First could you introduce yourself to us?
I'm 27, male, Swede, I'm living in a town in the woods in mid-Sweden. Been messing with music since age of 20 when I picked up the guitar, started making music similar to what I'm doing now in 2001. I have released two albums, a couple of EPs, have been playing a little here and there last couple of years.

You are from Sweden, from which city do you come from and is it hard
to get noticed as an artist there?
I come from Grums, it isn't a city, and it’s a town of 6000 people, quite near Karlstad which is a city. As I come from a small town, quite near a small city, I do belong to a small local music scene and get quite much coverage by the local media. But as always, it's hard to convince an audience, especially the local one.

You are a Swedish artist singing in English, do you think that with singing in English you can get your attention to a bigger audience and did you write Swedish songs earlier?
Actually I DID begin in Swedish. I started with the English lyrics in 2001. Can't really describe why but the Swedish lyrics never felt quite right. I guess discovering new music had a lot to do with it as well.


What artists have inspired you the most and did this change over the years?
A lot of artists and bands have touched me during the years. One important influence has always been M Ward who is just brilliant, his songs consist of a lot of layers and have this combination of indie and folk that I really adore. Also that he has made five albums that show such a variety. A real house god. Pure magic. Artists like Bonnie Prince Billy, Roy Orbison, John Fahey and Townes Van Zandt also do it for me. I discover new music all the time and of course that changes the way I see upon music as well. I would hate to be stuck on the same spot.

Lot’s of people places your music under American folk, I would say that this wouldn’t be right because I hear so many other influences in your music. How would you describe your music?
I just say indie slash folk slash something. Independent contemporary modern folk music.

You are working on a new album now could you tell us something about that?
I released "Barely Touching It" last autumn so it's only a little over a year old. Right now I'm recording my third album "The Lake Acts Like An Ocean" and I have finished much of the writings for my fourth, which is tentatively entitled "Deer Theatre". The third though is in the final stage of the recording process, we got most of it ready except some guitars and guest appearances. Then of course we're going to finish mixing and everything.

Will the new album be a different album?
I think that we have sharpened the expression in both the solo
material and the band songs. I believe you can expect it to be my best album this far.

I read that after you finished "Barely Touching It” you got a sudden “rush of creativity” where did this came from and did this also change your music?
When I got the record deal I was so focused on doing the two records and how I wanted them to be. It was really hard finishing the last songs and of course I was worried about my creativity. But the freedom of starting from scratch again with a new album was such a relief and I just wrote a lot of new songs. I'm experiencing the same thing now.

Where did you get this new inspiration from?
In seeing what details I missed in the previous songs. Plus a lot of movies and books.

On “Barely Touching It” you got help from other musicians, are you also working with other musicians on the new album?
My producer Carl Edlom and the band we're calling the September Sunrise have been the core of the arrangements on all my albums, I'm sticking with them, Carl together with Tomas, Henric and Fredric. Me and Carl are having some quarrels about the cd’s but I definitely think that we share one vision. He hates some music I love and vice versa. I think that is a good thing. This time we've also invited some additional musicians. My cousin is playing the tuba, we're having a guy on piano, some on strings. If everything goes as plans I'll get guest singing from Bobby Baby, Dear
Euphoria and Noel Thrasher.

So, when can we expect it?
During 2007. If I would guess, I would say in April-May. But I've been there before, postponing a release 6 months.

You are also playing in a side project A Perfect Friend, can you tell us something about that?
APF is a duo with an old classmate of mine, C-J Larsgarden. It's some kind of experimential electronica/folk. We're releasing our debut album on Belgian label STILLL in April. We're hoping to do some touring but it's primary a recording project. I love it. I'm doing outdoor field recordings with my mp3-player, recording purring cats, mallards, doors creaking and street musicians. How could I not love it? Me and C-J had been talking about doing  something together for ages but it took very long before we actually sat together and tried to do some songs. Fell in love instantly. APF's just wonderful and such a helping creative force for all my music. It's more than a side project.

Are there also other projects where you are collaborating?
There are some people I've been talking to about doing stuff together, but nothing's decided. I always thought it would be cool to join a po band, but not as the central person. Just doing some co-writings, backing vocals and some minor percussions.

You performed at the eurosonic showcase festival in Groningen, how did this go and was this an important show to you?
I might have screwed that up a little. I was a little scared by the supposed importance. I didnt expect that and I became quite nervous. I don't think that I was entirely lousy, I did put all my energy in it but I'm way better than that. Nevertheless, I had a nice time at eurosonic. I would be a little suprised if they invited me back though.

In Januari you are going back to The Netherlands for a couple of shows. What can we expect from the shows? Are you coming with a band or solo?
I'm doing solo shows this time. I'll do some songs from the albums as well as some new songs. I've never thought to seriously about "touring on an album", I just try to make the best show possible, no matter if I'm playing a set consisting entirely of unreleased material, or If I'm playing songs from my latest cd.


It seems to me that you have a special connection to The Netherlands, is this true? And how did this evolve?
Yes, I love The Netherlands a lot. I thought more of it earlier, I guess I'm taking it a little for granted now. It's because I did my first tour outside Scandinavia there and was very well treated. It does feel that I'm going to move there sometime, but I just don't see it right now. I'll try to leave Grums first.


All the shows from the coming tour are managed by yourself right? Are you managing everything yourself or do you get help from other people?
Me and my Dutch booker went separate ways after last tour in April 2006. I guess I'm not that much of a cash cow. I do understand them fully and I definitely still care for those guys. We got a lot of good promotion from last tour and that has really been a help when I have booked this tour myself, it has been quite a fun work doing it. Like in the old days. Of course, It wouldn’t have been possible without the help from some really great persons. For most other countries I have bookers doing that job though.

With how many people are you on the road?
Just myself this time.

Was it hard to find the right places to play?
No. I even had to say no to some places.

Are you also travelling and playing in some other countries?
I'm flying straight to Italy for a week's touring after the Netherlands. Later this spring it looks like I'm doing England, Latvia, Austria, Croatia, maybe Slovenia... and Sweden of course. Hopefully even more will come with the release of the next album.

What kind of music are you listening to these days?
The indie-folk scene still catches me the most with M Ward, James Yorkston and their ilks. I must listen more to Hayden, he's seems fantastic. Also have been listening a lot to electronica and experimential music. Some soul and some old blues and folk.

Do you have any Scandinavian bands you like at the moment or we should hear of?
Bobby Baby. Amazing electronic-folk-pop. Also I love Björn Kleinhenz, Loney, Dear and I have a strong feeling that Dear Euphoria has something nice coming up 2007. I discovered a Norwegian guy on myspace who I really like called Lars Wiik & the Laughing river. Also Bally is one of my favourite scandinavian artists (www.myspace.com/ballyworld).

What can we expect in the future from you? Are there also already some big things planned?
For 2007, I will release the APF cd and the solo album. I will finish the writings of my fourth album and record a new APF-album. Me and my girlfriend will have another 7" out on our little label Going Places. Hopefully I find the time to do some kind of EP or something on some small label somewhere and I would really love to be on the road. I would really enjoy making it back to the USA. To make it short, I will just try keep on writing songs and compile them into albums and then we'll see if  someone cares to mass-produce them. That is big things for
me.


2006 is over, could you tell us your top 10 albums/bands from 2006, and why?
TOP 10 RECORDS OF THE YEAR
1. M Ward - Post War
2. Benoit Pioulard - Precis
3. Joan as police woman - Real Life
4. Mogwai - Mr. Beast
5. James Yorkston - Year of The Leopard
6. Helios - Eingya
7. Johnny Cash - A hundred highways
8. Hot Chip - The Warning
9. Jenny Lewis - Rabbit Fur Coat
10. Micah P Hinson - And The Opera Circuit.


M Ward is just the best for the before-mentioned unique and genius expression in lyrics, patterns, layers and arrangements. I discovered Benoit Pioulard's album as late as in December. Wonderful mix of experimential and acoustic sounds. I think the melodies are what ties all those cds together. I was also happy to notice that one of my all-favorite band Mogwai did their best album since the brilliant Come on Die Young. Song of the year is probably Posion Cup by M Ward and Bless This Morning Year by Helios.

Do you have any wishes for 2007?
I hope an old dream of mine would come true, that the local pizza restaurant in Grums would name a pizza "Denver".