E – Update #6

Marcus and Sofia playing live. Photo: Jonny Andersson

I’m so happy to announce that we met our goal in the pledge and thanks to all of you who pledged we will be able to release the last part of L.O.V.E next week. If you haven’t pledged you can still pre-order the physical CD, T-shirts and other goods up till November 1st. After that the EP will only be available as a digital download.

For this update I thought we’d grill the producer a little bit, so I tied him to his amplifier and made him answer all these questions…

Marcus Högquist recording some guitar
Marcus Högquist recording some guitar

Marcus Högquist, you are the producer of “E – Part Four of L.O.V.E” and you are also the guitarist in Sofia’s band since many years, how do you think this recording was different than the others you’ve made with Sofia?
More guitars 🙂 The previous recordings I´ve done with Sofia have all been different from each other. For example, the first one we recorded almost completely live with just two microphones. All of us sitting in the same room and playing together. And for that one we used mostly acoustic instruments. For the following records we have been doing more and more overdubs, recorded separetly and used more electronic sounds. This time I’ve tried to capture the essence of Sofia’s songs and let them guide me toward where I was going. Maybe in some cases I’ve put them in a slightly new context, soundwise.

What’s your favorite song on the EP and why?
I like them all. But if I have to pick just one I’d say If  I had a man. I’m really pleased with how it came out.

If you would describe this EP as the love child of two bands/artists, which would that be?
John McEnroe and Mats Wilander 😉

If you would have had an unlimited budget, is there anything you would have done differently?
I think I would have recorded the songs live with the band in a big fancy studio somewhere in the countryside. We would stay there for a few days and be totally focused on making the best record ever. For relaxation between the sessions some of us would play some tennis, Christian would go fishing in the lake just outside the studio and Sofia would probably get a nice massage.

How come you chose “Lower Case Letters” as your re-make song?
Actually the new rhythm feel of that song came out of a mistake during a rehearsal that Sofia and I where doing for a promotion tour a few years ago. So for the following tour we decided to stick with that new rhythm arrangement and we did on our last US tour with the band as well. Then, when I was asked to pick an old song for this recording I just thougt it would be nice to record it that way.

Marcus and Sofia playing live. Photo: Jonny Andersson
Marcus and Sofia playing live. Photo: Jonny Andersson

What was your biggest challenge as a producer?
Because I recorded a lot of the stuff myself, I’d say being the the producer and the musician at the same time.

Exactly how many guitar tracks can we expect on “E – Part Four of L.O.V.E” ? 😉
Billions!!!

What’s your best words of wisdom when producing an album?
Keep an open mind. It might be good to have a plan for how you want the songs to sound. But be open for new ideas during the process and let them inspire you.

Thanks Marcus! We look forward to hearing your awesome creation!

“E – Part Four of L.O.V.E” is being released November 1st.

E – Update #5

E - Part Four of L.O.V.E

We’re down to the final week before “E – Part Four of L.O.V.E” is about to released, which means that this is you last chance to pre-order a CD, T-shirt or any of the other items on the pledge site.

All the items are hand made by me and are exclusive to this EP, meaning they will only be available for pre-order and can’t be purchased after the release. All the CDs have hand made covers and are signed as well. The posters are signed and numbered.

You’ve heard some previews of the songs and I hope you like them. Today I’m posting a little video blog from when we’re mixing the song Lower Case Letters. As you know my producers have each chosen one of my previously released songs to make a re-make of and Marcus chose Lower Case  Letters from the album Jonestown.

As usual you’ll get to hear a preview of the finished song at the end of the video.

E – Update #4

E - Part Four of L.O.V.E

Guys! It’s just over a week left until we have to finish “E – Part Four of L.O.V.E” and get it out to you in all the corners of the world. But I need you to help me get to the goal of the pledge. It’s just 30% more and we’re there. So go and support your favorite artist (me!) today!!

This little video blog is from the studio when we recorded vocals for my song “If I had a man”. You’ll also get to hear an exclusive preview of the finished song. How great is that?! Enjoy! (and pledge here!)

Click here to listen: Sofia Talvik – If I Had a Man

New video for ‘Delusional’

V by Sofia Talvik

Hurra Hurra! I’m celebrating that we reached 100% on the pledge by releasing the video for ‘Delusional’ – the first single from ‘V – Part Three of L.O.V.E‘. Thank you so much all of you that have helped us finish yet another EP in the L.O.V.E saga! This week I’ll start printing tees and posters and all the other stuff that you ordered. I hope you like this EP as much as the previous ones 🙂

This awesome video is made by Martin Obert who filmed, edited and did all the shadow puppets by himself! I’m so glad to present to you ‘Delusional’:

V – Update #5

Delusional by Sofia Talvik, video by Martin Obert

It’s just a few weeks left until we’re releasing ‘V – Part Three of L.O.V.E’ and I just got this awesome video for the single ‘Delusional’. The video is made by Martin Obert and I asked him about his inspiration for the video, and here’s what he said:

[quote]
I imagined the video when I was coming home late in the night. I was waiting for the bus and as I was sitting leaned forward with my hands together a lamp above threw a shadow on the ground. It was shaped a little like a human head and then it stroke me – there is a cool video in there.

I made the video under my table; with two lamps, two hands, a camera and a laptop for live view. I never did any hand shadows so I’ve also had to learn how and experiment a lot. That’s what made it challenging and interesting – I had to come up with a story that is possible to tell with a very limited set of expressive elements.
[/quote]

Check out this awesome little teaser for the video. The full length video will be released soon so hang in there!

If you haven’t pledged yet, please help us fund this project by ordering any of the cool stuff here!

‘Delusional’ by Sofia Talvik, Video by Martin Obert