Martinique Tour rehearsals (II): Getting to know Stockholm

Well i´ve never been in Stockholm this long before but now when we are living here for three weeks i´m starting to see the things i missed out on when passing through all these years. I made a list:

• 1. People are kind and helpful
• 2. Taxi drivers are really helpful
• 3. It´s fun to be a “Latte father” in Stockholm (many coffee places here even though I don´t drink it that much)
• 4. Two of my closest friends live here and (one of them just got a baby girl and the other takes me to the gym)
• 5. The Pizzerias are great (not the average “Svenne fettplatta” here no. Nice thin and crispy bottoms)
• 6. You ride free of charge on the buses if you have a pram with you. (with a child in it)

I´m sure I will add to this list as we proceed. Curious to see if there will be any negative impressions, so far so good.

I will have my first real rehersal tomorrow, can´t wait. You will get a closer look at the gear I will be using. In the mean time check out some rehersal pics at Gessle.com

We have borrowed a flat in “Söder” in Stockholm from our friend Danyal Taylan. It´s a lovely newly renovated flat and it is starting to feel like home. There weren´t any furniture there though so we had to improvise.

What the flat does have is a cool gas stove that we´ve been playing around with. We went to our friends Bartek and Joanna and their two weeks old Maja. Mr X´s future wife? You never know…..but there is another girl out there too..

I have to go, Mr X will soon wake up and demand his milk.

Martinique Josefsson - Sandy Mouche

European Tour Blog

Comments by fans:

I wonder if Helena can play drums?
What instruments can you play, Martinique, and what instruments does Helena play? Not to mention her enchanting voice of course..)) Thanks..

Ilya Volkov
-(a.k.a. Kreecher)- Roxette House

Hi Ilya! Nice to have you as a reader. She can play one pattern and one fill. She plays the piano, flute, a tiny bit guitar and she is a hell of a tambourine player, as you may have seen + some other strange instruments I do not know the name of *)

As for me I mostly play the guitar and piano when im writing songs. But I love the drums and if I were to have a new band I would battle for the task. Im also fond of the electric bass. (strange keyboard here, cant make smileys, they come out like this *) *))

Martinique Josefsson - Sandy Mouche

European Tour Blog

Martinique Tour rehearsals (I): leaving for Stockholm

This spring I will be the opening act on Per Gessle´s (the man from Roxette) European tour.

The blog will give you a good idea of what it´s like being on tour and I will add personal stuff never seen on the web. My goal is to write and post pictures through the whole tour. I don´t know I will succeed since this is the first time i´m blogging but if you spread the word, it will centainly keep me going.

Since my native tounge is Swedish and due to the fact that i´m half Polish, this blog will be written in English so that all the international fans (soon to join) also can enjoy this unique internet happening. Don´t forget to comment as much as you can. (You know, missspeliings and so on).

As i´m writing this we have actually been here for a couple of days already. The trip to Stockholm went well. I found myself sitting next to a four and a half mounth old kid that was heading for Stockholm as well. We asked him if he wanted to go on tour with us and he gladly accepted.

We are in Stockholm to rehears for three weeks. Per and the band that is, but I will also try my songs a couple of times with the right gear and everything. Pics from the rehearsals will follow soon.

When you're going on tour for over a month you need to bring quite a few things with you. Pew, no gym needed today.

Enjoy,

Martinique Josefsson - Sandy Mouche

European Tour Blog

Martinique send some demo tapes to Per Gessle and than everything just took a natural course, especially because Helena and Martin have a baby and this way they could travel together.

Christoffer Lundquist

Comments by fans:

Hej Martinique, It’s marvellous that we’ll get some firsthand info about the tour and The Josefsson’s family form the tour. I’m looking forward to your performance in Warsaw. I remember my trip from Malmo to Stockholm on the 10th August 2007 right after the concert in Malmo. It was a very enjoyable journey, very comfortable one. We expect you to speak in Polish as we have to see how good your Polish is. Love, Kamila. P.S. Say “hello” to Helena. I’ll prepare a banner with her name on it.

Kamila Aleksandrowicz,
from Białystok, Poland

Sandy Mouche hides the head in the sand (I): Martinique, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog"

I am one of the lead singers of the band Sandy Mouche. Where Sandy Mouche flirts with the French Riviera, fairies & elves, Martinique's project embraces the Miami Vice 80s without compromise.

I love synth pad sounds and I often write songs by singing to a silky smooth pad that im playing. I love music that makes me want to drive a car fast, sit on a bus, dance or run. I guess you can say music that moves me. When I was a little boy I spent all summers in France with my relatives. I got quite a lot of French music flowing through my ears back then and I dig it up when I need to go back there for inspiration. When im writing music for myself as Martinique however I look elsewhere. Series on TV from the 80s is a big inspiration. Miami Vice (just love the beautiful sad melodies bathing in smooth synth pads. Anxiety is just around the corner.) Knight Rider, Air Wolf, V, Falcon Crest, North & South, The Persuaders. For me they are filled with memories and both happy and sad moments in my life. I use the feeling I get from them and their music when I write music as Martinique. Sometimes I try to do a whole different production but somehow I always end up with a beat and a pad =).

“Martinique” is my very new project and the music has never been played live before. The music is unsigned. I have used Mark Twain's words for the EP. You can also listen to Helena Josefsson's backing vocals.

It's not the size
of the dog in the fight,
it's the size of the fight in the dog

- EP - 2009-

1. The girl from Milan - 03:25

2. I hear strange things at night - 03:08
3. The meaning of haste - 03:48
4. I'm Spiderman - 03:08

I am going to be the opening act on Per Gessle's (the man from Roxette) european tour. Don't miss out on my first ever live performance with this music.

The exclusive 200 copies Ep will be sold on the tour along with 50 ultra rare t-shirts.

Tourdates:

• 16.4 Helsinki, Tavastia Club
• 19.4 Oslo, Rockefeller
• 20.4 Copenhagen, Pumpehuset
• 22.4 Warsaw, Stodola
• 23.4 Prague, Luccerna Hall
• 25.4 Hamburg, Grunspan
• 27.4 Cologne, Gloria Theatre
• 28.4 Zürich, Kaufleuten
• 29.4 München, Muffathalle
• 2.5 Gent, Handelsbeurs
• 4.5 London, Shepherds Bush Empire
• 6.5 Amsterdam, Melkweg
• 8.5 Halmstad, Sporthallen - NEW
• 9.5 Stockholm, Cirkus
• 10.5 Stockholm, Cirkus - EXTRA

Visit Martiniques tour blog where you can follow me through rehearsals, gigs and a whole lot of other stuff.

Martinique Josefsson - Sandy Mouche

European Tour Blog

Comments by fans:

CD is so cute!!!!)))))) And Helena is a great photographer!) Thank you for the blog, Martinique, I’m looking forward to read it during the tour! See you in Germany!)))). Kind regards from the Sunny Mediterranean,

Ilya Volkov
-(a.k.a. Kreecher)- Roxette House

Good stuff!
And btw: It’s the size of the other dog in the fight.

Björn Folbert, from Löddköpinge, SE
- folbertdotcom

Well, it could be the size of the wisdom in Twain’s words.
A long title, but very original.

Alberto Fuente (aka Lantartida),
from Madrid, ES

Helena's new single in Swedish (I): soon the big adventure begins

Sveriges Radio - Feb. 2009

Next week me, Martinique and little baby will move to Stockholm to start the rehearsals for Party Crasher tour! Luckily, Martinique will be playing as support act on the gigs around Europe! He has even made t-shirts for this event.

I will also squeeze in a video recording for my coming album. Jiiiiipiiii!

And a recording session with Martinique and Per from Sandy Mouche! It is the recording of a song that was not selected for the album, that I just can´t let go. They will produce it in Per´s home studio that he has built in the garage. Let´s see where it will show up!

I hope soon that I know something more about the release. Only my destiny knows now!

See you on the tour!!

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Comments by fans:

Dear Helena. Your voice is great! Congratulations! I hope you and Per come to Brazil, on Party Crash tour! All fans are waiting... a lot of fans, with sure!

Anderson Trevisan, from Brazil