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.
In September I’m releasing my new album “Drivin’ & Dreaming LIVE” with live recordings we did in different venues on the US tour. It will be a full length CD with a mix of songs from all my albums, recorded with room mics and from the sound board to give you the ultimate live experience, just like you were at one of my concerts.
Many of you asked me about the Swedish folk song that I sang in my concerts. It will be featured on the album.
The album is up for pre-order now, and if you pre-order it before August 2nd you will get an exclusive download of “There’s A Man In A Smiling Bag” free of charge, directly to your inbox. The download is acoustic versions of all the songs from my latest album “The Owls Are Not What They Seem”, recorded outside in scenic locations around the US.
To pre-order go here! and scroll down to “pledge $25” in the menu on the right hand side. Click that box and follow the instructions.
The pre-order for the live album and the book will be open until August 2nd, but even if you order now you will not be charged until August 2nd when the pre-order closes. Note that pre-order is the ONLY way to get the book and it will only be printed in a limited edition. So after August 2nd, there will be no way and nowhere to get a copy unless you pre-ordered.
The order is made via Kickstarter and Amazon, so if you have shopped at Amazon before it will be easy as pie to just log in and order. (If you are unsure how to order, here’s a video that will guide you.
Everyone who places an order for the live album or the book will get a complimentary download of the acoustic version of my album “The Owls Are Not What They Seem” direct to your email.
Some info about the album and the book:
Drivin’ & Dreaming – One artist’s odyssey through America
I spent a year and a half from 2011 to 2013 traveling across America in an old RV, playing over 250 shows in 37 states. I named the tour “Drivin’ & Dreaming”. During the tour I met amazingly wonderful, weird and inspiring people, and I got to see and experience every corner of the US.
This book is the product of all the stories and pictures from the “Drivin’ & Dreaming” tour that I collected along the way. The book is in coffee table format with beautiful pictures and funny short stories. You will be able to open the book to any page and just start reading. It will be around 200 pages and you’ll get to experience the life on the road, breakdowns, the wonderful people that came to our rescue, weird gigs, breathtaking places and smiling faces. The book also contains a collection of my favorite recipes that we cooked in the RV.
Drivin’ & Dreaming LIVE – full length album (CD)
We recorded almost all of the 250+ shows on the tour and have chosen the best of the best to be featured on this live album. If you weren’t able to make it to any of the concerts, here’s your chance to experience it, just like you were there in the room with me. All the recordings on the live album were recorded with room microphones and direct sound from the board. The final product will be a high-quality live album mixed and mastered from these source recordings. Many of you asked about the Swedish folk song that I sang on the shows, this song will be featured on the album!
You can get the book + live album for $100 (including shipping in the US, +$5 for outside the US) or the live album alone for $25. There is also a possibility to get some other cool stuff, like your name in the thank you notes in the book. Check it out here!
When the pre-order closes on August 2nd the album and the book will be sent to the printers. You will have your copy approximately a month later.
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.
Gustaf and Jens are two guys who just happen to love beer. Well tell me about a guy who doesn’t you might think, but seriously, these guys love beer so much they actually brew their own harvest beer once a year, and it’s so popular it sells out instantly in Sweden.
in 2011 Gustaf and Jens invited me to play at their outdoors pop up restaurant at Öland’s Harvest Festival, so now I figured I’d ask them if they would be a part of my Christmas Calendar. In this window Jens will show you how to make a Swedish Christmas drink with beer called “Mumma”. They will also give you a short history lesson, how about that!
You can find information about Gustaf an Jens and their yearly harvest beer here! If you go to their website you will also find the recipes of some of the delicious food they serve with their craft beer. I’ve typed up the recipe for Mumma for you below. I hear it especially tasty if you listen to my new Christmas single while you drink it! Enjoy!
Gustaf och Jens Mumma recipe!
11 oz lager beer 11 oz dark beer; stout or similar 8 oz sparkling water/mineral water (you can add some sugar to it to sweeten it up) 3 oz sherry Stir and serve!
Jens and Gustaf
Gustaf Waesterberg: Chef with a special love for organic food turned photographer. Jens Skrubbe: Beer sommelier and bar manager at Pressklubben in Stockholm.
It was so hard to decide the winners of the Christmas poem contest as there were so many great contributions. However, the contest was for a poem to put on your Christmas gift and there were two poems who stood out in the crowd and earned a 1st and 2nd place in the contest. A huge thank you to all participants! You can check out the challenge here!
The winner is *drumroll* Jackie LeBlanc who wrote a poem for a pair of fuzzy toe socks she’s giving for a friend (oops! I hope I didn’t ruin the surprise!) Jackie will receive a secret Christmas gift from Sofi.. I mean Santa. Here’s Jackies winning poem:
Each day, each week, each month, each season… We’ve become friends and that’s the reason – Thru weather of rain, snow or heat.. Having you as a friend just can’t be beat! I care if you’re freezin’ -with ice on your nose – So I give you this gift, For your ten little toes!
On an honorable second place is Juliana Palmcook with her ingenious poem about a Christmas gift everyone can give no matter if you’re rich or poor… guess what! Juliana will get a special Christmas greeting in the mail!
My gift cannot be bought, It doesn’t have a price tag; yet it is priceless, It will keep you warm on a cold winter day, It helps chase the blues away, Although once in awhile you see it at the stores being exchanged, My gift is free but with arms attached, If you don’t need it now you can get a rain-check, There is a rebate but not like you think, It is yours forever to remember, I don’t know who could ask for more,because it is really big, My gift is wrapped with arms, Can you guess my gift? Hint, it is a 3 letter word… I hope that rings a jingle bell.
