Only now and then every few years I discover an artist that I really get to love. One of my absolute favorites from the last couple of years is the Danish artist Tim Christensen who I can’t stop talking about (for instance in this interview) how great he is and how for example his albums Honeyburst and Superior should be in everyone’s record collection. Since I’m not the shy kind of guy, obviously I “got to get him into my life” and it turns out (not surprisingly) that we share a mutual love for great music in general and The Beatles in particular. So, back in February, when the man was going to make his first apperance (ever!) in Sweden of course I volunteered as his support act. Also it became my first concert at the legendary venue Debaser Slussen in Stockholm.
Here’s a video clip from the concert where I’m playing “Wanderlust” from my album Soundshine with my backing band (to see who was in this great line-up, see the You Tube “About” field).
First Tim looks excited, then a few hours later I’m the one smiling while Tim’s thinking… this Swedish guy is really intense…
I had already met Tim Christensen once before at this UNBELIAVABLE McCartney tribute show in Copenhagen that my wife and I went to where he, Mike Viola, and Tracy Bonham with full band were playing the full RAM album on Macca’s 70th birthday (what a great way to celebrate!). I can strongly recommend the DVD (just watch this trailer and you’ll understand). Here’s an Instagram picture with Mike Viola, Tim Christensen and myself, from the party afterwards where McCartney and Beatles songs were played in the speakers for hours and hours…
After having celebrated the release of my album Soundshine in Japan in January which was documented in a series of blog posts starting here and and in Spain just last week the time has now come to my home country Sweden! This will be celebrated on March 21 at a restaurant on hip and happening Södermalm, Stockholm, called Strand Hornstull.
You can read more about the release concert (in Swedish) by clicking the poster below or join the Facebook Event here – and everybody’s welcome!
I will be performing with a full band which of course always is a luxury. This time the band is consisting of Johan Bergqvist (The Genuine Fakes), Robert van der Zwan (Poplabbet), Michael Ottosson, Erik Jonsson (The Fix), and Zacharias Ahlvik. The show will feature guest appearances from a couple of my co-writers on the album, Peter Morén (Peter Bjorn and John) who co-wrote “Icy Tracks” with me and Stefan Petersson (Mother James) who co-wrote “Wanderlust” with me. Both potential future singles according to rumors within my own band! Also Jenny Sandgren who sings backing vocals on “Got you where he wanted” will help us out on the particular song.
The album is released in Sweden by Lojinx – a label which I’m very happy to have signed with – this coming Monday and it will be distributed in Sweden by Border Music. Also Lojinx is releasing the album simultaneously in the rest of Europe (excl Spain). Pre-orders can be made already now (shipping all over the world!) at the store on this very web page.
Summer is not too far away now and my contribution to the soundtrack for your summer will be the second single from the upcoming album Soundshine. The song is called “Looking for a life” and will be released on June 1st worldwide on iTunes Store and various other digital platforms.
An accompanying video with sceneries from beautiful Stockholm will have its premiere on the same day on my YouTube Channel.
The melody for this song was written in Nashville a few years ago when I hooked up with the American songwriter Ian Eskelin (All Star United). It was one of my first co-writing experiences outside of my previous band the Merrymakers. As an artist and writer Eskelin has had more than thirty Top 10 singles in the United States, including 12 #1 charting songs. He has additionally had international #1 songs in various countries including Japan, Singapore, and Australia.
The song was lacking a lyric for a while until I had the brilliant idea to ask Andreas Mattsson for help. Part of the reason for this was the fact that Ian Eskelin had expressed a big interest in Swedish indie-pop music from the 90’s including Mattsson’s former band Popsicle and my own former band the Merrymakers. So it kind of made sense.
On this song as well as on the rest of the album I’ve had the pleasure to collaborate with co-producer Andreas Dahlbäck (Lundell, Ternheim, Motorhomes, Eskobar) who also plays the drums. The other musicians featured on this single are Anders Pettersson (The Perishers, Deportees) and Rikard Lidhamn (Oh! Laura).
