Tuesday 11 August 2009

Sofia Karlsson





Sofia Karlsson is one of our great female vocalists in Sweden. With folk songs that travels straight to the heart. Its like that familiar and safe feeling of unconditional love and it makes me happy inside to listen to her clear and uncomplicated voice. That's how I want life to feel [instead it feels more like PJ Harvey most of the time...].

With multiple albums under her belt, the latest one Söder om Kärleken earlier this year, she is definitely one of the major names in Swedish folk/singer/song writer music. Sofia was brought up in a musical home in Stockholm and she mentions influences like Cornelis Vreeswijk [One of Sweden most popular fol singers of all time, of Dutch origin] Dolly Parton, Tracy Chapman, Gillian Welch and Monica Zetterlund [Swedish jazz singer].

Its possible to listen to Sofia Karlsson on Myspace and Spotify, but you can also buy her albums on Klicktrack.

Sofia Karlsson - Dina Händer [Live Swedish TV]


Sofia Karlsson - Smält Mig Till Glöd


Sofia Karlsson - Du Var Där


Press Photo

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Find out more about Sofia Karlsson on her official website or on her Myspace.
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Monday 10 August 2009

[ingenting]



The Swedish Stockholm based pop band [ingenting] has been hyped lately. Everyone seems to look forward to their show on the Way Out West festival this week. Straightforward pop performed in Swedish is always enjoyable :) The singles Punkdrömmar and Släpp in Solen has been played frequently on the radio and makes us want more!

The third album Tomhet, idel tomhet is released in September on Labrador Records. The theme [according to the band] is emptiness, life, death and religion. Until then you can enjoy them on Youtube or at the WoW festival in Göteborg [Gothenburg] this weekend.

[ingenting] - Punkdrömmar


[ingenting] - Släpp in Solen


[ingenting] - Dina Händer är Fulla av Blommor [live]


Pssst! Check out the fake band in the videos! :)

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Check out the official website and Myspace.
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Sunday 2 August 2009

The Sound of Independent Sweden [part II]

David Coleman is back with the second part of the article about the Swedish music scene [based on location]. Im wondering if its possible to hear the difference between music depending on where its made in Sweden? Check out what David says about that. Oh, and remember to read the second part of The Sound of Independent Sweden!

Read the second part of the article here --->
The Sound of Independent Sweden [part II]

Is it possible to hear the difference between music depending on where its made in Sweden? For instance, is there a special Gothenburg sound, in your opinion?
I think it's difficult for an outsider to hear subtle differences between artists from different regions of Sweden in the same way as I can when listening to British or even American bands. That said, the 'Balearic' electronic pop thing seems to be very specific to Gothenburg. The Tough Alliance, Air France, The Embassy, Boat Club, perhaps even Studio – that's one version of a Gothenburg sound, but then you have bands from the same city like Wildbirds and Peacedrums who are doing something entirely separate.

I think the similarities between artists on specific labels are more noticeable. There's a distinct Labrador sound, for example, and the Sincerely Yours and Service artists seem to be approaching their work in similar ways.

You seem to have a very deep intrest and knowledge about Sweden and Swedish music, [some people call them swedophile's]. Where did your intrest come from? Was it your Swedish girlfriend that made you discover Swedish music?
My fiancée, Emma, comes from Halland. We met in October 2000 [in Sheffield] and she introduced me to a few of the more poppy artists [Sahara Hotnights, The Ark, Mando Diao, etc.], while simultaneously subjecting me to some less enjoyable sounds such as "schlager". Ugh.

She's certainly the reason why I've visited Sweden so many times, but if I'm honest I was already interested in Swedish music before we met. The two early triggers were my first 'proper' gig [a pop-punk band called Fungus, who had a deal with Parlophone in the mid-to-late nineties] and an amazing mixtape that I received from a No Ripcord reader called Magdalena, which introduced me to The Bear Quartet, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives and others. I guess the love affair started there and the great music I've discovered subsequently has only served to fuel it further.

Which one is your top 5 list of Swedish musicians/bands [and the favorite album by each artist]?
Ah, that's a difficult one. I struggled to narrow the list down to fifty for the feature! Ok, in no particular order:

Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
Wildbirds and Peacedrums - The Snake
The Embassy - Futile Crimes
The Knife - Silent Shout
Vapnet - Jag vet hur man väntar

Happydeadmen's Silent Sigh City and Bear Quartet's Human Enough are probably my favourite songs.

Saturday 1 August 2009

Official song 2009 | Stockholm Pride


Marit Bergman is the creator of the official Stockholm Pride song this year. The song Casey hold on is now possible to download for free at the Stockholm Pride website, so take the chance while its possible! Its a classic Marit pop song, a perfect song for Pride :)

Marit has also released the album The Tear Collector recently, its available for download and on Spotify.

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Find out more about Marit Bergman at Myspace and the official website.
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