The Tiny

The Tiny is a Swedish trio with another one of those amazing female vocalists that we have here in Sweden :) Ellekari Larsson has an almost childlike but powerful voice and when you mix that with jazz inspired melodies you end up with music that cant be put into any genre. She tells us amazing, little stories and it feels like magic. I cant put The Tiny on in the background, this is music you really have to listen to, its impossible to stay neutral with this voice in the room.

In 2003 Ellekari and her friend Ane Brun started the artist collective DetErMineRecords located in Stockholm. In 2005 the Canadian singer/songwriter Wendy McNeill also joined in the collective. Both Ellekari & Wendy McNeill is also featuring on Ane Bruns Duet album.

Its been silent from The Tiny since their second and latest album, but according to their Myspace they are in the studio, recording another album as we speak. Im looking forward to it, im sure it will be great as ever. For you who hasn't discovered them yet, check out their earlier releases ASAP!

Closer


Everything is Free


They Say its Weird


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Also check out the Official Website for more information & news updates! The Image is a poster from the last album, available for sale at the webiste.
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Mission Hall Sessions

Thursday was another night of great live music. I went to The Mission Hall Sessions with my friend A. The Mission Hall Sessions is a compilation album put together by Bad Taste Records. For me it seems like a great way of promoting both new and old talents during one night, a way of finding new great music. It was a night with back to back singer-songwriter performances by Ida Redig, Chris Mills, Andi Almqvist and Rosie Thomas. Rosie is an old favorite of mine and the headline for the night but i want to focus on the Swedish artists taking part.

Both Ida Redig and Andi Almqvist are relatively new to me, but turned out to be enjoyable on stage :) Ida is a young woman from Göteborg and predicted a bright future, possibly another one of those great female vocalists that we have seen in recent years. Andi Almqvist is coming from the southern parts of Sweden (Skåne) but when he opened up his mouth i was surprised to hear Nick Cave and Tom Waits inspired Americana.

I dont know much more about them, except that i enjoyed it. So if you're interested check them out, i know i will!

Ida Redig


Andi Almqvist

Thursday Update

A Thursday update: I got the new Hello Saferide album in my mailbox yesterday and what i heard so far is potentially very good, although different from before. More updates will come on that later, because im still digesting a great live performance from Bon Iver from last night. He is from Wisconsin, so i wont write about it here ;) but you can check it out here if you want.

Otherwise the blog is alive and well, over 300 visitors so far :) Im also grateful for all the comments and recommendations that are being sent to me on my last.fm, i check them out as soon as i can! Just know that i read them all! Also, feel free to comment on the blog, make connections to other Swedish or foreign artists that may be of interest to more people.

Over and out.

ST

I want you to check out ST aka Stefan Ternemar, a new talent that i like. Earlier this spring an old friend of mine told me to check out his little brothers new album, cause its actually really good :) I did and found out that he was right!

The soft pop electronica with hints of Khonnor and The Radio Dept. makes my every day boredom a little bit easier. I like to ride the bus with songs like Debut, I Met a Girl with Butterfly Wings and Rest Your Eyes on Mine in my ears. Live performances and new releases will come in the beginning of next year.

Check out the video for Debut:


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You can find more free downloads at Last.fm and more information at Myspace. If you want to buy the album its possible to do so at Dotshop.se
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My Best Friend

Its Monday morning and im posting this for my best friend, because its her birthday today and this is our song! A song about friendship from the everlasting great Annika.

Its a very good song, so i hope you enjoy this video as much as we do :)

My Best Friend

History of Swedish Pop music [Part 1]

Over the years i have often wondered why Sweden seems to have good luck with their pop music outside of Sweden? Maybe because we have a long tradition of making easy listening pop? I doubt there will be any clear answers. Many of the influences took place long before i was born so im sorry if im mixing up things since its second hand information. I know that my parents danced to all of the below mentioned bands back in the day :) This is a taste of the Swedish music history a la Youtube.

Since a long time back people have always had an interest in folk music, but it wasn't until the pop music came here that it had a big impact on people in general. It feels likely that when The Beatles had a live performance on TV in Sweden just before their breakthrough they opened up to followers like Tages, Shanes and Hep Stars. All of them big stars in Sweden during the 60ties and 70ties. Sven from Hep Stars later became the second part of Svenne & Lotta in the 70ties and they made music together with Björn & Benny from Abba. Of course there is no denying the greatness of Abba and their great pop music that spread over the world after the Eurovision Song Contest 1974. Their music is still very popular, but i must say that i prefer the original over any spinoff-movie-musical any day.

It makes sense that our generation keeps on making great music, because the influences from what out parents listened to keeps on inspiring new talents today.


The Beatles (Swedish Television 1963)


Tages


Shanes


The Hep Stars


Svenne & Lotta


Abba (Eurovision contest 1974)


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Of course this is just a small part of what people listened to in Sweden back in the day. Take the chance to discover more via similar artists on last.fm.

If you want to read more about Swedish pop history read this article on DN with Google translator.
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Granada

I want to mention the group Granada, even though i don't have a lot of information about them. I wish i had, but its hard to find. It doesn't help that they have the same name as the Spanish city/province and the fact that there exists a well known Brazilian group with the same name. It doesn't seem like they are active at the moment because one of the front figures Anna Järvinen recently released her solo album "Jag fick Feeling".

Its great music nonetheless :) Soft, melancholic indie pop with Anna Järvinens special voice accompanied with Magnus Vikströms makes a great combo. Music that will make you cry on one of those days. Three albums and a great deal of great songs like Amazing it Seems, Helene and Starting Over makes me hope that they one day will find their way back into the spotlight again.

Check out this live video of Granada on Swedish television!



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You can find more a little more information about them on this blog
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A Jente in Sweden

Ive got comments about my earlier Ane Brun post and the fact that she isn't Swedish (but in fact Norweigan). Yes, i know! Ane Brunvoll is not a very Swedish name. Good of you to notice, but since she live and work in Sweden and speaks fluent Swedish i have decided to count her in.

You are very welcome to discuss this here on the blog if you feel like it.

Enjoy another Behind the Doors with Ane and her (Swedish) sidekick and friend Nina Kinert in a dutch elevator.

Ane Brun's Sketches

Did you know that Ane Brun has released the demo versions of her latest album "Changing Of The Seasons"?

The demo-album is called "Sketches" and is exactly that, sketches of her songs that became the result we got earlier this year. I bought "Sketches" online at Klicktrack, but according to Ane Bruns official site she will now release it on CD as well! :) Sketches also features two new songs: Miss Moaning and My Baby´s Arms.

Also, check out her new video below!

Don't Leave


Press Picture

Loney, Dear x 3

Still annoyingly ill i give you some of Loney, Dears (somewhat strange) videos and another elevator video from Holland. Enjoy and good luck on discovering this artist!

I am John


Saturday Waits


Behind the Doors

Loney, Dear

The first time i heard about Loney, Dear was three years ago. Back then Emil Svanängen made music on his own in the woods outside of Jönköping, with a wish to live off his music. Today he does :) When i ordered the home made CDs on his website i didn't know what to expect and i was greatly surprised. It was so beautiful! So much genuine despair and suffering in his songs i couldn't help to fall in love with his music.

Emils own journey took him out of the woods of Jönköping to Stockholm and then out into the world. With four albums recorded on his own in the trunk, he took his friends/band with him on the road and they now create magic on stages in both Europe and the US. Last year he was picked up by famous indie label Sub Pop who re-released the album from 2005, Loney, Noir.

First time i saw them live here in Gothenburg was in the autumn of 2005 and it was magic, i still remember it as one of the best live acts i ever seen. It was a night filled with so much love between the audience and the band that it vibrated. Emil with his eyes closed on the stage, meaning every word that comes out from his mouth. I agree with one of the quotes from Emils website: "Despair has never sounded so sweet."

Press picture

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Read more about Emil at the official website, Luger and Myspace!
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New Song from Anna Ternheim

All of you that have waited for a new release from Anna Ternheim will be happy to hear that a new album is coming mid november! The news is celebrated with a free download of a new song "What have i done" in acoustic version. Yey! Another beautiful song from Anna!

Go get it for free at Annas official website!

Another Week Left

My mini-holiday became longer than i thought because of a bad cold. Im confined to the bed or possibly the couch for a few days...

Today i spent some time reading my new Sonic Magazine, one of Swedens music magazines and a great source of new music in every issue. On the cover this month is Annika Norlin (Hello Saferide & Säkert!). She goes back to her roots in the northern parts of Sweden (Östersund), talking about the unexpected success with her Swedish alias Säkert. From the beginning it was meant as a small time project (a paus from Hello Saferide) but ended up being too big. The future for Säkert! is unsure, so for now we enjoy Hello Saferide.

In the review section Hello Saferide gets 8/10 on the scale with the note that this album is different, more produced with a "fuller" sound (produced by indie icon Andreas Mattson from Popsicle). It takes some getting used to, but makes a great album in the end. Sounds promising!

They also reveal the songs on the new album, so here they come: I wonder who is like this one (a favorite of mine, see earlier video post from Brazil), 2008, Overall, Lund, X telling me about the loss of something dear at age 16, Middleclass, Parenting never ends, Anna (se earlier video post), 25 Days, Sancho Panza, Travelling with us, Arjeplog

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I suggest you read more about the new album at the Razzia Records website. Use Google Translate (in the link list) to translate from Swedish to English.
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Press picture / Photographer Mikael K Jansson

New Song: Anna

Im going on a mini-holiday, but before i go i want to share this new song with Hello Saferide! Its a great happy-sad song that reminds me of an ex, but it also has the same name as my best friend :) Watch the video and enjoy! I know that its been said before but... Annika is brilliant!

Btw. The song can you download free on Myspace!

Press picture

Anna

Bad Connection

I have some problem with my broadband connection. Its difficult for me to stay online long enough to publish... a real patience killer :( Im doing my best and hopefully everything will work 100% soon.

Audrey

Its a rainy day here in Gothenburg and its a perfect day to listen to Audrey. Music wise related to groups like Logh they combine sweet voices with dark sadness. This is a all female, post-rock combo that always works :)

Two album and a few EP's has been released, the latest one was the album The Fierce and The Longing released earlier this year. My favorite is still the first album Visible Forms, but that might change. Audrey is a group that grows on you if you give them a chance.

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Read more at the Audrey website!
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Sophie Zelmani x 3

I found three of Sophies videos on Youtube, what a great way of starting this rainy saturday! In Time To Kill you also see the Swedish actor Shanti Roney, from the great movie Tillsammans (Together).

Time To Kill


I Cant Change


Going Home

Sophie Zelmani

Sophie Zelmani has a special place in my heart since since 1995 when she released her first album. It was one of the first CDs i ever bought. Therefor i have been following her career since then. Im grateful to her because she opened my eyes to other singer/songwriters. Over the years i always come back to her sound when being in a slight melancholy mood. Lars Halapi has been with her from the start, writing songs and playing the guitar. He is one of the best guitar players in Sweden today, famous for his ability to interpret feelings on his strings.

Sophie's music is not grand or flashy, its simple and atmospheric, and thats her strength. To go to one of her live performaces is special, she is not really a great live act (she actually doesnt like it very much) but she stands alone and tiny on the stage with her guitar and whispers "Tack" between her songs. Nonetheless the audience is under her spell, you can feel that the songs is very much her and that you are taking part of something special. I will see her live again in October and is looking forward to it very much.

Im not going to tell you much about her personal life, because i know very little about it. She is not a public person between album releases and doesnt like to give interviews. I know that she lives outside of Stockholm with her duaghter and that she is good friends with the famous photographer Anton Corbijn (who also photographs her album covers).

Find out more about all of her albums at the official website, her new album "The Ocean And Me" was released recently.

Press photo: Anton Corbijn

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Read more about Sophie at last.fm and The Official Website
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Little Dragon

Here is a small entry about the group Little Dragon that i wish to know more about since i heard the song "Twice" this spring. I know that they are based in Gothenburg and i have heard that the singer Yukimi Nagano have been involved in Koops music. Looking forward to find out more :)

Watch the video and enjoy!



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Read more at the official site!
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Love From Göteborg

Here comes two of my favorite videos / songs with Håkan Hellström :)

Håkan Hellström

Im proud to present Håkan Hellström, an established pop icon in Sweden and also fellow "Göteborgare" (citizen of Gothenburg). He is probably not that known outside of Sweden, since he sings in Swedish. Through the years he has been criticized for not being able to carry a tune and for borrowing too much from other songs. Inspiration or theft? Its up to you to decide.

Despite the critique he is loved by many and adored especially by his fans in Gothenburg. He sings about the streets and places where we walk every day in a poetic way. I can only feel sorry for all of you who doesnt understand the songs. When you go to one of his live performances in Gothenburg its a sheer love-fest between Håkan and his fans! Definitely an experience to remember!

Håkan is also a former a member of Broder Daniel and Honey is Cool (both bands from Gothenburg) but had his personal breakthrough in 2000 when he released "Känn Ingen Sorg För Mig Göteborg" (Feel no sadness for me Gothenburg). He has since then become a national hero after his flirts with other genres (folk, salsa etc) which gives him a variation of fans from kids to old ladies. And here he is, five albums and countless of songs, someone for you to discover!

Picture / Single Cover

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Find out more about Håkan Hellström
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People Are Like Songs

In approximately three weeks Hello Saferides new album "More Modern Short Stories From Hello Saferide" will be released here in Sweden. I wait for it eagerly and have already pre-ordered it. I cant wait!

If you too want to order it, check out Bengas website
(also possible for people outside Sweden).

Until then you can enjoy Hello Saferide in a Volvo commercial and this lovely song about people who are like songs, recorded in an elevator in Brazil last year.

Heartbeats vs Heartbeats

Here comes both the original version from The Knife and the Sony version that was previously mention, with José Gonzales.

Which one is your favorite?

The Knife

The Knife is a duo that consists of the siblings Karin & Olof Dreijer (Karin a former member of Honey Is Cool). They formed in 1999 and released Deep Cuts which became a loved album among the Swedish listeners. Their mystical aura and outspoken unwillingness to appear in pictures or other marketing probably added to the hype with the Silent Shout tour in 2006. For many (including myself) it felt like the only chance of seeing them live. It was a great experience, but not as much a live concert as a performing art moment where images, sound and light came together. Karin and Olof where, as always, dressed in masks.

In 2005 José Gonzales version of the song Heartbeats was featured in a Sony commercial, which made the rest of the world aware of both José Gonzales and The Knife. Since then they both have had a great commercial success. Who would have known that the sometimes unlikely combination of beats, oil-drums (which you mostly find in reggae or world music) and Karins sweet voice would have such an effect on us?

The Knife has featured in many Tv series and won awards over the years for their work. They have released three albums and one soundtrack to the movie Hannah med H. Silent Shout was the latest release from Karin & Olofs own label Rabid Records, except for a DVD with tour material. We are looking forward to see what the siblings next move will be.

Press picture from Luger / Photography Elin Berge

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Read more at last.fm and the official website
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Anna Järvinen & Annika Norlin - För varje hjärtslag

Another one of my Youtube favorites is Anna Järvinen (Granada) & Annika Norlin (Hello Safride & Säkert!) performing a cover of Robyns "For Every Heartbeat" on Swedish television, in Swedish! More about these ladies will surely come in the future.

Lovely, dont you think?

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Read more about Anna Järvinen, Annika Norlin & Robyn
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Maia Hirasawa - Gothenburg

I wake up with images of spring in my hometown this morning :)

Its a sweet video from Maia Hirasawa (Hello Saferides back up singer) who has made a nice album on her own this year. More about this in a later entry. Enjoy!

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Read more about Maia Hirasawa & Hello Saferide
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Tiger Lou

Tiger Lou is one of those indie bands that no one understand is Swedish. They are not very well known, at least in the public eye, but has a rather large fan base (just look at the scrobbles on last.fm). Their presence in the Tv series O.C could be an explanation why. They play easy, atmospheric indie-rock that is easy to return to. Its easy to fit them on a nice compilation CD :)

Rasmus Kellerman (married to Andrea Kellerman aka Firefox AK) started the group that seems to alternate between being a solo project and a band. He is a talented man who plays most instruments on his own and also finds time to be a member in a few other bands on the side. Rasmus is also a Graphic Designer which shows in all their high quality press and merchandise goods.

Two albums and a couple of EPs has been released. My favorite album is still "Is My Head Still On?" from 2004, with songs like "Oh, Horatio", "Sellout", "The Sound Of Crickets" and "Like You Said". Take some time and get to know them, i think you might like it!

Press picture: Luger
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Read more on the Luger site
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