News From Hemifran May 2016

Hemifrån is an independent A&R, promotion and marketing company, based in the heart of Sweden, specializing in, what they call, “gut music” – The kind of music that you can feel in your gut, no matter what. Hemifran is promoting a lot of singer-songwriter, westcoast-pop, country, AOR and more. Here are featured some of their latest news – it is not all west coast, but dig into it!

The Mojo Slide– Twist Your Bones

The Mojo Slide is a group of musicians, hailing from Cambridgeshire, UK, united in their passion for blues-inspired alternative music. Formed in 2011 and signed to Do It Records, they have just released their debut album ‘Twist Your Bones’. The album features a contemporary mixture of classic rock’n’roll, and blues rooted alternative rock. They have had radio play on BBC, Absolute and Planet Rock, amongst others. More information at Hemifran.

My Girl Is The River – This Ain´t No Fairytale

Created by Kris Wilkinson Hughes, My Girl The River was born out of a song. ‘The Last Song’ was the first song written for this americana, alt country, folk and roots project. Kris, hailing from Louisiana (and living in Jackson, MS and Nashville, TN) and English bassist Joe Hughes, have created a gorgeous collection of songs, showing a depth of range and storytelling that only some artists get to experience and some music lovers get to enjoy.

Along with some astonishingly gifted musicians (Jonathan Byrd, Will Kimbrough, Nick Pynn, Max Milligan, Kristin Wilkinson, Jacob Chano Lundby, John Garden and Tom Moth) they are very pleased to offer up their debut album ‘This Ain’t No Fairytale’. Described as ‘stunning’, it is mainly inspired by Kris’ upbringing in the American deep south, bringing to life anecdotes, half-truths, white lies and fables. Ranging from alt country and folk to Americana and roots, it ticks every box. It was recorded in the front room of Kris and Joe’s house in November 2015 and mixed by John Garden, produced by Kris, mastered by Mick Conley (Suzy Bogguss, Kathy Mattea, Marty Stuart), with art direction by James Marsh (Talk Talk). More information at Hemifran.

Love On Drugs – I Think I´m Alone Now

”I Think I’m Alone Now” is the title of Love On Drugs debut album, due for release May 13th, 2016. Behind the name Love On Drugs we find Thomas Pontén. He describes himself as an in Gothenburg residing singer songwriter and guitarist who for the past few years tries to combine the easiness of pop with the often more harsh and brooding storytelling of countrymusic, ”…with hope that others think I do it well”, he adds modestly. Love On Drugs is essentialy a solo project. Pontén has written the songs, sings the lead vocals, as well as plays most of the instruments, alongside producing. He has however enriched the sound stage with the help of some gifted friends.

Krister Selander has been Love On Drugs bassplayer since day one and was therefore the obvious choice for the album. The frequently engaged drummer Johan Håkansson (Nina Persson, Mattias Hellberg, Kristoffer Åström, Ebbot Lundberg et al) plays on 3 tracks. Jessica Bah Rösman, also part of Thomas´s other band My Sweetest Punch, lent her voice for the title track and for “Queen Size Bed”. “Watercolors” also features Andreas Johannesson, the lead singer of Pontén´s former band Little Green, who died in a tragic accident last year. The whole album is dedicated to his memory. “’Watercolors’ is actually a demo and the song was meant to be on Little Green´s 4th album. ’River Keep On Flowing’ was the first song we wrote together. It was also played on Andreas funeral”. More information at Hemifran.

The Carnivaleros – Dreams Are Strange

The Carnivaleros’ music has always been difficult to define, they combine moody eastern European motifs, western movie themes with strains of Zydeco rhythms, tex-mex polkas, waltzes and swing to create a stew of desert bayou music. They live up to the name with this year’s release of “Dreams Are Strange”. Bandleader Gary Mackender has penned 6 instrumentals and 8 seductive tales of life, conjuring lyrical stories of American gothic characters of fiction, for his 5th full length album. His lyrics deal with the human condition as he sees it, some light, some dark. More information at Hemifran.

Matt Bauer – Dream´s End

”Dream’s End” begins as the protagonist discovers he is something other than human. He breaks himself apart to find wires and circuits and a body made of glass and gold. Set in a landscape of barrier islands, mangroves, and southern maritime forests populated by fantastical creatures and sentient, shapeshifting pillars of smoke, Matt Bauer has imagined a fantasy world that allows him to give voice to his most raw and personal songs to date. More melodic, electric, and rhythmic than previous records, Dream’s End builds on Bauer’s previous orchestral folk arrangements of string quartets and banjos. It expands his range of sounds into near subsonic pedal bass, electric guitars strung as banjos, treated and amplified bells and wurlitzer, and drums by turns layered and at other times stark and driving (he cites Fugazi’s ’Brendan Canty’ and the layered drums on Cat Power’s’ You Are Free’ as inspiration). More information at Hemifran.

Lazy Afternoon – whatever!

Swedish band Lazy Afternoon combines genuine songwriting with a personal tex mex sound. Their debut album “Whatever!” is nothing more than 47 minutes of pure delight for those who like groovy americana. “Our sound comes from many years of experience as live musicians and the love of various genres”, says band leader Bo Ahlbertz. “We have picked the feeling and the stories from country, the groove from tex mex and a little attitude from rock’n’roll”. The infectious groove is highly created by Jörgen Ahlqvist’s accordion, although the instrumentation is not classic tex mex. Lazy Afternoon has invented their own musical flavouring including stylish country licks and influences from folk music. As a member of the folkrock group Patrask, Bo Ahlbertz learned to play Irish bouzouki, an instrument that on songs like “Shelter Me” and “Farewell” contributes to Lazy Afternoon’s special version of americana. More information at Hemifran.

Eli Barsi – Portrait Of A Cowgirl

Eli Barsi was born in Canada and raised a farm girl on the prairies of south eastern Saskatchewan. At the youngest age she tapped into her natural musical talents and became self taught on several instruments, vocals and writing music. Her devotion and passion to pursue music professionally led her to Nashville to hone her songwriting skills and make contacts, which was the start of many years in the business, performing full time, writing, recording, and learning the art of entertaining. Now, after 3 decades of working as a professional musician Eli has appreciated independent achievements in Canada and the US with radio charting singles, CMT videos, high profile performances and numerous awards recently, including the International Wrangler Award for ‘ Best Composition ‘ for the title cut from her latest album, “Portrait Of A Cowgirl“. More information at Hemifran.

Rupert Wates – Colorado Mornings

Rupert Wates was born in London, UK, and since 2007 has been based in New York City and Colorado. He signed a publishing deal with Eaton Music Ltd in the late 90’s and has been a full time songwriter ever since. His material is acoustic, melodic art folk, with flavors of jazz and vaudeville. He has won well over 30 songwriting and performing awards and his songs have been recorded by many other artists in Nashville, Los Angeles, Canada and London. Rupert Wates averages 120 live shows every year, in venues in every state in the US, in Europe and in Canada. He has released 8 solo CDs, ‘Sweet Or Bitter Wine’ in 2005, ‘Coast To Coast’ in 2007, ‘Dear Life’ in 2008, ‘Joe’s Cafe’ in 2010, ‘At The Losers’ Motel’ in 2012, ‘The Rank Outsiders Ball’ in 2014, ‘The Nightwatchers’ in 2015) and the brand new one, ‘Colorado Mornings’, this year.

The albums have been very well reviewed in the online press and tracks from them have been played on radio all over the world. Despite Wates’s British origins, Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange has called him ‘a prime figure in American music’ and goes on, ‘this is one gifted sob, if you’re not hip to this guy, yet you’re missing a lot’. More information at Hemifran.

Clarence Bucaro – Pendulum

Clarence Bucaro’s “Pendulum”, the new album from the Brooklyn-based singer songwriter, is a vivid set of new compositions combining beautiful craftsmanship with heartfelt intimacy. The 10 song set of original material features a blend of emotionally honest lyrics delivered by Bucaro’s distinctive baritone with a rousing melodic sensibility performed live with a unique group of players. Co-produced with noted vet Tom Schick (Wilco, Ryan Adams, etc) and showcasing Bucaro’s characteristically openhearted lyrics, the compelling new album features songs like the hypnotic “Pendulum”, the breezy “Girl In The Photograph” and the achingly beautiful ballad “Tragedy ”. The set also features a duet with velvet voiced alt country singer Allison Moorer on their co-written “Strangers”. More information at Hemifran.