You may have encountered Gus Ring in a completely different context before, as a singer in the metal band Siberian. But here he’s all alone with his guitar in music he defines as acoustic dream pop. So far he’s released an album and two EP:s and is heading for a new full length record in April next year. The last EP “In search of the wonderful life” was a great listen and the first taste from the upcoming album, “Swim” here below, promises a lot for the album. Hear for yourself here.

Gus Ring’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music – on Bandcamp

Here’s Christoffer Gustafsson with the single “Ferlindikt” (“Ferlin poem”), which he released during Spring. The debut album “Från start till Stockholm” was launched last year and he’s now working on the next album, which is scheduled for the Autumn. I’d say it’s about Swedish uplifting pop with classic songwriting. A video to the song is on it’s way next week.

Christoffer Gustafsson’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Soundcloud

It’s fascinating how someone who’s born 10 to 15 years later, can catch the spirit of passed times and recreate it in his own music. Well, it’s exactly what the 18th year old Gusten does in the band Gusten & the Demens, even though he’s backed by a gang of older, excellent musicians. Among the demented you’ll find names like Peter Simonsbacka (lead guitar), Jan Lidström (bass) and Mita (backing vocals).

Gusten, the songwriter and band leader, is exploring the domains of the softer rock of the seventies, where a few parts of Jackson Browne is mixed with some part of Eagles, some showtime Rolling Stones a little bit of Springsteen and something from Jimi Hendrix. He is heading this with a voice that sounds surprisingly mature and that sits perfectly with the music.

The Someones

Visit Gusten on Myspace

Gustav Haggren is an extremely busy musician! It’s obviously not enough that he has a solo project, plays with two other songwriters, Christian Cuff and Helena Arlock, and is coordinating a world band (yes, they are spread all over the world); he is also touring all the time! Go and check out his tourdates for 2007…jesus!

Nevertheless, it seems like it’s among the seasick sailors that Gustav likes it best. And it’s from this constellation the songs below comes from.

The first song I heard is from 2004, “Vagabond’s Polka”, and it feels like I’m invited to Montmartre, Paris. There’s a fantastic Tivoli-feeling here!
And when I listen to “Something Weihtless” I hear great pop with hit potential. Overall, there is an incredible mix of songs I find with Gustav and the Seasick Sailors.

On Friday the 26th of September, they will celebrate the release of their new album “Brilliant Hands” on Tivoli in Helsingborg. Check out the info on their Myspace page.

Listen and download some tracks (Vagabond Polka is a live song with a slightly less sound quality, but I have included it because of the great feeling here. I hope I’m excused ;-)):
Something Weightless
Nightlife
Vagabonds Polka
Distant Mornings

Visit the band:
Gustav and the Seasick Sailors on Myspace
Their homepage and blog

Keep cool
Jeppe

Johan Hirvi from Panetoz also has a songwriting career going on outside the band, where he calls himself Sowlkid. A couple of years ago he found the american singer Drew Vision on the net and was caught by his voice. They got in contact with each other and eventually this led to a song collaboration. In April this year Johan went to New York and spent a couple of days with Drew in the studio and a few months later, in August, the singer came to Stockholm and recorded five new songs with five different teams.

“Without You” is the first taste of these sessions and it does feel like sweet mix of Swedish electropop vibes and american R&B and soul feelings. Drew’s vocals is really something special, a wonderful open voice which reminds me of John Legend and with a great soul tint. He released his debut album, “The Balance”, earlier this year, an album which has received surprisingly little attention, especially considering how good it is. Hopefully more people will discover Drew’s talents in this new collaboration, in a song which to me seems to have potential to conquer a wide audience. The song is written by Drew Vision, Lisa Desmond, Chris Wahle and Sowlkid.

Drew Vision’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music