Sofia Talvik – Americana / Folk with Swedish Roots
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.
I was hoping to do a fun post about SXSW today, but instead I’ll have to write to tell you that tonight’s gig at Super Happy Fun Land in Houston is cancelled because our tour bus broke down in Austin today. It’s in the shop now so the rest of the gigs in Houston should be on as scheduled. Guess you’ll have to tip me double or buy more CDs next time so I can afford some food after the mechanic took all my money đ
Innan jag börjar gotta mig i den nya fina recensionen min skiva The Owls Are Not What They Seem har fÄtt sÄ vill jag gÀrna pÄlysa lite trÄkiga nyheter om den svenska media- och musikbranschen. Eller jag nyheter Àr det vÀl inte direkt, i alla fall inte för oss independent-artister som kör vÄrt eget race med egna skivbolag.
Mitt bolag Makaki Music som jag drivit sedan 2006 Ă€r givetvis med i SOM – Svenska Oberoende Musiker. Och idag fick jag den hĂ€r hemska statistiken frĂ„n dem i ett mail:
“Under vinterns arbete i SOM kring sammanslagningen EMI/Universal har statistik framkommit som visat pĂ„ en Ă€nnu mer massiv dominans inom media Ă€n vi tidigare trott (90-95 % majorreleaser pĂ„ Europeisk nivĂ„) och dĂ„ frĂ€mst pĂ„ radio.”
Det Àr tufft som det Àr för oss DIY-artister. Men att svenska media Àr sÄ jÀvla köpta (ursÀkta kraftuttrycket) fÄr mig att mÄ smÄtt illa. Jag slÀpper skiva ungefÀr med 1,5-2 Ärs mellanrum och TOANWTS Àr min 5e(!) skiva. Varje gÄng kÀmpar jag hÄrt med inspelning och sedan minst lika hÄrt med promotion. Men vad hjÀlper det nÀr man Àr bortrÀknad direkt för att man inte ligger pÄ ett storbolag?
I November förra Ă„ret tog jag mitt pick och pack och drog till USA för att turnĂ©ra pĂ„ obestĂ€md tid framĂ„t (vi siktar pĂ„ 2 Ă„r). Idag kĂ€nner jag att det var det enda rĂ€tta, för jag har ju Ă€ndĂ„ ingen chans att fĂ„ in mina lĂ„tar pĂ„ rotation pĂ„ svensk radio – Ă€ven om 7 Miles Wide frĂ„n min nya skiva blev framröstad av bĂ„de jury OCH svenska folket som veckans överlĂ€gsna vinnare i p4 radio stockholm för ett tag sedan. Vad svenska folket gillar bryr sig nĂ€mligen inte radio och tidningar om. LĂ„ter jag bitter? Well kanske lite, men kan ni klandra mig nĂ€r statistiken Ă€r som den Ă€r?
NÄvÀl, pÄ grund av detta blev jag extra glad idag nÀr Uppsala Nya Tidning gav TOANWTS en GRYM recension! Just dÀrför tÀnker jag ta och publicera hela hÀr och nu!
[quote]SINGER/SONGWRITER.
PÄ sitt femte album lÄter förra Uppsalabon Sofia Talvik sin akustiska musik bli Àn mer avskalad men samtidigt ocksÄ Àn mer mÄngbottnad. Den spröda, sÄrbara sÄngen och de skimrande vackra refrÀngerna skapar drömska stÀmningslÀgen, dÀr en kÀnsla av skymning och ett ödsligt, vidstrÀckt nattlandskap kommer allt nÀrmare ju mer man lyssnar.
Trots ett synbart vÀnt anslag mÄlar musiken fram bilder av ett annalkande mörker dÀr oanade faror lurpassar. Kontrasterna mellan det sköra och det hotfulla gör att skivan kÀnns allt annat Àn förutsÀgbar och helheten Àr synnerligen fÀngslande.[/quote]
Av: Stefan Warnqvist
At first it seemed like a real challenge to book gigs in Alabama and Mississippi, and some people actually told us we would probably be better off skipping them altogether. Well, let me tell you I’m pretty happy we ignored that advice. If I haven’t played the best venues there is in Alabama, I think my head is going to explode because the places I’ve played here have been some of the best gigs on my tour so far. In beautiful Birmingham I was invited to play Moonlight on the Mountain and got to discover a great singer/songwriter called Nathan Reich who also happens to play guitar in the new hip band Flights. In Auburn I played the low key intimate The Gnu’s Room and in Tuscaloosa I played at The Bama Theatre with local Sparrow and the Ghost and also did a show at the Alabama Art Kitchen. In Cullman I had standing ovations at the 60’s style coffee house Berkely Bob’s Coffee House. Alabama has been so great, it’s actually the only state where I’ve had ONLY good shows.
So here’s a few pics and videos. See you in Arkansas and Texas!
Performing Delusional at Bama Theatre
Just had to share some of these great fan reviews I’ve received for the new album. After all the real critics are the listeners:
[quote] Sofia Talvik’s mastery of the acoustic has never been more evident than in her latest album – The Owls Are Not What They Seem. Her fifth album, in which Sofia has ‘gone back to basics’ is a stunning display of her vocal prowess and lyrical talent… unpretentious, yet powerfully moving. I have had TOANWTS for only a few days now, but have listened to it probably a dozen times now… and each time is even better than the last. Thank you, Sofia! [/quote]
Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw (USA)
[quote] You’ve really outdone yourself on the sound on this album Sofia. I always expect great music from you, but this has gone way past those expectations. [/quote]
Allison Renee (Canada)
Today I’m releasing my 5th album “The Owls Are Not What They Seem”. Thank you everyone who pre-ordered the CD and to all my fans who pledged for the four EPs in L.O.V.E that preceded this album. (To make it clear for those of you who haven’t heard the EPs – this is a totally different production.)
I’m shipping all of the pre-ordered signed albums today. You who have pre-ordered will also get your download codes today. And for you who missed out on the physical release here’s some links to where you can listen. You will still be able to listen and purchase a download in any format you prefer here: Sofia’s music store.
If you’d rather go through the middle man, you can listen and purchase a download here (and probably a bunch of other online stores too):
Spotify
CDbaby
Amazon
iTunes (please rate and write something here if you like it)
Here’s a live video of one of the songs from the album performed at Moonlight on the Mountain in Birmingham, AL on my Drivin’ & Dreaming tour that I’m currently doing in the US.