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It's been a while since we've heard from him, but let's make sure not to forget about Erik Hassle. In fact, the Swedish singer has been holed up in a studio for the past few months to write and record material for his new album.

And the first result of his hard work has arrived. Check out the video for his brand-new single "Are You Leaving," which is taken from his pre-album EP, titled "Mariefred Sessions."

"Are You Leaving" gives us a bit of a taste of what direction Hassle is heading musically. Set to a punctuating beat and wrapped in a fresh electro-edged production arrangement, the song is a melancholic, sweet-flavored mid-tempo pop ballad that accentuates Hassle's knack for delivering catchy, melodic hooks.

Hassle shot the video for "Are You Leaving" together with Johannes Ring in his howetown of Katrineholm. "It was just me and Johannes, we made it on a Saturday night," Hassle writes. "There are 21000 lonely souls living there and this is a typical Saturday night. The song is about growing up and then leaving a small town, we hope that we captured this in the video." (Support new pop and download "Are You Leaving" on Erik's web site.)

Swedish pop singer Erik Hassle pops back onto the scene with "Taken (Still In My Blood)," a fantastic new ballad that is the title track of a digital EP that was exclusively released in Sweden. The tune packs a bittersweet, instantly relatable sentiment and a moving melody that often make up the timeless pop that is produced in Sweden. It must be in that Nordic water.

After Hassle's international debut LP "Pieces" unfortunately failed to gain momentum in the charts, the singer has been working in the studio to craft songs for a new album. This fresh new tune is a very promising introduction to what's to come.

Listen to "Taken (Still In My Blood)" below, and download the MP3 plus Hassle's soulful cover of Sly & The Family Stones' hit  "A Family Affair" totally guilt-free right here (quick, easy registration required).

What a great year in pop it is already! We got treated to excellent albums by newcomers V V Brown, Ellie Goulding and Marina & The Diamonds, and yesterday Erik Hassle released his much anticipated debut LP "Pieces" stateside. This international version of the Swedish original has been tweaked for the masses, and only has gotten better.

What I like so much about Erik is that his music flawlessly combines solid songwriting, catchy hooks and Erik's not-so-pop persona. You can tell he's a rocker at heart, and he brings that grit, confidence and conviction to his own unique brand of pop.

Staying to true to the Swedish pop tradition, the album is filled with memorable pop gems. From the perfect pop ballad "Hurtful" to the sweeping and heartfelt "Amelia," and from the uplifting  "Bump In The Road" to the angsty "Love Me To Pieces" that was co-written by hit maker Max Martin. Hassle sings about love and life with a maturity you'd expected from a 21 year old. And I'm a sucker for his straight up songwriting and lyrics like, "If a bird can sing with a broken wing. You'll learn to bend when the wind blows. The leaves may fall, but the trees stay tall."  It's true.

"Pieces" packs all the right ingredients to be a major pop record this year. And as far as I'm concerned Erik's American team is doing everything right to get him heard and noticed. Hassle is sizzling hot, and you better pay attention.

Check out a blazing electro revamp of "Hurtful." Frankly, It doesn't match the epic quality of the original, but anything Hassle is welcome here. If you haven't heard Erik Hassle yet, I encourage to listen to the entire album here. (Support new pop and download "Pieces" on iTunes.)

Erik Hassle "Hurtful" (Dada Life Remix)

When BBC radio jock Jo Wiley gives an artist her ultimate blessings, you know he or she is going places.

Today, Swedish pop-rocker Erik Hassle appeared on Wiley's Radio One Lounge to perform a few songs live in the studio in anticipation of the release of his debut singe "Hurtful" in the U.K. tomorrow. One of the tracks he performed was a gutsy cover of Rihanna's "Russian Roulette" that you can check out in the player below.

On a related note - Kudos to Universal Music for releasing "Hurtful" in the U.S. and the U.K at the same time. In that way fans in the U.S. don't have to look for alternate ways to get "Hurtful," which will easily be one of the best pop tracks of the year. (Support new pop and download this track on iTunes now.)

Swedish pop crooner Erik Hassle performed at an East London flat late last year to warm people up for his debut single, "Hurtful." Erik and his manager decided to just throw a fun Christmas party in somebody's apartment and have a good time with a small group of friends and fans. The performance was streamed live on the web for fans everywhere to enjoy.

If you missed the show, Erik's team is sharing some exclusive footage of his performance with ArjanWrites.com. Check out his soulful cover of LaRoux's "In For The Kill," the anthemic "Bump In The Road" (taken from his forthcoming debut "Pieces") and of course his phenomenal single, "Hurtful," which is blowing up around the world. (Support hot new pop and click here to download "Hurtful" on iTunes in the US.)