Miike Snow Sophomore Album Scheduled for March 2012 Release

A hybrid of electronic and rock elements, Miike Snow’s debut album hit stores in 2009, with song “Animal” getting a fair amount of attention, and the band recently announced the date of their follow-up. Released through Columbia Records, their sophomore album, Happy to You, hits stores on March 26. A more grandiose effort than their debut, Happy to You features full orchestras, brass sections, and a marching band. By this description alone, Happy to You almost seems like a Pet Shop Boys album, but the clip below of song “Devil’s Work” shows that this isn’t the case:

Happy to You was self-produced by the band and recorded in various locations in Sweden, their home country. About Happy to You, member Pontus Winnberg stated: "Before this album, we were an idea. This time we were a band. And this time, we had paid our dues ' we'd toured in 27 countries for 18 months. When we came in to make ‘Happy To You’, we came in as a unit, and emotionally for us that makes a huge difference. And hopefully you can hear it."

Aside from preparing for the actual album release date, Miike Snow are working with artist and director Andreas Nillson on related visual elements.

Although a seemingly-odd choice for a DJ-focused event, Miike Snow are playing at the Ultra Music Festival, held in Miami from March 23 to 25 for 2012. Electronic dance music heavyweights Tiesto and Armin Van Buuren are headlining, but Miike Snow is one of a handful of electronic-influenced acts announced for the festival’s first stage of performers. Justice, New Order, and Kraftwerk are some of the other live acts scheduled for Ultra. Miike Snow is set to perform on March 23.