Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar 2012 #23

Merry Christmas from Dusty Monroe
Merry Christmas from Dusty Monroe

Today’s window is a special Christmas card to you all from my friend Dusty Monroe. It’s a special Christmas song about Rudolf, our favorite theme this winter ;). He’s sending it to you as a free download powered via Soundcloud!

You can find Dusty’s latest album on Swedish iTunes here!

Click here to listen to Rudolf by Dusty Monroe
Click here to listen to Rudolf by Dusty Monroe

Did you miss a day in the calendar? See all the windows in the Xmas Calendar here: https://sofiatalvik.com/julkalendern

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!

Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar 2012 #13

Sofia Talvik's Xmas Calendar, window 13
Sofia Talvik's Xmas Calendar, window 13
Sofia Talvik’s Xmas Calendar, window 13

December 13th is the celebration of Saint Lucia in Sweden. We usually celebrate by having a “Lussetåg” a Lucia parade, but instead me and Sweden’s sweetest jazz singer Anna Christoffersson are going to teach you how to bake Swedish Lucia Saffron Bread. We’re also going to sing you a Christmas song!

Watch the video here!

Still haven’t figured out what to get your lovers for Christmas and missed out on my special Christmas offer a few days ago? Don’t fret! Anna have some excellent albums that will make great Christmas gifts to anyone with good taste in music! Go here to get Anna’s albums:
American iTunes
Swedish iTunes

Sofia and Anna in California!
Sofia and Anna in California!

Did you miss a day in the calendar? See all the windows in the Xmas Calendar here: https://sofiatalvik.com/julkalendern

Don’t miss me on Chicago Radio Monday 23rd!

Sofia Talvik live on UIC Radio
Sofia Talvik live on UIC Radio
Sofia Talvik live on UIC Radio

Tune into Chicago radio show “Noteworthy” on UIC radio (The official Illinois University radio) tomorrow Monday July 23rd at 5:30pm. I’ll be chatting about the tour and might even play at tune or two. You can listen through their website.

After the show, make sure you get on the bus to the Elbo Room where I’ll be performing at 10pm. Chicago based cellist Ian Maksin will be doing a set at 9pm so don’t miss that! We’ll also play a few tunes together! I can’t wait!

[quote]It’s not that I’m a fan of most Swedish artists because they take on American genres I find favor with, but more so how they approach them. I feel that sometimes for such a decidedly American creation as folk and its long association as being music for the thinking man, there is more pressure as an American to create something that lives up to the sound of its predecessors and that sentiment can be all too obvious to the listener at times. That feeling doesn’t come across when listening to Sofia Talvik’s latest album, The Owls Are Not What They Seem. There is an effortless emphasis on melody that is influenced by the past, but never indebted to it. On “Everybody’s Favorite Concubine,” Talvik delicately glides along in a sparse setting that throws a few nods to the 60s and is relaxed in the way in it conveys emotion. Once the background vocals softly come in, everything’s extra creamy. [/quote]

Hectic but Eclectic / UIC Radio

Listen to the latest radio shows here!

Sofia Talvik live at WERS 88,9 FM
Sofia Talvik live at WERS 88,9 FM
Sofia Talvik live at WERS 88,9 FM

I’ve done a couple of radio shows the last weeks so I figured I should put up a post for those of you who missed them when they aired.

On June 14th I visited Bostons #1 music show Dropping Knowledge WMBR 88.1 FM and played a couple of songs. If you missed it you can listen here! (don’t be alarmed when it wants you to download, it’s just a little file so that you can stream it in iTunes)

[quote] In short, Sofia Talvik has the talent, but she also has something far rarer in an artist—boundless determination, and a genuine love of performance over fame. [/quote]

 

That’s what Left End WERS 88,9 FM wrote after having me over for some songs and a chat on June 24th. You can read the whole (awesome!) article here!

You can also listen to the show here or just listen to it by hitting play below: