melancholy of “Your Love” highlights Floryd’s impressive range. Yet there’s always a consistent thread—music that balances intimacy with an almost otherworldly quality, as if these songs are being beamed in from some parallel universe where heartbreak sounds just a little sweeter.
During our recent conversation with Floryd, we delved into his creative process, the constellation of influences that shape his sound, and the stories lurking behind his latest musical offerings. Stay tuned for our full interview coming later this week.
Listen to Your Love
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The name “Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends” is quite distinctive. What’s the story behind it, and how does it reflect your artistic identity?
As I started recording on my own, a former bandmate from Redmoon jokingly suggested I’d call my project ”Arne and the Flying Saucers”, and something in that ridiculous name stuck my mind. I played around with it and came up with the even more ridiculous ”Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends”. It’s sort of humorous and pretentious at the same time.
How would you describe your musical style to someone who’s never heard your work before?
As a blend of folk and power pop I guess, but with a hint of punk and Americana. But the truth is that I, after going solo, try not to think of ”style” at all. This might be for better or for worse, but I’ve found that this is the best way, and maybe only way, to keep up my own interest in what I’m doing
Who are the members of the collective, and what does each person bring to the creative process?
As I mentioned before this as a solo project – BUT plenty of friends and musicians do contribute. The former members of Redmoon have popped up on my both albums, and will do so on the next one.
I also want to mention David Myhr (of the Merrymakers) who has co-produced some of my recordings, but also has provided beautiful backing vocals and slide guitars on some tracks, among other things. Super drummer Andreas Quincy Dahlbäck has done most of the drumming on the stuff recorded. On this particular recording, my wife actually sings the soprano part!
What was the initial spark or inspiration behind “Your Love”?
I seldom do covers, but I’ve always found this forgotten Paul Anka song fascinating. There is something eerie in the atmosphere that undermines and contradicts the sugary lyrics
Walk us through your typical songwriting process. Does the music come first, or the lyrics?
It usually starts with a short musical phrase that simply pops up and enters my head, sometimes with words. Sometimes without. The chorus in ”Sing-Along Songs” (the ”A-side” of Your Love) rung in my head when I woke up one morning. Then the rest of the tune in the best cases, grows out of that musical atom more or less by itself.
Were there any unexpected moments during recording that ended up shaping the final version of “Your Love”?
The most unexpected is that I actually finished the recording- I had no intention to do so. But after sitting down with the guitar, one thing led to the other, and when my wife had sung the soprano part I realized that I might forge it all into a decent cover version.
The title suggests a personal connection – is there a specific story or relationship that informed this track?
I did think of my wife – with whom I’ve lived for a long time – and my family, but also of love in a more general or even metaphysical sense.
Your band name evokes cosmic and otherworldly themes – how do these elements play into the storytelling on “Your Love”?
Well, the lyrics of the song, in combination with the mysteriously ringing tremolo guitars and eerie melody, do imply that an “otherworldly” reading is possible, don’t they? Love in general? A transcendent power? God?
Were there any particular instruments or recording techniques that were essential to achieving your vision?
My vocals differ a lot from Paul Ankas sweet teenage voice. But I didn’t want my version to drift to far from Ankas rendition, so I worked quite a lot on the guitars, and they ARE quite close to the original.
How does “Your Love” fit into your broader artistic journey? Does it signal a new direction?
Well, the song is an exception rather than a sign of change. I decided to release the song – I mean I really like it – as a flipside on this single, as it stylistically won’t fit into the forthcoming album, which will dig deeper into folk music, and especially Swedish dito.
Are there plans for more releases or perhaps a full album in the near future?
Yep! I’m working on two albums simultaneously, on in English and one in Swedish. The English will probably be released in December 2025 or in January 2026. The Swedish? Realistically, in 2027.
As an artist with such a unique identity, how do you navigate the current music landscape?
The truth is I don’t navigate that much, on a conscious level anyway. Maybe I should? But I can’t. If I hear something I like, it sticks, and it probably influences me in one way or the other. Right now I’m listening to a lot to Dylan’s ”Rough and Rowdy Ways,” which is a dark masterpiece. It will probably faintly echo in future songs of mine.
