swedish singer Archives - Sofia Talvik - Americana / Folk with Swedish Roots

October 25, 2012October 25, 2012

SF top picks and Cali dates!

I’ve hit California and I’ve already done a few shows around the northern part, but I have many left. I hope to see you in San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles and San Diego in the near future. Here’s some of my upcoming dates, to see all my upcoming gigs go to https://sofiatalvik.com/gigs. Note that the selection below is only a handfull of the upcoming gigs around CA.

The San Francisco Chronicle has also chosen my gig in Oakland tonight at Disco Volante and my gig at Amnesia Bar in SF on the 30th as their top picks for this week! The show at Amnesia will also be the 200th gig on the tour so please bring all your friends and come celebrate with me!

[quote] An understated, folky Swedish singer-songwriter who alternates between beatific odes and disturbingly dark musings, Sofia Talvik possesses a voice that’s translucent, soft and deceptively cool. [/quote]

SF Gate

Tips! If you get tickets early you can take part of some great discounts and special offers!

Oakland
Thursday, 10/25, Disco Volante, Time: 8:00 pm. $5

San Francisco 
Tuesday, 10/30, Amnesia Bar, Time: 9:30 pm. GET TICKETS

San Luis Obispo 
Saturday, 11/03, Kreuzberg Cafe, Time: 8:00 pm.

Los Angeles 
Thursday, 11/08, The Coffee Gallery Backstage, Time: 8:00 pm. $15 
Thursday, 11/15, Hotel Café, Time: 7:00 pm. GET TICKETS

San Diego 
Wednesday, 11/21, Lestat’s Coffee House, Time: 9:30 pm. GET TICKETS

December 5, 2011April 26, 2018

Shoot me with your Winter Canon

My annual Xmas single is released and I’ve already gotten some great response to it. It’s funny though how my little pun with the cover and the title seemed to pass people by 🙂 The song is written in a manner that is called “canon” in musical terms. Wiki explains the canon like this: In music, a canon is a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration (e.g., quarter rest, one measure, etc.).

But as it sounds just like cannon, I put a little cannon shooting snowflakes on the cover.

Here’s some links to the reviews that’s out so far:

Sofia returns to her Indie folk pop roots on a very pretty down-tempo number with beautiful imagery of the season. It’s entitled “Winter Canon”, which is a cute title but doesn’t really express how lovely the song actually is. About the only thing wrong with this single is that Sofia didn’t include her picture on the cover art.
(read more at) Stubby’s house of Christmas

She’s definitely one of the finest Swedish singer-songwriter, and there are doubtlessly many good ones. This year’s song is called Winter Canon and it matches the expectations easily. Her soft, bright voice makes this tune really special.
(read more at) Lie in the Sound

“Winter Canon” has a very old-fashioned American Christmas feel to it….I recommend giving it a listen, downloading it and going out of your way to do something for someone else.
(read more at) The Useless Critic

Get the single for free here!

June 13, 2011June 23, 2011

Great review from Bluesbunny

The lovely as always Bluesbunny has written a nice little piece about my new EP ‘O – part two of L.O.V.E’ and given me four carrots to snack on! Thanks Bluesbunny!

[quote]

O – Part Two of L.O.V.E” by Sofia Talvik is, as the title suggests, the second part in a series of fan funded EPs by one of the most affecting Swedish singer songwriters to cross the threshold here at Bluesbunny Towers.

It could easily be said that there are no surprises here but you should not take that as a criticism as I simply mean that this EP maintains the high standards that we have come to expect of Ms Talvik. The songs might well play out like four more rounds in the boxing ring of life and that actually made for an interesting, if not entirely unexpected for connoisseurs of female endeavour in the world of pop music, conclusion.

Sure enough, “Glow” easily charms with clever urban metaphors and hushed background vocals but it is “Awfully Aware” that engages the mind. I happened to be rummaging through the vinyl archives here and I came across an album by Janis Ian called “Aftertones” from 1975 (when Ms Ian would have been of similar age to Ms Talvik) and was struck by the similarities. Both are clearly intelligent songwriters with similar lyrical motivations and it was easy to draw parallels between the aforementioned “Awfully Aware” and Ms Ian’s “”Boy I Really Tied One On”. I think that speaks highly of Ms Talvik’s abilities as a very human songwriter which is further reinforced by the cool realism expressed in “The War”.

Rounding off this EP is “King Of The Willow Tree” previously featured on her album “Florida” but here receiving a minor makeover with added synths and spaghetti western moments but otherwise little altered . Possessed of both intelligence and charm, Sofia Talvik proves, once again, that music can engage mind, body and soul at the same time.
[/quote]

The EP is available as a download here.

December 2, 2010April 26, 2018

Santa – reviews

Sofia Talvik annual Christmas single "Santa (can you bring me someone else this year)"

My new Xmas single “Santa” has only been out for a day but I’ve already got some lovely reviews:

Women’s Radio has written a fun review:

““Santa” has that 80’s music vibe that will make listeners bob their heads unknowingly. Imagine Santa Claus bouncing around with a Mohawk, jean jacket and tight leather pants. It is a cheerful, bubbly and hope-filled piece that will bring positive energy to Talvik’s cause this year.”
Read the full review here.

Free Christmas Music Blog says:

“This year’s single, “Santa (can you bring me someone else this year)”, was just released today, and it’s every bit as good as I expected it to be (which is a relief, because I often worry when my expectations get too high for something). Musically, “Santa” is a fun, synthesizer-based pop song that would not sound out of place on a mid-80s Madonna album. If you’re a fan of songs like “Last Christmas”, this song is a must hear.”
Read full review here

Santas Working Overtime has chosen “Santa” as song of the day! Thanks!

Wears the Trousers magazine did a nice little write up – check it out here! .. as did the lovely blog With Music in My Mind!

Stubby’s House of Christmas wrote in their review:>
“I love this woman. And every year Sofia Talvik releases a free Christmas song, so what’s not to love? This year’s effort is a fairly uptempo danceable indie track, even if the lyrics are the “I’ve been alone since we split up” type. It might be her catchiest yet.”
Read the whole review here

Fab Womens Radio has already put “Santa” in rotation and writes on their website:
“Highlights? Just about every single track, but why not start with this week’s FEATURED FEMMEP3, a glorious new track from our favorite Swedish singer-songwriter, Sofia Talvik, titled, “Santa”.”

Download your copy of “Santa” here

March 7, 2010December 10, 2018

Nordic times in Seattle

We’ve played at the Hartley Historic Mansion in Everett, WA and the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle. These kinds of gigs are always quite different as there’s such a mixed crowd. You have the people who know your music there and the people who come because they have a Nordic heritage and want to listen to a Swedish singer. Fortunately no one asked me to play ABBA as one guy that came up to me in the middle of my set on Hawaii. We sold out on all our albums so that was very nice and the audience was so great, really attentive and respectful. It’s such a nice change from bar gigs where there’s always people who talk and don’t care about the music.

Karen Pauley from the radio show Nordic Roots and Branches did an excellent job with the gigs. She was the one who first invited me here last year so I’m happy we could include it in our tour this time! Check ou her radio show here!

A big thank you to all that came to the shows! We had such a great time! Stay tuned for som video clips.

seattle
Playing at the Nordic Heritage Museum

seattle

seattle
The guys made friends with the guy that sold beer!