I must say that I like Marcus Brännström’s voice in Second Hand Rumours, and his way of singing. A nice tone and a laidback, cool expression, somewhat similar to Chris Martin in Coldplay.

And I can sense the Coldplay influences in their music too, at least partly. It feels lighter though, the melancholy is not allowed to take over, and the acoustic guitar points in a different direction. They navigate very smoothly between this modern pop and their other sources of inspiration, from the americana and singer/songwriter genres and find their own way.

Here you can enjoy three tracks from their EP “So Many Steps”, which was released this summer:

Summernight Tune
Seven Years
Like a Dream Come True

If you like what you hear, I recommend a visit to the band’s web pages.
Listen more on Second Hand Rumours’ Myspace page.
And don’t forget to visit their blog.

“Bad Sneakers” is a song from the classic album “Katy Lied” by Steely Dan. And it’s also in these music regions we find the band Bad Sneakers from Lund. A classical 70s light-soul-funk is mixed with a nice and clean Steve Winwood soul from the 80s, on ther first EP.

There are nog big surprises here, and it’s probably not the intention either. Instead they deliver a nice and easy feeling, that makes the atmosphere in the room seem a little lighter, as I’m sitting here watching the autumn rain sweeping in over the landscape outside.

I get impressed as I read that the four band members started the band as late as November 2007 and that they are between 19 and 21 years old. Since the start they have landed quite a few gigs and lately they have played at the Malmö festival and Kulturnatten in Lund.

Listen to two tracks from the Bad Sneakers EP:

I Want You Out
On the Wings of Dreams

Visit Bad Sneakers on Myspace and listen to more tracks.

There’s no doubt that The Shy Lads are inspired by Oasis. The singer, Dennis, also has a nice crunch in his voice and that cocky tone that reminds a bit of mr L. Gallagher. But after a few songs they surprised me with showing up a broader style range of good songs, where the sixties is just as much a big influence, maybe then in the form of the Beatles rock songs. Listen to “Mr Policeman” below, and you’ll understand what I mean.

The peak for me is “Now” from their first EP (they have made two sofar). The song starts with a great intro hook, changes to a verse with a pumping bass and then explodes in a simple but just as effective chorus with frantic guitars. Really good!

Listen to some tracks:

Now
Mr Policeman
Falling Overboard

Visit their home page where you can listen to and download the two EP:s and read their blog.

Of course they also have a Myspace page

Tough chick in electronic disguise

I would like to introduce Annelie. Her song “Fine” has been played a lot on my speakers these last weeks.

She sings and creates with such soul that I get overjoyed. It’s an artist that completely walks her own path and writes from outside herself and her innerness.

This is what she thinks about her creative process:

“My recordings are made in my home-made studio, and it is only my technical skills and eventually boundaries that controls, in other words I like to try everything!
Except playing piano and percussion, I also play litte bit of drums, bass and guitar.
I record and create beats with samples and my own recorded sounds.
Playing the piano and writing songs, frequently goes hand in hand, but I also write songs separately and make the instrumental settings and arrangements apart from the textwriting.
Well, that was some info about the creative process…”

She has been well noticed werever she has shown up, for example in TV4 morgon, she has been played in P3 and won a guitar by becoming the artist of the week at yoursound.se

This 21 year old doesn’t avoid collaborations that seems really exciting, such as the project “Conrad” which you can listen to at Allears. (Allears.se is announced  to be shutdown this week)

Annelie continues:

“Regarding collaboration partners I have links and information about them on my homepage (myspace-adresses and so on) – feel free to check them out!!
I’ve had a collaboration that’s now on hold but anyway, it’s an electronica project under the name “Conrad”. I’m also part of a remix project with a producer/dj who has made
2 new versions of 2 of my songs. We call ourselves “Treatment”.
If you like to know more about me there is a Myspace page too:Annelie på Myspace“

Listen and enjoy:

Fine
Physical

Believe my words, this lady we’ll be hearing a lot from in the future. Driven with a huge talent according to me. Annelie finishes off with:

“I’ve got a band to play with, and we have gigs but more gigs are wanted!!”

Safari is the lovely AnnaSara Dahrén with guests. I have talked to AnnaSara a couple of times, but never met her, yet it feels like I know her so well. The warmth and the kindness that comes from her I feel so well also in the music she creates.

In the production of the songs “Me and You” and “His Majesty”, AnnaSara have worked with Daniel Lindblom (DiLeva, Mora Träsk et al). The songs are very well balanced and produced in way that it feels very intimate. In “Me and You”, Christer Björklund plays the drums and Olle Nyberg the piano.

The song “In Time”, recorded with a pocket recorder, gives the same feeling, although entirely acoustic. This song is cowritten with Anette Skåhlberg (lyrics), and her father, Ingemar Dahrén, plays the guitar.

Three fantastic songs:
Me and You
His Majesty
In Time

Visit Safari
Safari on Myspace

Keep cool,
Jeppe