Interview: Niklas Quintana/The End Will Be Kicks

Chalksounds is starting to take pre-orders on the debut release from The End Will Be Kicks, the new band from Niklas Quintana (ex-Breach, Him Kerosene). I shouldn't have to tell you, but of course it's awesome. 4 tracks, 1000 copies. Act now: http://www.chalksounds.com/
Audio samples on the pop-up window.

The End Will Be Kicks, the new band from Niklas Quintana of Him Kerosene/Breach fame, will release their debut 4-song single on April 12 via Chalksounds. If the one song I already heard is any indication, it's gonna be a monster. Full length drops in the fall, samples and artwork coming soon.

I do believe that I can now confirm that Chalksounds has signed The End Will Be Kicks, the new band from guitarist/vocalist Niklas Quintana of Him Kerosene and Breach fame. The band also features drummer Tomas Turonen from both those acts and we can be sure to expect great things from them. The one demo track I've heard already of "Lucifer Over Luleå" is pretty great and definitely follows strongly in the classic Him Kerosene tradition of Norrland-flavored indierock that I love. More info soon.

Chalksounds, one of my favorite Swedish labels, has announced the release schedule for the first half of next year. Of course, as mentioned before, The Moonbabies's new record "The Orange Billboard" is coming in January and is sure to amaze your ears. Next will be KVLR's new single "Slow Clapping" in limited 7" form. There's also a forthcoming album from ex-Him Kerosene band The End Will Be Kicks which is highly anticipated as well as a compilation CD featuring a whole bunch of acts, not all from the Chalksounds label. Label head Magnus told me a few of the acts he's gotten confirmed so far, but he's stubborn and doesn't want everyone to know yet so I guess I'll keep my mouth shut. For now.

Chalksounds Fest #3 is now confirmed for December 26 at Studion in Umeå, Sweden. Appearing live will be The Moonbabies and the live debut of The End Will Be Kicks (ex-Him Kerosene). Tickets are 100 Skr and can be bought in Umeå at Burmans Musik or you can email Chalksounds to make other other arrangements. More details can be found at the microsite when it goes online.

And the Sound has let the cat out of the bag about the new Chalksounds signee KO, the new band from ex-Him Kerosene frontman and ex-Breach guitarist Niklas Quintana. Well, it turns out to not be completely true as the band doesn't have a name yet and they're still working out details for the contract. However, I did heard a rough mix of a track without vocals and I can confirm that the sound is more akin to earlier HK material in that it's faster and much more rockin' than their later stuff. That part is true and confirmed. Classic Norrland-style indie rock, so you know I'm diggin' it and can't wait to hear the album when it's done.

Labrador Records artist Aerospace is heading over to the US in July for a couple select dates:

07/05 - New York, tba
07/06 - Washington DC, tba
07/07 - Santa Barabara, tba
07/08 - Los Angeles, The Garage
07/11 - San Francisco, Bottom Of The Hill
07/14 - Sacramento, tba
07/15 - Portland, The Blackbird

Here's some picture from the Katatonia show in Stockholm the other night.

Sources tell me that The Soundtrack of Our Lives have nixed plans for further US touring this year and have instead opted to focus on the writing and recording of the new album. I'll keep you posted.

Rumor has it that Niklas and Thomas from Him Kerosene have a new band and they're entering the studio this weekend to do their first recordings. Needless to say, that's exciting news and I for one am looking forward to hearing it.

From June 1-6 about 80 different Nordic artists will be gathering at the "d!sturbances" festival in Copenhagen, Denmark. NordScen (performing arts) and NOMUS (music) are the main organizers of the event which will feature workshops, classes, lectures, concerts, panel discussions and more. For more info, go here.

Watch the new video for "On the 54" from The Dandelions right here.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. HIM - Funeral of hearts
02. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
03. A-Teens - Perfect Match
04. Kashmir - Surfing The Warm Industry
05. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
06. Mew - Comforting Sounds
07. Kwan - Shine
08. Jennifer Brown - Weak
09. Surferosa - Neon Commando
10. Melody Club - Cover Girl
11. Moon Gringo - Buzz Aldrin
12. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
13. Whyte Seeds - Slow motions
14. Dub Sweden - Walk Me Home
15. Timbuktu - Ett Brev
16. Empire Dogs - The Dogs
17. Nik & Jay - Elsker Hende Mere
18. The Cardigans - For What It´s Worth
19. Equicez - Live From Pass It
20. Pauline - Runnin´ Out Of Gaz

Challengers:
01. The Jessica Fletchers - Let´s Go
02. Darude - Music
03. Outlandish - Guantanamo
04. K Ragnstam - Perfect Vacation
05. Paragon - Försök Förstå

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Kamera has announced a bunch of new dates for the summer:

05/30 - Fredriksta (NOR)
05/31 - Oslo (NOR), So What
06/01 - Västerås
06/02 - Stockholm, Debaser
06/03 - Jönköping
06/04 - Göteborg, Nefertiti
06/05 - Halmstad
06/06 - Linköping, Platens Bar
06/07 - Karlstad, Arena
06/26-29 - Skellefteå, Skellefteåfestivalen
07/05 - Sundsvall, Gatufesten
07/10 - Arvika, Arvikafestivalen
07/04-12 - Visby, ZTV Sommarstad Gotland
07/13 - Malta
07/19 - Torquay (GB)
07/20 - Brighton (GB)
07/23 - Åland, Rock Off Festival (tbc)
08/08 - Norrköping, Karnevalen

Pitchforkmedia reviews the American release of "C'mon Let's Pretend" from the Sahara Hotnights. Whaddya know? They actually like it.

Moonbabies have got a couple gigs lined up:

05/02 - Fredericia, Ungdomens hus w/The Violet Hour
05/03 - Copenhagen, Huset w/The Violet Hour

Reports are coming in on the big concert yesterday at Gröna Lund with Soundtrack of Our Lives, The Ark and Mando Diao: tsool.tk / Dagens Nyheter / Expressen

In other Mando Diao news, the band has reportedly fired organist Daniel Haglund. Haglund was apparently taking time off to spend time with his family and was given the news when he tried to return.

And the Sound is saying that Niklas and Thomas from Him Kerosene are rumored to be starting a new band. Nothing's confirmed yet, but I'll keep you posted.

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
02. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
03. v/a - Fame Factory volym 4
04. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
05. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
06. Jill Johnson - Discography
07. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
08. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
09. Elin Sigvardsson - Saturday light naive
10. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
11. Mauro Scocco - Beat hotel
12. Lasse Tennander - Därifrånochhit sånger 1974-2003
13. The Refreshments - On the rocks
14. Antique - Blue love
15. Siw Malmkvist - Siws bästa
16. Roxette - The pop hits
17. The Knife - Deep Cuts
18. Magnus Uggla - Klassiska mästerverk
19. Robyn - Don´t stop the music
20. Dilba - Revolution

More from Aftonbladet: An article on Marie Fredriksson's (Roxette) recovery from brain surgery.

Don't forget to download the new free Soviac single today. Check it. The song is called "Boogie Woogie" and it's taken from the upcoming album "Triology Sexlife Rodeo Friscotti" due out later this fall.