Slow - new 3"cd by ONDO

As I mentioned in my article about CJ Larsgården here he as been releasing new material, primary with his solo project ONDO, in a furious pace since Paradigms released his debut album in January. The newest is a very limited 3" CD released on Tuguska entitled SLOW. Very dark indeed. I can also reveal that more will come during the year, hopefully also our second album timber and modern ways of our duo A Perfect Friend. We had a label on the hook that unfortunately was forced to turn us down. We've got another offer now that we hope will turn out well.

An interview with Charlee Porter

Just laid my hands on the debut album of the Stockholmian songbird Charlee Porter whom I done a couple of shows with and mosten often hang out with whenever I visit the Swedish capital city. We first met at a jazz concert last summer and recently played together in an urban church in Stockholm. I was very pleased to see that the album was released (on Seagull Songs) and I'm also quite thrilled to be mentioned in the thank you-list. The music is clearly influenced by country and bluegrass and really nice; check it out at: http://www.myspace.com/charleeporter now.



Me and Charlee on stage


Charlee, you're one of the funniest persons I know and we've come to the conclusion that we're very much alike, right? But which one of us is really most like you?

Well, dear Thomas, I have my moments when I sort of shine through your great personality, and that gets you in the shadow, and then you shine through mine.. So you know it's such a thin line, I can't really seperate us. I'm you, you're me. It's just the way it is. Live with it.

Sometimes it's hard. Like when you call me.. wooo, that's me talking...How is that possible? Is this real. No? Am I totally lost. Who's talking. Which one of us is thinking. Who are you. Me?
And that's when I put whipped cream on my nose and say Mjao.



Charlee Porter - s/t (seagull songs 2008)

You've just released your debut album. What are your thoughts about that? How would you describe it? What influence your music? Why doesn't it have a title?

Yes, finally an album!

All the fun, and struggles, I've had writing, giving birth, recording and singing these songs over and over, finally they've come together as one. I can leave them behind me, though I'm out playing and singing these songs. Now it's time for new songs to arise!

This record is a mix of pop, country and taditional folkmusic. What influences me is all the music I've ever heard and all that I've experienced in my life. A cliché! Well, music I'm listening to right now is Fleetwood Mac, Jewel, Allison Krauss, Kasey Chambers, Gillian Welch, M.Ward.. And I'm really into Flight of the concords!! And also...maybe what influenses me the most- my imagination!

When I pick up my guitar and start singing, I'll go anywhere I want. Like in so many fairytales, there is always a portal into an other world.. I see myself as a fictional person with this superpower to travel different worlds!

Thomas, I don't feel like the record needs a title. It's my first, and Charlee Porter says it all!


I know you made a musical trip to Nashville some year ago, how was that? I heard a story about Jewel?

I had a great time in Nashville. I've met awesome people and listened to a looot of music. It was such an inspiration for me to get on a plane away from the cold winter in Stockholm, and to get off in a warm and sunny Nashville. I wrote the song "My great grandma" on the plane. I also wrote an article about my trip, sort of a diary, for a Swedish music paper called "Studio". So I was kinda reporter/writer on my trip! I've got a good look into the music scene in Nashville, and made contact with a publisher company, Bluewater music.

I met Nicolette Fontaine, an artist manager and music promoter, who's about to promote my music in Nashville. And about Jewel.. Well, I spend some time with a swedish bass player called
Victor Brodén, and he knew about this place called "Fuel" and that Jewel was going to make a secret guestperformance there. She was great and at one point she needed an extra Capo.. so I lend her mine, which I always carry in my purse. That's it. Not a big story. But now I'll never go to sleep without it. Don't tell Jewel.


You have taken some pictures of me (not naughty but VERY silly), what do I have to do to make sure you don't spread them?

Not naughty? Well I believe we have different definitions of what's naughty
then.. Nooo, we would never do the naughty ones!! Hmm, I'll have to think about that..


Finally, if you would make a cover version of a song what would that be and if you would have a dream-date for making a duet (living or dead person) who would that be?

Oh, you so want me to pick one of you songs now, right? No no no, I'm the one who's got the silly pictures you know! The song would be "Brand new key" with Melanie. I love that song. She's so
funny. The melody is wild. Hmm, duet. Ok, Dolly. I would love to meet her. Don't know about the dating part though.. And if I would pick a dead one, it would be Johnny Cash.

Home from England

>>UK TOUR 2008
May 3-11 2008

Some memories from last UK Tour



Thomas & Helena Sundström @ What's Cooking, London


Live @ Ruby Lounge, Manchester




Thomas @ The Chattery, Swansea


Bonding with Richard Neuberg of Viarosa in Hampstead Heath


Hmmmm...ysbyryswydd

From the Shelf#6

Things I like really much right now:

Daniel Lanois - Shine
Everytime the summer comes there's a time to re-discover this
fantastic album.


+ Stallhagen Dark Lager
Great local beer from Åland, impossible to get in Sweden

Arctic#1

Except following the trails of friends and collaborators and mentioning stuff I really like, another purpose with this blog was that I wanted to do somewhat of a vague (b)logbook on the progress on my next album. The 12 songs are written, and next step would be to do acoustic demos at home to give to my producer, something I intend to do this weekend. The album which I hope I can have finished by the end of the year is some kind of an acoustic indie/blues theme album on the arctic and polar explorers and wildlife. Still, with contemporary details. Last year, I decided that this album would go under a new moniker; namely Deer Theatre. That was a year ago and it still feels very good to do so, I'm giving it some more time though.

Well, that was the first step, next step is to replace the capo I broke yesterday. I don't plan to write extensive details about recordings and thoughts and such, just a little now and then. Til' next time, here are some youtubes of the songs:




A lost Continent - Home recording Nov 2007 (sorry bout the hat, it's silly)




Peacock Color Song - Home recording Feb 2007



Peacock Color Song's outtro captured live @ Mejeriet, Lund (S) Apr 2007

The original Topeka Twin - Björn Kleinhenz (On Tour)

Björn Kleinhenz is a Swedish indiepop artist that I came across in the beginning of this century. I think we started to noticing each other when getting our first stuff reviewed at the same places. Later we formed the duo The Topeka Twins and made a couple of shows and a mini album on vinyl (I Never heard her sing). After releasing two cds in less than a year around 2003-2004, it has been a long wait for the brand new "Quietly happy and deep inside" , from what I heard (although I haven't heard all songs yet) is sure to be both Björn's best and one of the finest things to happen this year. In May, Björn will go on a 2½ week long tour on the European mainland with a full band.



Björn Kleinhenz - Quietly Happy and Deep Inside (2008)


08 may - Din Nye Ven, Copenhagen (DK)
09 may - Fundbureau, Hamburg (DE)
10 may - AZ Mühlheim, Mühlheim a.d. Ruhr (DE)
11 may - TBA, Groningen (NL)
12 may - TBA, Nijmegen (NL)
13 may - Schlachthof, Wiesbaden (NL)
14 may - D:Qliq, Luxembourg (LX)
15 may - Mariaberg, Rorschach (NL)
16 may - Kaserne, Basel (CH)
17 may - KIFF, Aarau (DE)
18 may - Chelsea, Wien (AT)
20 may - Stereo Wonderland, Köln (DE)
21 may - Forum, Bielefeld (AT)
22 may - Römer (TBC), Bremen (DE)
23 may - Magnet, Berlin (DE)
24 may - UT Connewitz, Leipzig (DE)

I also met Björn on a cup of coffee last week, also did a small interview. Be sure to visit his myspace-profile and website.


Björn, I think you're Sweden's best male pop artist and you're touring a lot in Germany. How come you're doing so few dates in Sweden, aren't we good enough for you?

of course you are. I just love germany so much and after all it is quite hard booking a full tour in sweden. it..s small compared to germany I guess. plus I'.m half german so I have to make a choice now don..t I.


One of my own proudest moments in my musical carreer was when we made the Topeka Twins' mini album 2003. What's your favorite memory from our duo?

I still have a very vivid memory from the song take of "diana" when we sang in the same microphone in one take and you kept creeping up from behind for your parts. I really liked that.



The Topeka Twins - I Never Heard Her Sing (2003)


You got your new album "quietly happy and deep inside" recently released. What can you tell about it? What can we old time fans expect from it?

a good strong album with a wide variety in song material and production. well worked through and dense. I hope...


You name-dropped me in a song, what's the story about that?

hehe. that song was written the day before I met you the first time. I think we had been in touch over email or so before and then you were coming down to meet up and I wrote that song the evening before. it's a song about two people being in love for the first time.

From the shelf #5 (best of 2008 this far)

Some great albums from 2008 that I've discovered recently. Mostly in the indie/noise/techno-genre. I got to give these more time before ranking and judging
but they really hits a nerve in me. Great stuff.



The Kills - Midnight Boom



Fuck Buttons - Street Horrsing



Justus Köhncke - Safe and Sound

Also want to give a big hand to Nail Team Sweden in Gothenburg who fixed my broken nails before the show yesterday! I don't use a pick when playing guitar, and I have a constant fright about damaging your fingers on tour. So... my new nail extension is the biggest source of joy right now, I'm so glad it's actually works. Apparently it's made of a material that is stronger than natural nails.