Unmistakably Nordic in flavor, Sofia Talvik somehow still conforms to American interpretations of her own original music, a North Sea siren blending sparkle and melancholy, creating a special niche of folk music.
Dagens skiva has written a nice review of my new album “Florida” and given it a 7 out of 10.
Lou Reed–introt på King Of The Willow Tree är grymt. Det lätta sättet Talvik sjunger på. Osäker i stämband men bestämd i gärning. Det tar 30 sekunder att fånga mig. (…) Dessutom är The Light är det vackraste i musikväg som 2010 fått fram hitintills.
“The Lou Reed intro of “King of the Willow Tree” is awesome. The lighthearted way Talvik sings. Unsure in vocal chords but firm in determination. It takes 30 seconds and I’m caught. Not to mention that “The Light” is the most beautiful 2010 has presented so far.”
We all know the Swedes can write a mean pop songs—but what about folk songs? Well, one artist is nonchalantly transferring the charm and fun found in most pop songs into sweet, acoustic twang. Sofia Talvik, brings bubbly blonde ambition to this raw and often quiet genre with a captivating breath of fresh air. After her 2008 Lollapalooza performance, Sofia became a force in the States and went back into the studio to record her fourth album and latest release, Florida.
With a focus on drums and electronic beats, Florida brings a sense of pop fun to an otherwise sensual and introspective album. Says Sophia, “Some songs are dark some are sunny, but all of them have a groove. I actually wanted the album to sound like what the intro to HBO’s True Blood looks like. I think the songs have the same kind of weirdness to them as those pictures, and that’s the American south to me.”
On top of bringing this interesting take to folk, Sophia manages her fan base using pop artist strategies. Fans can tweet at her to get her new single, she offers an acoustic version of her entire album for free with purchase of the full one and she even live streamed the recording the new album online. The new album is currently streaming on her Web site, but until it’s released, check out some tracks from her last album Jonestown below! Do you dig the pop/folk style?
I’m most excited about all my upcoming acoustic concerts. I’m releasing my new album in an acoustic version and will be celebrating that by doing a bunch of acoustic shows around Sweden this summer.
USA’s largest indie distributor CD Baby has posted a review of my latest album “Florida”. And they LOVE it. Thanks guys!
It’s not often that an album takes your breath away, and I hate to sound hyperbolic, but “Florida” actually has several “Oh my god!” moments of sheer beauty. Both joyful and melancholic, Sofia’s voice is the star, while perfectly twangy Nashville guitar backed by lush orchestrations, loping drums, and occasional electronic elements propel the songs along gently.While not sounding exactly like any one artist, this album… calls to mind everything from classic Nancy Sinatra to Belle & Sebastian to Rufus Wainwright. The references to the American south are plentiful and it’s fascinating to hear how the music of the region gets filtered through her Scandinavian sensibilities. Finally and equally noteworthy is the stellar production of the album, which is done entirely by Sofia herself. It’s a wonderfully effervescent album, and I know I’ll be listening to it a lot this summer.
Yay! I’m one of the featured artists on snowfish.com and my new album Florida is chosen as staff picks on CDbaby!
Editors Pick
author: Chris at CD Baby
Swedish pop maven Sofia Talvik’s “Jonestown” was an absolute favorite of ours at CD Baby. Now she’s back with an equally captivating collection of tunes. Where “Jonestown” was brooding, lush, and orchestral, “Florida” finds this stylistic chameleon flirting with the American South, voodoo, twang, moonshine, and gothic mystique.
