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!

Winners of the Xmas poem challenge announced!

Merry Christmas! Here's the winners!
Merry Christmas! Here's the winners!
Merry Christmas! Here’s the winners!

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.

Upcoming Ohio dates and Scene magazine!

Clevescene recommends my gig at the Spider

I’m in the Buckeye state! That’s Ohio for all of you who are not familiar with this somewhat weird nick name. I actually had to look up what it means and here’s what I found out. Not only did the state have a lot of Buckeye trees but William Henry Harrison who ran for president in 1840 used a log cabin made out of buckeye wood his trademark and the name of the tree itself comes from the markings on the nut that resembles the eye of a buck, the Indians called it “hetuck” or “buckeye.” So that’s today’s history lession for you. Now, let’s focus on what’s yet to come!

I’m doing a bunch of gigs here in the Buckeye state and I hope to see you there of course!  Here’s all upcoming Ohio dates:

Monday, 07/09     Cleveland, OH     Barking Spider Tavern
Wednesday, 07/11     Akron, OH     Acoustix Cafe
Thursday, 07/12     Akron, OH     Annabells Bar and Lounge
Friday, 07/13     Columbus, OH     Woodland Tavern
Tuesday, 07/17     Cincinnati, OH     Sitwell’s Coffee House
Wednesday, 07/18     Cincinnati, OH     Mayday Northside
Thursday, 07/19     Dayton, OH     South Park Tavern

For times and ticket links please visit my gig page here!

Cleveland’s Scene Magazine hooked up with me a while ago to pick my brains about the gigs here in Cleveland and you can read all about it here!

Clevescene recommends my gig at the Spider
Clevescene recommends my gig at the Spider

Live in Jersey City today Friday!

Sofia Talvik live
Sofia Talvik live
Sofia Talvik live

I’m playing a last minute show at Groove on the Grove today June 1st at 5pm in Jersey City close to the Path Station Grove Street! It’s kind of windy right now but I’m sure we can keep the rain away if you come out to see my show!

I’m also doing two more shows in NYC at Gizzi’s Cafe on the 6th and Ella Lounge on the 7th. Check out all upcoming gigs here!

SXSW spotlight!

Sofia Talvik live in San Antonio
Sofia Talvik live in San Antonio
Sofia Talvik live in San Antonio

I just arrived in sunny Austin. After heavy rain in Dallas and San Antonio I was wondering if SXSW would rain away this year, but as soon as we drove into Austin, the sky was blue, the sun blaring and people were half naked on the streets. Just like it should be.

Nordic Spotlight had the good taste to check in with me to see what my SXSW schedule looks like, and here’s their interview with me!

Hypetrak also recommended my second play showcases at SXSW. Most of them you don’t need a wristband for so check out their guide here!