Some collaborations have a certain spark, a magic that feels nostalgic and new. Green & Granstrom is one of those rare pairings. If the name rings a bell, it’s because we previously featured their track “Stranger With My Face.” Now, the duo is back with “Only Summer,” and if their last single introduced them as storytellers, this one cements them as masters of mood. Green & Granstrom is the mix of Leyton Green and Jimmy Granstrom, a Swedish songwriter with an ear for evocative lyricism. In this offering, they expand their circle of creativity: “Only Summer” is an English reimagining of Lars Brundin’s original Swedish track “Alltid sommar (där hon går),” with music by Brundin and Herbert Tinz. The translation, handled with care by Granstrom and lyricist Robert Gould, captures the feeling of summer.
From the first bars, “Only Summer” opens with a bright, crisp pop-rock arrangement — acoustic strums, sun-washed electric riffs, and a rhythm section that skips like a barefoot walk on warm pavement. The production is clean but not sterile; it sparkles without ever losing its human touch. There’s a lived-in warmth to the sound, as if each note had been sun-kissed before making it to the mix.
Leyton Green’s vocals carry the heart of the song. There’s a soft strength in his voice — gentle but confident, like someone reliving their fondest memory in real time. His performance is inviting, never overstated, and that restraint makes the emotion more tangible. You can hear the grin behind the words when he sings of “days lazing in the sun” or “nights filled with excitement.” This is storytelling through tone as much as text.
The chorus is where everything crystallizes — catchy, golden, and wholly unforgettable. It radiates that familiar rush of a summer fling or a perfect road trip: fleeting, but somehow endless. It’s the kind of hook that doesn’t just ask you to sing along; it makes you.
And while the track flows effortlessly, there’s room for a little more dynamism in the bridge or final chorus. A slight lift or unexpected turn near the end could push it from great to transcendental. That said, the steadiness of the song is part of its charm — it’s the sonic equivalent of an August afternoon that never rushes to end.
“Only Summer” has already reached ears in more than 10 countries across four continents, including a coveted spin on Nordic Rox, SiriusXM’s alt-pop outpost hosted by Roxette’s Per Gessle — a nod of approval from Scandinavian pop royalty. But beyond the numbers and accolades, this track thrives on its emotional clarity: the joy, the wistfulness, and the beauty of impermanence.
Green & Granstrom are building bridges between seasons, languages, and listeners. With “Only Summer,” they invite us all to hold onto the sun a little longer. And honestly, who could resist?
Listen to “Only Summer” on Spotify
