Having finally heard "Säkert! på engelska", it's no wonder that Annika Norlin was reluctant to translate her work to English. This is wordy, complicated stuff and while she did a more than admirable job making it work, it's still kinda messy at times, much like the emotional content of the material. Fitting, I suppose, though perhaps not quite as poetic as the original. Still, even less-than-stellar Annika is far, far better than most, whether it's with Säkert! or Hello Saferide or whatever else she sets her mind to, and I'm sure that all of us with lackluster Svenska skills are more than glad she took the time to bother.
We knew it was coming, now it's confirmed to be one step closer: Annika Norlin has re-recorded Säkert! material in English. No idea when it'll be out, but I'm looking forward to it.
Best album: Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Robyn - Body Talk Säkert! - Facit The Radio Dept. - Clinging To a Scheme
Best artist: Håkan Hellström Johnossi Oskar Linnros Petter Robyn
Best song: Anna Bergendahl - This Is My Life Daniel Adams-Ray - Gubben I Lådan Eric Saade - Manboy Erik Grönwall - Higher Johnossi - What's The Point Mohombi - Bumpy Ride Oskar Linnros - Från Och Med Du Robyn - Dancing On my Own Salem Al Fakir - Keep On Walking Swedish House Mafia – One
Best group: Dungen - Skit I Allt Hästpojken - Från Där Jag Ropar Johnossi - Mavericks Kent - En Plats I Solen The Radio Dept. - Clinging To A Scheme
Best folk/visa: Blandade Artister - Sonja Åkesson Tolkad Av First Aid Kit - The Big Black & The Blue Jonas Knutsson - Blåslåtar Ola Magnell - Rolös Toni Holgersson - Ibland Kallar Jag Det Kärlek
Best hardrock/metal: Ghost - Opus Eponymous Khoma - A Final Storm Pascal - Orkanen Närmar Sig Sabaton - Coat Of Arms Watain - Lawless Darkness
Best jazz: Dan Berglunds Tonbruket - Tonbruket Goran Kajfes - X/Y Magnus Carlson & The Moon Ray Quintet - Echoes Oddjob - Clint Peter Asplund Quartet - Asplund Meets Bernstein
Best songwriter: Annika Norlin & Henrik Oja - Facit Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Klas Åhlund & Robyn - Body Talk Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Pernilla Andersson - Ö
Best female artist: Anna Von Hausswolff - Singing FromThe Grave Britta Persson - Current Affair Medium Rare Pernilla Andersson - Ö Robyn - Body Talk Säkert! - Facit
Best male artist: Daniel Adams-Ray - Svart Vitt Och Allt Däremellan Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Salem Al Fakir - Ignore This The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt
Best newcomer: Anna Von Hausswolff - Singing From The Grave Ceo - White Magic First Aid Kit - The Big Black & The Blue Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Swedish House Mafia - Until One
Best producer: Adrian Lux Joakim Åhlund & Håkan Hellström Klas Åhlund Max Martin Red One
Best international success: Dungen Max Martin Red One Robyn Swedish House Mafia
Best lyrics: Annika Norlin - Facit Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Ola Magnell - Rolös Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Plura Jonsson - Kärlekens Väg - En Mässa
Best urban/dance: Boeoes Kaelstigen - Tanum Teleport Familjen - Mänskligheten Petter - En Räddare I Nöden PH3 - PH3 Löser Ett Fall Swedish House Mafia - Until One
Best Innovator: Johnossi Robyn Nomy Magnus Weideskog Iamamiwhoami
Winners will be announced at a ceremony at Kungliga Operan in Stockholm on January 17.
Preview a number of the tracks from the new Sonja Åkesson tribute comp just released on : http://blogs.playgroundmusic.com/sweden/artister/sonja-akesson-tolkad-av
Featured artists include Kajsa Gritt, Sofia Karlsson, Britta Persson, Frida Hyvönen and Annika Norlin (Hello Saferide, Säkert!).
PSL reports that Swedish poet Sonja Åkesson has had her words put to music by an illustrious cast of female artists, including Kajsa Gritt, Britta Persson, Annika Norlin, Sofia Karlsson and Nina Ramsby, and will be released as an album on November 24. Full tracklist details: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2010/10/28/frida-annika-och-anna-sjunger-sonja-akesson-antligen/
I haven't been posting any new editorial content lately for the simple reason that I've just been way too busy doing other things, mostly work. Daily news updates... those are mindless and need to be tended to lest I get way too far behind. New things are in the works though, should I get on top of my massive task list. Anyhow, I do have a new track for you today -- I hinted awhile back about a few choice albums on regular rotation and hopefully you had no trouble guessing, but just in case, I happily admit that one of them is Säkert!'s latest work "Facit". I love Hello Saferide and I love Isolation Years and the combination continues to succeed on album #2 to no surprise whatsoever. I just wish I knew more Swedish because, unlike those bands' other records, I know I'm missing out on quite a lot. For example, artists such as Håkan Hellström are able to communicate without translation, but when Annika Norlin sings in her native tongue, the result is far more nuanced and delicate. I'm to the point where I can pick out bits and pieces, but I know I'll be needing to spend a lot more time with this one before I feel like I really truly "get it". Still, songs do stick out and "Köttet är svagt" ("Flesh is weak") is one. Very recommended!
Last weekend, Filter Magazine staged the Culture Collide Festival -- a veritable United Nations of indierock, and (if my opinion as one of their freelance writers is to be trusted) a freaking genius idea. Among the weekend's standout international sets (Might I suggest KAMP! and Casiokids for all your dance party needs?) was Hello Saferide (Annika Norlin to her friends) who, with Andrea Kellerman of Firefox AK, made her Los Angeles debut with three intimate shows.
While the size of the venue -- really the backroom of French restaurant Taix -- made it a bid difficult to call her Saturday night performance a case of taking the city by storm, those present were treated to an all-too-brief intimate performance an incredibly skilled storyteller. (Heck, she didn't name her sophomore album, "More modern stories from Hello Saferide" for nothing.) Replacing the album's electric guitars for an acoustic axe and a kick drum, Norlin breathed new life into the material -- most notably during "Anna", and the onomonopia-dense "Arjeplog" where the stripped-down version elevated Norlin's art of the broken heart.
From apologizing to an über fan parked in the front row for playing the same set three days in a row (he didn't seem to mind), to telling the audience about her wacky Los Angeles pen pal ("She slept with all these hockey players and then wrote to me about it. I was thirteen!") Norlin came across as an every-woman worth knowing. Here's hopping Los Angeles was listening. - Laura Studarus
Swedish female-fronted indie act I'm on TV have a new 3-song EP that they're giving away for free download: http://www.grooverrecordings.com/?p=194
I'm not that into it, even though it apparently features guest appearances from Annika Norlin and Kristofer Åström.
Annika Norlin's (Hello Saferide) Swedish-language project Säkert! has recorded a new album entitled "Facit" which will be released on September 15. Look for the lead single "Fredrik" in August. More: http://www.razziarecords.se/news.asp?id=907
Listen to a YouTube preview of the brand new Juni Järvi single "(I love it when you call me) Baby", featuring guest vocals from Annika Norlin (Hello Saferide, Säkert!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPyiuXpN_hE
The official release date for said track is May 26 and it will be followed by the album "The gospel" in early September which will feature guest appearances from Markus Krunegård (Laakso) and others.
Swedish jazz bassist and band leader Oskar Schönning will release the new album "Belgrade tapes", his fourth, on March 1 via his own label. The album will feature live recordings from his band's trip to Serbia in August of 2007, as well as street recordings and other errata plus unsung lyrics composed by Annika Norlin (Hello Saferide, Säkert!). Says Oskar with regards to the words: "Jag har aldrig lyssnat på en låttext i hela mitt liv. Musiken dominerar texten på samma sätt som bilden dominerar musiken i film. Däremot har jag alltid lusläst booklets och låttexter. Särskilt Annika Norlins." (translate) Personally speaking, I completely relate. For locals, there will be a release party at Mosebacke in Stockholm on February 28.
Hello Saferide