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!

Praise for “One Last Wish For Christmas”

Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!

A few days ago I released my yearly Christmas single. It’s called “One Last Wish For Christmas” and it’s recorded partly in the US and partly in Sweden (thank you internet). The single has been very well received and here’s a selection of quotes from some writers around the globe:

[quote]  “One Last Wish For Christmas” has the feel of a simple and intimate Indie Folk song while simultaneously being rich, full, and immediately pop accessible.  It’s sort of Hank Williams meets the Pogues “Fairytale Of New York”, but much prettier. (…) It’s just wonderful! [/quote]

Read the full review at Stubby’s House of Christmas (blog)

 

[quote]One Last Wish for Christmas” is “a story about love, loss, and afterthought at Christmas.” It is heartbreakingly beautiful, and like many of her songs, it stays with me long after I’ve finished listening to it.”[/quote]

Read the full review at Free Christmas Music (blog)

 

[quote] During the years I’ve fallen in love with her beautiful alternative folk songs. Especially with the sad ballad Snowy White River (2009). This year I’m pleasantly surprised to learn that Sofia has returned to her roots.” [/quote]

Read the full review at Lie in the Sound (German blog)

You can listen below and click the player to download the single for free or “pay what you want”. Merry Christmas!

Daytrotter session released today!

[quote] The people in Talvik’s songs are weary, but they’ve also, miraculously, retained the stars in their eyes, those blazing gleams that they’ll be damned if they ever let get rattled or ripped from them. [/quote] – read more…

Sofia Talvik on Daytrotter
Sofia Talvik on Daytrotter

My Daytrotter session is released today, and for all of you who asked about which album the Wichita Lineman cover is on, and I’ve said none – here it is! For all of you who asked on which album the Swedish folk song is on – you’ll have to wait a little longer.

I’m super excited to be a part of the Daytrotter tribe and I hope you enjoy my session. Courtesy of Daytrotter you can also grab a free copy (or pay what you want) of my new album The Owls Are Not What They Seem!

For you who are unfamiliar with Daytrotter (shame on you!) here’s a little description on what it’s all about:

Daytrotter is a website for the recording studio Horseshack, which hosts recording sessions with many popular and typically upcoming indie music acts. The sessions can be compared to that of a radio station’s lounge recordings, where musicians passing through the town can record live in the studio. Due to their tendency to offer an eclectic sampling of music, and their production style the sessions have been compared to that of the legendary Peel Sessions. Daytrotter have served more than 21.5 million song downloads. Other noted artists that have been featured on Daytrotter is Bon Iver, Counting Crows, Fleet Foxes Ani DiFranko to mention a few.

CD Baby blog about my US tour up now!

All the states we've covered in 9 months of touring
CD Baby blog - read it here
CD Baby blog – read it here

As an indie artist, CD Baby has been my loyal companion and part of my career for many years. I was lucky enough to met the CD Baby people at the Folk Alliance international conference earlier this year and they emailed me a while ago and asked me to write a blog about how to plan and execute a US tour.

When I got the questions I felt like, hey, my answers will be sooo long it’ll turn into a book, because there’s just so much I’ve learned along the way and there’s so many details that I could include. But I tried to keep it brief so that you wouldn’t loose site of the purpose (or your excitment on planning your tour) halfway through all the tiedious details on how to get a US drivers license etc. I hope I covered the basic “need to knows” as well as some good tips for artists, touring or not, and the rest is out there in cyberspace if you google it 🙂 Read it here!

All the states we've covered in 9 months of touring
All the states we’ve covered in 9 months of touring