Malin Nilsson & Helena Josefsson, magic and music (II): November in Malmö

For two nights, Malin Nilsson has played her magic show at Teater 23 in Malmö, 13 and 14 November. The show is a mix of magic and music and includes Helena Josefsson's songs. Emma Sonesson (aka BiLLY), administrator of the HJ Fanclub Portal, wrote in her blog: "I was there with Erik and Johanna. We watched a funny magic show. Helena Josefsson was a guest but it was actually very funny, I've never been to anything like that before. Thank you Helena :)".

Photo by Lars Brundin

Malin has summarized the shows in her blog.

"I am lucky. I have got the best friends in the world. Some were in the audience. Otheres were waiting behind Variety Vauduvill’s red velvet curtain waiting to hear their names in the loudspeakers. Before the opening Sweden’s foremost spoken word poet Emil Jensen had said in the paper he writes for that the variety will be a chance to see ”the best singer and the best magician together on the same stage. Everything could happen. And probably will.” And it did. Emil, you were right as usual. The gallery at my website will soon be updated with photos taken by Karl Larsson at bitsize.se . But at the time being our good friend and photographer Lars Brundin has put some of his great shots in his Face Book gallery, check them out here: Lars Brundin's facebook gallery. Untill next time."

Photo by Lars Brundin

We recognize some of the pretty suits that Helena Josefsson's has worn with Sandy Mouche last years.

Malin kindly answered to LJdM's questions in her blog:

"It was amazing! It can’t be described in words. As you might suspect Helena Josefsson was a great success, introducing her to my audience was one of the best things I have done on stage. I love her visual sense and creating magic to her tunes was an amazing process that has just begun … I am new in the blog sphere and haven’t gone ‘official’ with my blog yet, but it is nice to see that you found your way here anyway. Keep in touch."

Photo by Lars Brundin

Helena Josefsson singing 'Ghosts' - Photo by Lars Brundin

We are sure Malin and Helena's fans are waiting for more shows next spring 2010. Meanwhile, if you are in the United States, try to follow Malin Nilsson's shows. It's worth it.

LJdM

I sang two new songs in Swedish and Ghosts and Waterlily Love (while Malin made a rose disappear!)

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Malin Nilsson & Helena Josefsson, magic and music (I): an exciting fusion

According to her own website, Helena Josefsson will take part in a Magic show with her friend Malin Nilsson in November 2009 and in Spring 2010.

Both Helena and Malin were interviewed by Yvonne Erlandsson in Skånskan.se. The cooperation started when Malin Nilsson was invited by Sandy Mouche at KB in Malmö some years ago in a gig of Helena Josefsson’s band. Helena “wanted someone who created a fabulous atmosphere and Malin fitted exactly”. Malin is used to music in her performances. Malin loves Helena’s music and says “it’s so cool that Helena could think so much in pictures”. “We both want to do something new, something bigger than ourselves. Art, that’s why you get up in the morning”, says Malin. According to Yvonne Erlandson, Helena began to study for becoming optician but gave up because she needed to be musician to feel alive.

As it is said in Malmö Lokaltidningen, Malin Nilsson is going to work in the United States (New York and Los Angeles) this winter. In Spring 2010, Malin and Helena will join again for some gigs together. You can follow Malin's stories in her blog.

The duo combines pop and magic and will premiere at Teater 23 in Malmö, 13 and 14 November, and will continue in March. The singer and actor Emil Jensen says to Efterarbetet.etc.se that it was an opportunity to see the best magician and the best singer together: "Bästa sångerskan och bästa trollkarlen på en och samma scen. Allt borde kunna hända. Och kommer nog att göra det."

LJdM

I am playing with my friend Malin Nilsson, who is a magician (www.malinnilsson.se) and I will be a guest at her show in November!

Malin & Vänner / Malin and Friends

Malin Nilsson (magician),
Helena Josefsson (singer) and Hans-Inge Magnusson (piano).
Guests: Thorsten Andreasen, Jonas Södergren and Helena Kågemark

Fre 13 nov kl. 20:00

Plats: Teater 23, Djäknegatan 7, Malmö
Arrangör: Trollkonst: Stage Art & Production
Onumrerat.
Tillgängliga biljetter: 88 (av 140)

Lör 14 nov kl. 20:00
Plats: Teater 23, Djäknegatan 7, Malmö
Arrangör: Trollkonst: Stage Art & Production
Onumrerat.
Tillgängliga biljetter: 91 (av 140)

Håll dig uppdaterad på www.trollkonst.com

Biljetter www.kulturcentralen.nu

And in spring we will make our very own show, with her magic tricks and my popmusic in an exciting fusion! It is so much fun and it is a dream coming true to me.... When we rehearse dwith the pianist Hans-Inge Magnusson I felt like we were a band.

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Stockfinster - Dead line

stockfinster is the artistic name of Sebastian Borg (a.k.a. Batti), a producer from Malmö, Sweden. He writes, plays, arranges and mixes everything, sometimes with a little help from his musical friends. One of them is Helena Josefsson, who has recorded the vocals of some songs in his recording studio, Gula Studion in Malmö.

stockfinster unofficially uploaded three works, Red wood (June, 2004), Sunset (January, 2005) and Car Crash (June, 2009) in Bandcamp.com. He also released his debut album, All becomes music (October, 2005), in Sutemos, an On-line label from Lithuania.

His second official album is Dead line and can be downloaded for free in Sutemos today. The album includes thirteen songs:

[01] Push Push .. 4:02 ; [02] Daypusher .. 7:02 ;

[03] Think Again .. 5:56 ; [04] Poly6 .. 4:52 ;

[05] Knuckle .. 5:39 ; [06] Gold Canyon .. 5:05

[07] Mitglieder .. 7:14 ; [08] Slow Ghost .. 8:36

[09] Don't Point Your Paw At Me .. 5:25

[10] Sailing Through The Bardo .. 5:38

[11] Seventeen Days .. 5:42 ; [12] The Cabin .. 2:50

[13] The Dead .. 8:28

This is what Sebastian Borg himself tells about the album:

"It's been four years since my last release at Sutemos. So what have I been up to? I guess the answer lies in the music you are about to download. My production rate just keeps getting slower and slower and I have reluctantly started to accept that this is just the way I am; I am simply unable to speed up the creative process. I have actually considered to stop making music altogether just to get rid of this frustration, but I know this is not possible. I have no choice but to keep on working and to try and at least finish something... anything ...

So why does it take such a long time? The answer is choices. Every idea, no matter how small, offers an endless amount of new ideas and possibilities that you must either choose to pursue or ignore. Some people are able to make this choice very quickly but I am simply unable to leave any stone unturned. I spend hours, if not days and months, working on a track just to scrap the whole thing and start over from scratch again. This is, of course, a time consuming process, but I can not have it any other way. I have found that if I do not let this process take place, the track will never sit right with me. It will feel unfulfilled and I will most probably not like it. I need to live with a track for a long period of time to be able to decide which direction to go next. So, in fact, it is not that I work on my songs for a long time, I just work on them for a long period of time. There is a difference.

I always try to do everything myself, but often I have to look to my dear friends for help. Without these people, my music would not be the same. Thank you, guys!

All tracks are mastered by Ola Strandh except on tracks 6 and 12.

All vocals are by Helena Josefsson except on track 11 .

• 01. 'Push Push' (from "Red wood", 2004)
• 02. On 'Daypusher', the spoken voice is Kerim Arhan. Some extra sounds were provided by Magnus Hedberg. Callin Ohrvall Delmar also contributed a lot to this track.
• 03. On 'Think Again' (from "Car crash", 2009), the trumpet was played by Petter Lindgard.
• 04. 'Poly6' (from "Sunset", 2005)
• 05. 'Knuckle' (from "Sunset", 2005)
• 06. On 'Gold Canyon', the Rhodes was played by Mats Bengsson. This song was mastered by Christoffer Leary at Melograf Mastering.
• 07. 'Mitglieder'
• 08. 'Slow Ghost'
• 09. 'Don't Point Your Paw At Me' (from "Sunset", 2005)
• 10. On 'Sailing Through The Bardo', the chord progression was written and played by Markus Slivka
• 11. On 'Seventeen Days', Callin Ohrvall Delmar is singing
• 12. 'The Cabin' was mastered by myself.
• 13. 'The Dead'
  

So here you have thirteen new tracks. They range from very old to brand new tracks, but I don't think it is obvious which ones are which. As I listen back to this collection of songs I feel happy. There are no stones left unturned. Everything is in its right place. I hope you will feel the same way." Enjoy."

So five songs come from previous works. Helena Josefsson's voice features in most of the tracks that include vocals, although it does not seem she has been in the studio again: many of the original recordings were made between 2003 and 2005 in Gula Studion. Anyway, a great opportunity to listen to Helena again.

LJdM

Sandy Mouche hides the head in the sand (IV): solo projects

Helena Josefsson in Malmö - Picture by Sofia Josefsson, June 2009

I am not sure what the other Sandy Mouche band members do now, but myself I am having a vacation with my boys visiting cottages, combined with preparing music videos that I will do with the help from my friends. The first one I will do with my friend Cilihili (Cecilia Nordlund) whose music you can find on the internet, by the way. And I am preparing a show together with another friend, Malin Nilsson. Just trying to have fun in other words!

Unfortunately I have to finish the work with the videos and release of my soloalbum before I can move into the new Sandy Mouche album. I wasn´t prepared of that much more creative work with my solo album. It is great fun but I can´t do it at the same time as Sandy Mouche, because I want to use all of my capacity when doing something like that. So I just hope and pray that the Sandy Mouche guys will wait for me.

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Helena Josefsson in Malmö - Picture by Sofia Josefsson, June 2009

According to Helena Josefsson's words, there is no clear near future for Sandy Mouche. Meanwhile, Per Blomgren, the drummer of Sandy Mouche, has recorded a new Swedish EP in his own garage studio of Malmö. You can listen to it in myspace: Per Blomgren's myspace

Per Blomgren - Slätten (EP)
1. 190 (2:21)
2. Precis som nu ... (3:19)
3. Falla leva (3:15)
4. Vikten av ett liv (3:12)
5. Ge mig mod (4:09)

LJdM

Hej Just nu lyssnar ni på Slätten, en EP som jag skrivit och spelat in under våren 2009. mvh Per
Hi! You are listening to Slätten, an EP that I produced and played during the spring 2009.

Per Blomgren
Sandy Mouche

Stockfinster - Car Crash

stockfinster is the artistic name of Sebastian Borg (a.k.a. Batti), a producer from Malmö, Sweden. He writes, plays, arranges and mixes everything, sometimes with a little help from his musical friends. Batti was the co-owner of the recording studio Gula Studion in Malmö, but it seems he has gave up the Studio in the last months.

stockfinster unofficially uploaded his first works, Red wood (June 2004) and Sunset (2005), in Bandcamp.com, including some tracks with his friend Helena Josefsson's vocals. He also released his debut album, All becomes music (October, 2005), in Sutemos, an On-line label from Lithuania.

After four years of silence, Sebastian has uploaded today his new work, Car Crash, in Bandcamp.com. The album includes eight songs:

	1.	a crack in time 05:26	lyrics	download
	2.	think again 05:56	info	download
	3.	duel 05:09	info	download
	4.	insekt 03:54	info	download
	5.	bystander 06:04	lyrics	download
	6.	all becomes music 06:39	info	download
	7.	heavy feathers 03:02	lyrics	download
	8.	in transit 05:52

This is what Sebastian Borg himself tells about these songs:

"01. 'A crack in time' (from "All becomes music", 2005)

02. In 'Think again' the pad that starts off this track was something I came up with while working on something completely different. The drum loop was created in Fruity Loops – a program I only used for a short while. It is still one of my favourite drum loops. The trumpet is played by Petter Lindgård, an experienced session musician. He actually laid down this trumpet for an old track called ”Homesick” – that originates from the days when stockfinster was still a band – but his part fit perfectly here as well.

03. 'Duel' (from "All becomes music", 2005).

04. In 'Insekt', I came up with this idea when I was working on something completely different and I happened to distort the main output from the soundcard, making the drum loop rather nasty. I nicked the voice sample from a tv show about a couple of girls who were assaulted and raped in their house by a gang. It is a true story, which makes the track even scarier.

05. 'Bystander' (from "All becomes music", 2005).

06. 'All becomes music' (from "All becomes music", 2005).

07. 'Heavy feathers' is probably the only track ever that will feature me on vocals. I do have a lot of acoustic material that I intend to release someday. Some of it is instrumental and some of it is not. I did a version of this track with a melodica part. Ola Strandh – my mastering guy – hated it and convinced me to leave it out.

08. 'In transit' (from "All becomes music", 2005).

Most of recordings were made between 2003 and 2005 in Gula Studion. Helena Josefsson's voice features in track 06, "All becomes music", that was released four years ago with a video.

LJdM

The DollyCamp (VII): a righteous boy's cottage

Last June 2008, Dolly Parton began her European Tour in Sweden (Stockholm, 13-06-2008; Malmö, 14-06-2008). According to Skanskan.se, Jessica Nettelbladt recorded the last images for her documentary "Dollykollot", about 5 enthusiastic female musicians.


Gudrun Hauksdottir, the producer of Shemusic and the woman behind the Debaser club in Malmö, said: "Dolly Parton is an example to all us. She has dared to believe in herself and go her own way. Dolly is a strong business woman who is merely doing what all of us aspire. She has produced 300 songs. My friend Nina Persson (The Cardigans) gave me an American biography of Dolly Parton in 2004 as a present and the idea of a DollyCamp was born. We decided to start together a band and arrange concerts with Dolly Parton's music. It would be our love tribute to this country star. In addition to Nina and me, Robyn and three talented musicians from Skåne (Cecilia Nordlund, Lotta Wenglén and Helena Josefsson) joint us."

Their first gig was held in Malmö in 2004 and became a real success. They were invited to play at Pride festival in Stockholm in 2005, the World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg in 2006 and afterparty in Dolly Parton's concert in Stockholm in 2007. For four years, these musicians have become close friends.

According to Lotta Wenglén: "DollyKollot is a fun way to meet people and do something together. It is like a family where Gudrun is everybody's mother". Helena Josefsson said: "Dolly's provocative look and style is challenging and let the women learn that it is OK to be who you want to be. You can still succeed as an artist."

The director, Jessica Nettelbladt, explained her film: "I want to show that one can succeed or not, but the important thing is the journey and keep on believing in your dream. Naturally, I want my film to be shown in cinemas and I am fighting for it. The alternative is SVT Television. The idea is that the film should be ready next year."

Helena Josefsson writes today in her blog a post about the last meeting of the "DollyKollot Band". Read it.

LJdM

Jessica Nettelbladt who makes a documentary about female musicians of which I am one, was at AGM Studio in Christoffer Lundquist's daughter party and together with her, a cake tasted even better!

Two days later, we met up at a cottage 1 hour away from the studio towards the sea, and I left Christoffer alone in the studio. He needed to rest so the timing was good. Here in this cottage, we made the last meeting all five of us who are in the documentary. We had a great time, talking about our dreams and what had happened since last time, and we had salmon from the grill! Yummie :o) The other girls slept over in the cottage, while I went back to the studio to keep working. Here you can see how cosy it was:

It is Nina Persson, Lotta Wenglén, Cecilia Nordlund and arranger Gudrun Hauksdottir plus me in the movie. It will be edited this fall and then I hope you will soon be able to see the result! The cottage belongs to Magnus Svenningsson, bassplayer of the Cardigans, and his girlfriend and it was very beautiful! And here you see the filmteam:

The documentary has been a lot of fun to be part in, and I am sure I have made new friends for life! Both with Jessica, and the other musicians!!

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Christoffer Lundquist is mixing Helena's second solo album (VI): waiting and waiting

On two sundays, Martinique came over! Then I bought strawberries and other good things to celebrate it!

He loves being around cats and he recorded some bells with the kitten on his lap, but he also played football with the rabbit in the garden.

Christoffer's daughter Ingrid borrowed my big shoes and Christoffer´s guitar-she looks like candy! But her favourite instrument is the drums, but it´s not as interesting as horses.

Christoffer´s children finished this semester and their mother Ylva celebrated it with strawberry cake! And she came and gave me a piece too…!!!! The first strawberry cake for the summer :o) Jessica Nettelbladt who makes a documentary about female musicians of which I am one, was here that day and together with her, the cake tasted even better!

Now one week has passed since the recording was finished… And Christoffer is mixing it right now, he will be finished any minute now! And I feel so strange, one week apart from the music feels like one year! I miss it, and I can´t wait til an envelope with the mixes fall down from the hole in the door! Then I will take my bike to the beach and lie there listening over and over again :o) I remember the latest Sandy Mouche record, we did that and it was such a fantastic feeling! When you have been writing and writing and singing and singing and waiting and waiting, and finally- there it is! Now I just hope that the release date won´t be too delayed. It was said to be released this fall- let´s see what the record company has to say after they´ve heard the recording.

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Arash feat. Helena Josefsson - Pure love

Donya, the second album of Arash, is released today. According to Bianca Karimi, DE, it includes a song with Helena Josefsson, Pure Love.

Pure love was recorded as a demo for Arash's debut album, released in 2005. Furthermore, Helena also featured in the song Arash, a single. Pure love was not included there and it has been released three years later.

LJdM

Hi!! Yes, it is me singing! It was a demo I recorded many years ago. And to my surprise, it is now used on this song. I was not aware until I myself saw it on youtube...!

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

The DollyCamp (VI): En afton med Blondie

Debaser, Malmö 2007/02/27 - www.debaser.nu

En afton med: Blondie

Debaser Malmö has payed homage to Blondie.

Blondie is an American rock band that first gained fame in the late 1970s, and who have so far sold over 140 million records. The band was a pioneer in the early American punk rock and New Wave scenes. Its first two albums contained strong elements of these genres, and although successful in Australia and the United Kingdom, Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the United States until the release of Parallel Lines in 1978. Over the next three years, the band achieved several hit singles and was noted for its eclectic mix of musical styles incorporating elements of disco, pop and reggae, while retaining a basic style as a New Wave band. Lead singer Deborah Harry achieved a level of celebrity that eclipsed other band members, leading to tension within the group. Following a poorly received album, and with core member Chris Stein diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease, the group disbanded in 1982. As members pursued other projects, Blondie's reputation grew over the following decade and the group reformed in 1997, achieving renewed success and a number one single in the United Kingdom with "Maria" in 1999. The group toured and performed throughout the world over the following years, and was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the RockWalk of Fame in 2006. Blondie has sold 40 million records worldwide since their explosion onto the music scene in the 1970s

Cecilia Nordlund, Toril Lindqvist (Alice In Videoland), Dennis Lyxzén (The International Noise Conspiracy), Markus Krunegård (Laakso) and Maja Ivarsson (The Sounds) have taken part in the concert. The band also features some famous musicians: Magnus Sveningsson (Righteous Boy, The Cardigans) on bass, Nathan Larson on guitar, Patrik Bartosch (Eggstone) on keyboards, Jens Andersson (The Ark), and Jens Jansson (Brainpool, A Camp) on drums.

The band also played the song "One Way or Another" with two guests: Moto Boy and Helena Josefsson.

LJdM

The DollyCamp (IV): A night with Dusty Springfield

Debaser, Malmö 2007/12/28 - www.debaser.nu

En afton med: Dusty Springfield!

Debaser Malmö has payed homage to Dusty Springfield.

Dusty Springfield (April 16, 1939–March 2, 1999) was a popular British singer whose career spanned four decades (1959-1995). She achieved her most notable success during the 1960s, with a successful comeback in the late 1980s. Her most famous hits are: "I only want to be with you" (1959), "Wishin' and Hopin'" (1964), "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (1964), "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (1966), "Son of a Preacher Man" (1969) and "What have I done to deserve this?" (1987).

Titiyo, Niclas Frisk (from Atomism Swing), Nina Persson (from The Cardigans), Per Sunding (from Eggstone), Motoboy and Helena Josefsson have taken part in the concert. It also features Magnus Sveningsson (Righteous Boy, The Cardigans) on bass, Nathan Larson on guitar, Patrik Bartosch (Eggstone) on keyboards and the strings of Aftonorkesten.

"En afton med ..." is a project by Debaser Malmö, SVT and Monbio. www.enafton.com

Before the concert, people could watch Definitely Dusty, a documentary that includes the duo Dusty Springfield + Aretha Franklin in Stockholm gig (1968). And after the show the DJs Magnus Sveningsson and Johan Tholson played some dance music inspired in Dusty's hits.

Sara Berg, from Sydsvenskan, interviewed Helena Josefsson about being Dusty for a night. Helena Josefsson chose "Look of love", the notable Bacharach-David composition, for the 1967 spoof Bond movie Casino Royale. Helena also loves another Dusty's cover: Breakfast in bed (1969). Helena says that she would like to cover Nick Drake, Kate Bush and Michael Jackson too. According to herself, an hypothetic "night with Helena Josefsson" would include music covers (like bizarre rap versions of her songs played by Timbuktu), coloured scenography, dance improvisation and ... many cakes!.

LJdM has found a video from the show. Titiyo introduces Moto boy, that plays "You don't have to say you love me". After the song, you can see all the artists that have taken part. Helena wears a beautiful red dress.

Ola, a nice fan of the Cardigans, wrote a very interesting review in his blog.

LJdM

Probably few music is so wonderful as old recordings by Dusty Springfield. Once a month Debaser, a night club in Malmö, dedicates a night to a famous artist: in October, we had "A night with Velvet Underground" and in November it was "A night with Joni Mitchell". Tonight it is a night with Dusty. I went with Emma and Kristian. Debaser was full with approx. 500 persons as audience. The film about Dusty's life was nice. After it, the concert began. The Aftonorkestern ( with Particle Bartosch from Eggstone on keyboards), the Duncankvartetten , musicians from the band Damm! and four backgroundsingers appeared on scene. Then all the artists played. I would mention Moto Boy's and Nina Persson's versions. Nina was especially handsome tonight. The DJs session with music by Donny Hathaway, Sammy Davis Jr or Ronettes was a good ending for an intense concert. In February we'll have "A night with Blondie".

Moto Boy - If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)

Nina Persson - The Windmills Of Your Mind

Niklas Frisk - Just A Little Lovin'

Per Sunding - Anyone Who Had a Heart


Moto Boy - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me

Ola E. - from Malmö, SE

Go to En afton med Dusty to hear the different songs from the Dusty Springfield tribute! (28.12.2007). You will find all the performances under "videos".

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

The Look of Love - En afton med Dusty

Breakfast in bed - En afton med Dusty

Have you ever tried Dusty Springfield? She has one of the very few feminine voices that I could listen to all day long. So emotional, so sensual, so heavy. With "Anyone Who Had a Heart", "You Don't Own Me","Yesterday When I Was Young", "In Private", and, of course, the splendid "The Look of Love" I have good reason to rely on her.

Adela Toplean - A_T_ blog