Magnus Ekelund & Stålet - Sameblod EP

Magnus Ekelund (ex-Elmo) has a brand new digital-only 4-song EP out now called "Sameblod", released via Teg Publishing.

MP3: Magnus Ekelund & Stålet - Utan er

It's Memorial Day here in the US and I don't have to do any "real" work so I'm not gonna spend any more time in front of the computer than I have to, but I am going to take the time to post a brand new single from ex-Elmo frontman Magnus Ekelund recorded with new backing band Stålet along with a little help from once-reclusive Swedish pop icon Jakob Hellman. Yes, the news as reported back in February was true and now the final result is ready for release via Teg Publishing, the label run by The Bells/Jonas Teglund, and will be followed by the full-length album "Svart flagg" ("Black flag") on July 6. The Swedish-literate can read more at Magnus' website, but I suggest just listening and letting the sound of his epic melancholy carry you away.

Magnus Ekelund & Stålet - Utan er (feat. Jakob Hellman)

Jakob Hellman + Magnus Ekelund = Utan er

Semi-reclusive Swedish music legend Jakob Hellman has recorded a new duet together with Magnus Ekelund (ex-Elmo) this past weekend: http://www.nsd.se/noje/artikel.aspx?ArticleId=5993323 (in Swedish)
The track is called "Utan er" and it will be featured on Magnus' upcoming solo debut "Svart flagg" which he is currently working on for release this spring. I do believe this is Jakob's first new recording since he guested on "Du min vän" from Nina Ramsby & Martin Hederos' 2006 album "Jazzen".

Magnus Ekelund - Jokkmokks Vintermarknad (landet utan gränser)

Magnus Ekelund (ex-Elmo) has written an unofficial anthem for his hometown of Jokkmokk and their winter market, a Sami tradition. Check out the clip directly on YouTube for full lyrics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LJxMcpWvlo
More here: http://www.nsd.se/noje/artikel.aspx?ArticleId=5936583 (in Swedish)

Magnus Ekelund & Stålet - Stállu (video)

Magnus Ekelund of Elmo has a new band and a new video and it sounds great! Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGSO-jd14pc

Mother of the Forest - Ryka i ro

Swedish bedroom electro/goth act Mother of the Forest has a new EP posted for free download: http://motheroftheforest.blogspot.com/2010/09/ep03ryka-i-ro.html
Fellow Luleå residents Magnus Ekelund (Elmo) and Mattias Alkberg (The Bear Quartet/Neverna) both guest. Very recommended!

Sirius playlist week #36

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. TALK 1
02. Mindy Misty - Slippies
03. Fatboy - Bad news from pretty red lips
04. Viola - Puppies in the rain
05. Kite - Jonny boy
06. TALK 2
07. Code 64 - Progenitor
08. Familjen - Det var jag (This Is Head version)
09. Ved - Question for L Ron
10. TALK 3
11. Hope I Die Virgin - At crude garbage falls
12. Vidderna - Utanför
13. Ljudbilden & Piloten - Domedeijla mosse
14. TALK 4
15. Roll the Dice - Into the ground
16. Muxika77 - The mountain
17. Den Svenska Tystnaden - Afasi
18. Elmo - Young love
19. TALK 5
20. Bedroom Eyes - (Here's one for you) Underdog

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Magnus Ekelund live on a boat

Check out a Stockholm Boat Session with Magnus Ekelund (ex-Elmo): http://stockholmboatsessions.blogspot.com/2010/04/magnus-ekelund_08.html

Sirius playlist week #51

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU, special year-end top 10 edition:

01. TALK 1
02. Tyrant - The rebirth (reclaim the flame)
03. C.Aarmé - Dustin
04. Pintandwefall - Bird of the birds
05. Ironville - Sweet perfume
06. Dear Euphoria - Tell me
07. TALK 2
08. [ingenting] - Halleluja!
09. Agent Side Grinder - Die to live
10. Pistol Disco - Beat of the tune
11. TALK 3
12. The Bear Quartet - Carry your weight (Strange Maps remix)
13. The Fine Arts Showcase - Looking for your love
14. Wardruna - Dagr
15. TALK 4
16. Björn Kleinhenz - Fårö
17. Samuraj Cities - Spoonful of talk
18. David Åhlén - Stir our hearts
19. TALK 5
20. Elmo - Darkness falls

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Top 10s for 2009: It's a Trap!

Sirius playlist week #48

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. TALK 1
02. Kommun - I don't say anything
03. On Volcano - Out of sight
04. Turboweekend - Something or nothing
05. TALK 2
06. The Idle Hands - Hearts
07. Thåström - Linnéa
08. Fronda - Mitt allt
09. TALK 3
10. We Are the Storm - A song for our city
11. High Hats - The end
12. Wardruna - Kauna
13. Halph - New money
14. The Scrags - TV messed up mind
15. TALK 4
16. They Live - Magic glasses
17. Ison & Fille - Jag skratter idag
18. Nitad - Rädslan
19. TALK 5
20. Elmo - Shine down on us

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Sirius playlist week #45

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. TALK 1
02. Marit Bergman - Höstvisa
03. Viola - No connection
04. Brothers of End - Why
05. TALK 2
06. Oriel Joans - Knuckles whiten
07. The Bear Quartet - Carry your weight
08. Kornstad - Oslo
09. TALK 3
10. The Amazing - Is it likely
11. Erik Enocksson - Non lupi
12. [ingenting] - Dina händer är fulla av blommor
13. TALK 4
14. Sivert Høyem - Empty house
15. Rickard Jäverling - May & Lee
16. Isolation Years - Let's step aside
17. TALK 5
18. Elmo - Young love

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Sirius playlist week #35

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Elmo - Blind heart
02. TALK 1
03. Moritz von Oswald Trio - Pattern 3
04. Carpet People - All that ails must pass
05. Fronda - Andas
06. TALK 2
07. Siena Root - Time will tell
08. Cortex - No connections
09. Kornstad - Oslo
10. TALK 3
11. The Silent Section - In snow forever
12. Familjen - Huvudet i sanden
13. Band in Box - B33
14. TALK 4
15. The Bear Quartet - Northern

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

MP3: Elmo - Shine down on us

"Shine down on us" is about your grandmother, right?

That is right.

It's a beautifully powerful song, probably the album highlight for me. Can you tell me more about her?

Well, her name was Ellen Kitok Andersson. She belonged to the Sami people. She did poetry, handicraft and arts.

She wrote parts of the lyrics in "Shine down on us". It was originally one of her poems. Once she asked me how it sounded if I sang in Swedish, so I wrote some music to her poem "Pärlor I Sjaunia-älven". She really liked it, so I sang it on her funeral - and the sun began to shine down on us through the window into the church. It was probably the most epic moment in my life.

What was she like?

She was a hard working handicraft artist. A thinker and a dreamer. She lived on her arts and gave my father and his siblings a really good start into life. She was the one everyone in the family came to when they needed to talk, and get answers. She had kind of an unspoken goddess aura around her. Right there where she sat. By her working desk. In her peaceful home.

In 2005 I became really sick. I got a tumor in my throat and had to spend a lot of time in the hospital. When I was not in there, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. She was a really special person, and we shared a really special bond. I think that we still do in a way.

Whenever I'm in a hard struggle I dream of her at night and she speaks to me and tells me what to do to get on through. She helps me.

How is it for you to perform live?

I've never played it live. But I have played "Pärlor I Sjaunia-älven" live and it's always both hard and beautiful. Once a five year old boy started to cry when I played it. I could never write such powerful lyrics myself. If I get a chance to to a full album in Swedish, it will definitely be on that.

Read the full interview

Elmo - Shine down on us

Interview: Magnus Ekelund (Elmo)