5 star review for TOANWTS

5 stars from CDbaby
5 stars from CDbaby
5 stars from CDbaby

Indie distributer CDbaby just recently chose my new album The Owls Are Not What They Seem as their editor’s pick, gave it 5 stars and wrote this lovely review!

[quote] In 2008, Sweden’s Sofia Talvik put out an impressive album — Jonestown — which wowed me with its lush
orchestrations and catchy, melancholic 60’s-pop songs, tunes that wouldn’t have been out of place on any of Goldfrapp’s NON-disco albums. The following year, Talvik released an equally ambitious, subtly-searing album called Florida that was haunted by the ghosts of Dustbowl folk and countrified Southern Gothic. In 2011, the prolific indie-songstress put out 4 EPs that previewed remixed versions of songs that would end up on this year’s full length, The Owls Are Not What They Seem. The new record is a departure for sure — still catchy in its way, though the earworms have more room to sprawl— still lush, though the flute and string accompaniments are more restrained and the tremolo guitars serve only as punctuation. What’s different this time around? Mood: Owls is a slow-burning folk pop gem that wanders and searches as if dreaming itself into being. Think Nick Drake, Kings of Convenience, and Blue-era Joni Mitchell. Talvik’s voice can be both rich and whispery, and each breath seems to bend toward some hidden sadness, as if tugged by an undercurrent we can’t quite see; but we feel its force as the music unfolds, swirls, and closes around us.[/quote]

Chris R. CDbaby

 

Check it out here!

Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar 2012 #18

Sofia Talvik's Xmas Calendar, window 18
Sofia Talvik's Xmas Calendar, window 18
Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar, window 18

I knew I couldn’t be the only Swedish artist to tour the US in an old van! So today’s window is a Christmas card from another Swedish band who also like to do that. Folk-Rock band Secret Circus who are kindly sharing their song “Waves” as a free download with all the followers of my Xmas Calendar!

Secret Circus was started by twins Klas and Joel Åhman in 2008 in Stockholm, Sweden. The maiden voyage sent the brothers bumming around Europe, playing their way from town to town. They immediately discovered that music was their calling and decided to give music their all. They quit their jobs and spent the following year writing and recording their debut album “This is Secret Circus“.

Every year they flee the cold winter of Sweden and spend the season in their studio in Roswell, NM where they’ve recorded most of their material. And on January 18th I’ll be joining them for a concert in Roswell, NM (aliens anyone?) so don’t miss out on that if you’re in the neighborhood. Go to https://sofiatalvik.com/gigs for details.

Go here to download “Waves” by Secret Circus, choose your own price or get it totally free!

Merry Christmas from us all!

Merry Christmas from Secret Circus
Merry Christmas from Secret Circus

Did you miss a day in the calendar? See all the windows in the Xmas Calendar here: https://sofiatalvik.com/julkalendern

Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar 2012 #8

Sofia Talvik's Xmas Calendar, window 8
Sofia Talvik's Xmas Calendar, window 8
Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar, window 8

A couple of years ago I wrote a soundtrack to a Swedish short film called “Vit som snö” or “White as snow” in English. Neither the movie or the song is made for Christmas, but the lead motive could actualy pass for one of my Christmas songs, so I decided to share a download with you, as well as the short film (which unfortunately doesn’t have any English subtitles). Click the player below to listen or download here: http://soundcloud.com/makakimusic/vit-som-sn

Click here to listen to/ download the song
Click here to listen to/ download the song

The movie is about 12-year-old David whos grandfather is terminally ill. David decides that he needs to save him and embarks on a quest to find a way to save him from death. On his quest he meets the mysterious Viggo who takes him around to different rooms and people in the hospital to find an answer he probably already knows. Can you talk to death?

The movie is made by Carolina Rung and Anna Eliasson graduates at the Stockholm Film School in 2008.

Did you miss a day in the calendar? See all the windows in the Xmas Calendar here: https://sofiatalvik.com/julkalendern

With love from Illinois

Sofia Talvik in the River Cities Reader

I had a great time in Illinois and did a lot of radio and interviews. Here’s a few of them.

Sofia Talvik in the River Cities Reader
Sofia Talvik in the River Cities Reader
[quote] With her light, airy soprano and haunting, faraway melancholy, it’s easy to imagine Talvik herself hypnotizing crowds in a small-town biker bar, right before vanishing into the ether (…) continue reading here [/quote]
Mike Schulz, River Cities Reader
 
 
Sofia Talvik in Quad Cities Dispatch Argus
Sofia Talvik in Quad Cities Dispatch Argus

[quote] In 2008, Ms. Talvik became the first Swedish female singer to play the Lollapalooza festival. This year, she was showcased at the International Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, Tenn., and South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. (continue reading here) [/quote]

Jonathan Turner, Quad Cities

 

Drivin’ & Dreaming to Chicago

Sofia Talvik in front of the Swedish American Museum
Sofia Talvik in front of the Swedish American Museum
Sofia Talvik in front of the Swedish American Museum

This Thursday I was invited to play at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago. What a great night it turned out to be. I’ve played at the museum once before, when I was on my Lollapalooza tour in 2008 so it was a real treat to be invited back. There were over 120 people in the audience and we had a very nice VIP reception before the show.

Many thanks to Karin Moen Abercrombie and the other board members of the Swedish American Museum for a wonderful night, and to Konstnärsnämnden for supporting as well.

Here’s some pictures from the show. You can see the full album here!

Here’s the closest upcoming gigs on my tour:

Wednesday, 08/01 Madison, WI     The Frequency
Thursday, 08/02 Rockford, IL     Emerson House – Concert Conversations
Friday, 08/03 Rock Island, IL     Cool Beanz Coffee House
Saturday, 08/04 Cedar Rapids, IA     Legion Arts – CSPS Hall
Tuesday, 08/07 Des Moines, IA     Vaudeville Mews
Wednesday, 08/08 Mankato, MN     The Coffee Hag
Thursday, 08/09 Minneapolis, MN     First Avenue
Saturday, 08/11 Minneapolis, MN     FIKA / American Swedish Institue

Sofia playing live at the museum
Sofia playing live at the museum

 

Full house at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago
Full house at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago