MUSICAL MELANCHOLIA / MUSIC PORTRAITS

BEAUTIFUL SADNESS

BLUE TONES FROM THE SOUTH

Has your partner left you? Your dog died and the car broke down? Well friend, we got some music to help get you through it all. Peter Eriksson photographs and highlights his favorite melancholia musicians.

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY PETER ERIKSSON

LANGHORNE SLIM With what appears to be a never ending supply of good vibes, Sean Scolnick plays his folk tinted songs as good as always on acoustic instruments—and damn is it swinging, no matter what! Take for example, “The Way We Move” streaming on this issue’s playlist.

SARAH SHOOK & THE DISCLAIMERS Trucker country with a frontwoman singer—an attitude that nears punk with its “I do what I want” bravado. Equal parts attitude and feeling for classic rock/country, paired with nice slow ballad style numbers.

NAPHTA SINGS Naphta Sings, aka Fredrik Svensson, is from Hälsingland. The legacy from the American musical tradition is clearly there, but there is a minor Scandinavian tone in the melancholic melodies. Not to mention he is a newly awarded doctorate in Literature History (dissertation written about the fantastic Cormac McCarthy) has been published so far, can’t wait to see more!

COLTER WALL Grown up on the Canadian prairies of Saskatchewan and barely 25 years old, he is the contemporary answer to names like Cash, Jennings, and Haggard. His voice is deep and graveled, and there’s a good chance that with some more years, it will only get deeper in its baritone beauty.

CHRISTOPHER PAUL STELLING Imagine a sort of modern day Woody Guthrie, well Christopher Paul Stelling comes pretty close to that description. Constantly on tour—in 2017 he played over 250 shows! Always with his beat up guitar in hand, and sometimes accompanied by a comp band.

TALLEST MAN ON EARTH Kristian Mattson has in the last 12 years climbed out from Leksand, Sweden, up to some big stages in the USA and all over the world. So much so that he is probably more famous on the other side of the pond than he is at home. Finger picking guitar and banjo lines that create sweeping and strong melodies leave us speechless. Go listen so you know 70 AMERICAN TRAILSwhat words can’t ever hope to describe.

SUMMER | 2021

CEDRIC BURNSIDE The grandchild to the legendary RL Burnside, and the son to RL’s son-in-law Calvin Jackson who played drums for RL—keeping it in the family! Cedric’s proud ancestry of “Mississippi Hill Country Blues” is carried on with honor and in style.

JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE When Justin Townes Earle was found dead in August 2019, a wife, a daughter, and the whole world lost an extraordinary human being who was full of musical greatness, and pure talent. What happened after, well no one was prepared for. The latest and last album by Earle, Saint Of Lost Causes was one of 2019’s most beautiful and memorable albums. Although, it is hard to think of the title of this album knowing everything that has since transpired. Dad, Steve Earle, is now recording a record, interpreting some of Justin’s material, with all of the profits going towards a fund for Justin’s daughter, Etta.

WHITNEY ROSE Like Colter Wall, she’s originally from Canada, but has deep roots in classic 70’s era Country music. Can come off as pleasant, but there is a lot more in common with Loretta Lynn than Tammy Wynette when we talk about attitude (those who know, know).

DAVID RAMIREZ Lives in Austin with Mexican heritage. Has a voice that can move from subdued, slow, and inward, to an absolute gale force hurricane in intensity (an effect which is best heard live). Plays in the band Gloriette, a ‘super group’ of the young up-and-coming Austin based country rock vanguard.

BROR GUNNAR JANSSON It is hard to imagine that Bror Gunnar has roots in Lerum, Sweden, cause when you hear him you would likely place that voice down in the swamps of Mississippi. For some reason, very popular in France and no doubt going to break out onto the main stage here soon.

OLD SEA BRIGADE The young Ben Cramer, a Nashville resident, has received an unbelievable and seemingly unfathomable hit on Spotify— “Love Brought Weight” a track with nearly 37 million listens. Not quite Country, but more folk inspired in its singer/songwriter style, with just a hint of electronic elements.

ANGEL OLSEN From scaled down lo-fi indie sounds of Folk and Southern Goth influences under her carrier, to a more alternative orchestral indie pop/rock sound. All of it is apparent in the highly celebrated record, “All Mirrors”.

ZION, 4 SEPTEMBER, 09:22. Vägen slingrar sig som en 2 000 mil lång asfaltsorm och vi rider genom öknar, mellan berg, och längs floder. Vi har lämnat Arizona och obemärkt korsat ännu en delstatsgräns. Utah är på många sätt ett slags inverterad spegling av sin granne. Samma dammiga röda stigar som ledde oss ner i Grand Canyons bråddjup tar oss nu upp mot Zions höjder och genom Arches uråldriga portaler. Den dallrande hettan följer oss alltjämt, liksom den utomjordiska känsla som präglar landskapet.

CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD Chris Robinson is best known in Sweden for playing with Black Crowes—well maybe it is actually his relationship with Goldie Hawn’s daughter, Kate Hudson. Either way, if you like 70’s inspired rock with a psychedelic flair then this is something for you.

HAYLEY THOMPSON-KING A schooled and trained opera singer that broke away from the world of classical music, all for the sweet tones of Country and Americana, with just a hint of the psychedelic. If you are in the proximity of seeing her perform live, we highly recommend getting a ticket!