Direct Current Music blog has written a review of my new album “The Owls Are Not What They Seem”. Read it all here!

Sofia Talvik live on the Drivin' & Dreaming Tour

I’m two months into touring and it’s been a great experience so far. I have some really nice upcoming gigs that I wanted to share with you. These first few days of February I’m doing three shows in New Orleans, Louisiana. The first tonight at Neutral Ground Coffee House at 10pm, tomorrow February 2nd at Chickie Wah Wah at 8pm and on the 4th Fair Grinds Coffeehouse at 7.30pm. It’s my first time in New Orleans and all the shows are free admission so please come and see me!

Then I’m heading back north-east to Tuscaloosa where I have the privilege to be invited to to 2 concerts. One at the The Alabama Art Kitchen on February 10th, 7pm and one at the Bama Theatre on February 13th, 7.30pm. So if you want to give your sweetheart an early Valentines gift, taken him or her to one of the shows.

On Thursday the 16th I’ll be at The Listening Room Cafe in Nashville, TN doing an early show at 4.30pm.

So don’t miss out on these great opportunities to see me here in the States. You can see all my upcoming gigs here!

The live concerts are also the only place you’ll be able to pick up a signed copy of my new album “The Owls Are Not What They Seem” that was released January 31st.

The Owls Are Not What They Seem

Today I’m releasing my 5th album “The Owls Are Not What They Seem”. Thank you everyone who pre-ordered the CD and to all my fans who pledged for the four EPs in L.O.V.E that preceded this album. (To make it clear for those of you who haven’t heard the EPs – this is a totally different production.)

I’m shipping all of the pre-ordered signed albums today. You who have pre-ordered will also get your download codes today. And for you who missed out on the physical release here’s some links to where you can listen. You will still be able to listen and purchase a download in any format you prefer here: Sofia’s music store.

If you’d rather go through the middle man, you can listen and purchase a download here (and probably a bunch of other online stores too):

Spotify
CDbaby
Amazon
iTunes (please rate and write something here if you like it)

Here’s a live video of one of the songs from the album performed at Moonlight on the Mountain in Birmingham, AL on my Drivin’ & Dreaming tour that I’m currently doing in the US.

A big thank you to all that pre-ordered and to my wonderful musicians and Martin Hederos and Pontus Borg for adding their magic to this magic album.

The Owls Are Not What They Seem

Here’s a little map that shows our current gig schedule in the US for the Drivin’ & Dreaming tour. We’re booking as we go along and our plan is to hit most states in the US. Hawaii and Alaska my be a challenge for the RV though. See my full gig schedule here! I will keep adding to it every week! (And if you feel like booking me to your venue, please click here!)

Speaking of the RV we just had some major rain falls in Atlanta, GA and discovered that the overhang still wasn’t properly sealed. So now we’ll have to tape it together some more. I bought a dryer duct at Walmart that we taped to the heater in the driver’s compartment and put up there to dry it out while we were driving to Auburn today like the white trash McGyvers we are. Hopefully it won’t rain more but you never know.

Home made water leak dryer duct

At least Auburn, AL is warmer than NC. We even had the windows open today wohoo!

I’m psyched to be going to New Orleans for a couple of gigs. I’ve been watching the Treme TV show, and it seems like a cool town, that is unless you get robbed, shot and raped. Let’s hope none of those things happen to us. So far everyone have been really nice and taken care of us. Would be totally awesome to find a private spot to park in NOLA.

Well, that’s all for now! I’ll see you on the road!

Interview with me on Radio, Live Transmission

Radio, Live Transmission the main source of news for Savannah College Students just posted a little interview with me on their site. Read it here!

1. You start looking for power outlets everywhere you go and sometimes go through great lengths to get to them
2. You learn how to use a minimal amount of toilet paper
3. You start “pre-washing” your dishes with paper towels
4. You don’t think it’s weird that you haven’t had a proper shower in three days
5. You don’t change clothes because you care what people at the office will think but because you wore them so long they started smelling
6. You sometimes wear a hat to bed…
7. …Or a blanket around your head
8. You sleep in parking lots
9. You download apps that tell you where to find the cheapest gas prices
10. You get obsessed with led lights

Sofia Talvik live - photo by Virdeo Puro

So today I received the official invite to SxSW 2012! I already have a couple of gigs lined up but will soon update my schedule with the official showcase as well. See you at southby!!!

Atlanta Retro writes about my music, my upcoming show at the Drunken Unicorn and does an interview as well. Read it all here!

Atlanta Retro appoints Sofia Talvik Kool Kat of the week!

Alright I’m Wrong did a review and an interview with me about my new album “The Olw Are Not What They Seem“

Read all about it here!

The Owls Are Not What They Seem

So lately I’ve been hanging out on iRV2 instead. There’s always things going on there. Like how about this thread “Possibly diet coke exploding in camper?”. There’s a lot to learn if you’re new to RVing too. I read a lot about tires and batteries these days. A while ago we actually crafted insulation for our vents after I read about it on the forum. Comes in handy now that it’s cold here in NC.

And if you ask something people actually answer and try to help you.
The RV life itself is great too even though I think it’s too cold in NC (around 30F/0•C). We should have stayed in FL… Both me an J got a grey hoodie that we wear in the RV, just like an old Swedish TV show called “Macken” where all the campers wore the same tracking suits. So when I jokingly asked J today why he loves me he said “because you’re cute and have the same clothes as me”. Well I guess I better keep that hoodie on then

The Owls Are Not What They Seem

“…Not dread but a connection with our past is what we feel, a thread running back to the artless creatures we once were when we first heard the oboe-like notes from the Great Horned Owl. In Paleolithic times, we suspected omens in its voice, heard in it questions we were unable to articulate, but which have stayed within us, incomplete and taunting. We are certain that ancient, taloned bird sees what we do not, knows what we never will. And some night, silent as a gliding feather, its immensity will engulf us at fireside to tell us things we want to know as well as those we don’t. In the shadowed forest we’re pulled by that lurking and alluring ghost and we are enthralled.” Welcome to Twin Peaks: Access Guide to the Town

2011 was a busy year for me. I worked hard to get an artist visa to the US, preparing for a tour that might go on for as long as two years. At the same time I wrote and recorded a new album. Now that I’ve landed in my tour in the US it’s also time for my new album to land. “The Owls Are Not What They Seem” is a collection of 12 new songs. My musical journey started out in 2004 when I recorded Blue Moon and me and my musicians all gathered in a basement studio in Stockholm recording acoustically and almost all the instruments at the same time. After that I tried a more common way of recording in layers, adding instruments upon instruments. For my third album I hired a producer, Tobias Fröberg and for my fourth album Florida i experimented with a bigger soundscape with more drums than I had ever used before.

For “The Owls Are Not What They Seem” I went back to basics. After having done an acoustic solo tour for my album Florida Acoustic in 2010 I felt I was in my best element when I was playing and singing at the same time without the restrains of headphones and click-tracks. So I decided to make an ablum that was the essence of that me. Just something I could record in my bedroom without the pressure of a big production, time and opinions from others. All the songs on “The Owls Are Not What They Seem” are recorded that way. Me – playing and singing at the same time, then sparsely adding other instruments to enhance and highlight where I thought it was needed.  My goal was to keep it down and make an acoustic album with a live, organic feel to it. I had no interest in changing the world or inventing something new. I just wanted to make a beautiful acoustic album. And here it is: “The Owls Are Not What They Seem“

You can now pre-order the album here. You’ll get a free track straight away. Physical signed albums will only be available through my website until the release. I also have two special guests on the album; Martin Hederos is playing the piano on “Nothing quite so gentle” and Pontus Borg has lent his voice to “7 miles wide”. Please hit the share button to tell all your friends.

Me and Jonas in our hoodies in the RV

After spending a few days in Savannah, GA (what a wonderful city!) I decided we had to buy bikes so we could bike whenever we came to a city like that. So we got one off Craig’s list and one from Walmart. For a few days the bikes were parked inside the RV and were taking up all the space we had. Because even if a bike is only $50 at Walmart, a bike rack for the RV is way more expensive. It doesn’t make sense at all, but we had to get one so we did. Only if we were to mount the bike rack we had to dismount the spare tire. So now instead of bikes we’ve had a hundred year old spare tire in the RV. No it didn’t fit into any of the storage compartments. Someone said we should put it under the bed but it’s old and smelly and had dead frogs and moss on it. So I don’t really think it’s going to be useful if we ever come to need a spare tire in the future.

The day after we got the bike rack and put the bikes on it we stayed in the parking lot behind the bar where I played in Charleston, SC and in the middle of the night I woke up of sounds and the RV rocking (you’d think it’s steady but it’s like a boat really). I looked out through the bedroom window and there was a guy trying to do something to the bikes, probably steal them. That’s not really something you want to wake up to. As soon as he saw my face in the window though he took off, but I couldn’t go back to sleep for hours and then I had nightmares the rest of the night.

Me on my bike in Winston-Salem

Everything got better once we came to Wilmington, NC and stayed a night with our friend Majsan. Wilmington is such a beautiful town. Actually all the towns we’ve been to since Savannah has been pretty great. We’re in in Winston-Salem, NC now and it’s beautiful. We’ve biked around the city which doesn’t have much of a city center but lots of beautiful houses. The gigs have all been great too. Sometimes one would wish for a larger audience, but at least the people who’ve shown up have been there to listen to me and that’s what’s important after all. I was pretty disappointed that SxSW didn’t come through with an official invite this year. I’ve been incited the last three years of which I’ve played two. And every time I’ve had to pay for expensive plane tickets and hotels for me and the band. So when I’m finally here, doing a great tour, having a new CD out January 31st, they don’t invite me. But I still have a few unofficial SxSW shows so if you’re going to be there you can still see me play.

Me, Majsan and Spades in Wilmington, NC

Ok that’s all for now folks!

See you on the road

Sofia Talvik live at Fresh Brewed Coffee House

Last night I played at the Fresh Brewed Coffee House in Myrtle Beach, SC and when they heard that I had a few days off they kindly invited me to do another show on Monday January 9th. So around 5.30pm I’ll play some songs in the front room.

If you can’t catch me in Myrtle Beach you might want to try South Port, NC where I’m playing January 11th at the Playhouse 211.

Check out info about all my upcoming gigs here: http://sofiatalvik.com/gigs

I also did a house concert in Hartsville the other day. I think house concerts are the best because they’re so intimate and you get to meet so wonderful people. It’s really easy to host a house concert too and I’ll come and play in your living room if you want to. Here’s some simple guidelines for how you host a house concert: how to throw a house concert

If you decide this is something you would like to do; check out my concert schedule to see when your state is listed and then go here to contact me.

Here’s some pics from the house concert in Hartsville.

Sofia Talvik live at Artsville House Concerts

Nice ambience at Derrick's house

Hosting a house concert is an awesome way to experience music in your own home

I just had a wonderful gig at the Sentient Bean in Savannah. And last night I played at the Conundrum Music Hall in Columbia, SC. I’d like to send out a special thank you to Tom Law who booked me there and so kindly invited us to his home afterwards.

Here’s a little pic from Connect Savannah who did a really nice write up for my gig today and a video from last night.

Tomorrow we’re going to Hartsville and we continue Drivin’ & Dreaming…

"There's more to Swedish music than Björn, Benny and the girls..."

Click image to read!

Connect Savannah

Playing live at Stardust Video and Coffee in Orlando, FL

Happy New Year!

This has been a great year with lots of stuff happening. I made 4 EP albums with 4 different producers, the wonderful guys in my backing band. And all of you chipped in and funded the releases so that we were able to finish the project. 4 ass-kicking metal bands did 4 ass-kicking cover albums of my EPs and one of them actually released a video too (or rather will release in a few days so I’m cheating by telling you now) Badmouth made a video of their cover of my song “To watch the bridges burn”, check it out here!

Throughout the year I have worked hard to get an artist visa to the US, and thanks again to my wonderful fans who helped out with house concert contracts and letters of recommendation I finally got my visa and packed my things and went to Florida in November. In December my big “Drivin’ & Dreaming tour” took off and I’ve now been all around Florida playing in different venues. One unexpected thing that I experienced is that I had at least a few loyal fans show up for every gig. I didn’t know there’s be so many of you!

Throughout the tour we’ve had the RV break down and fixed, nothing major yet thank God. We’ve been invited to have dinner with Greg and Michelle of The Refinery, Tampa, for southern shrimps and grits at Sian and Otis’ in St Petes and to stay the night in a really cool A frame cottage with Doris in Melrose to mention a few of all the lovely people we’ve encountered along the way.

It’s now time to say good bye to Florida and head up to South Carolina and Georgia for January. Many new experiences are to come, many new shows to be played. We’re heading into new states and a new year. In January my new album “The Owls Are Not What They Seem” will be released and I hope you will continue to support my tour as I go through America in my old RV – Drivin’ and Dreaming.

Happy New 2012

/Sofia

So anyway, there’s several ways of finding new gigs and I really like the house concert setting as people are really there to listen to your music, and so I thought I should be part of Slowbizz.com which is a global house concert network. But to be accepted I need the support of 100 of my fans. So I’m reaching out to you now, hoping, you’ll help me make my booking a little bit easier by supporting me as an artist here: SLOWBIZZ.

Support me here!

As if it’s not enough with this blog, Facebook and everything I’ve decided to start yet another blog to keep up during this tour. It’s called “My morning view” and I’m posting a picture from where I wake up every day. As we’re traveling in the RV, every day we will have a new morning view and I thought it’d be fun to capture that. You can check it out here! Make sure to bookmark it as it’s not part of my regular website.

Here’s some pics from last night! Thanks to everyone for coming and to the other bands!

Playing at the Cock'n Bull

Nice outdoor setting

Me and the singer in "Little high Little low"

Sofia Talvik live in Florida and online. Photo: Virdeo Puro

Visit Florida interactively to see a live show with Sofia Talvik.

Every once in a while Sofia Talvik will treat her fans to a special live broadcast from a scenic place along the road of her Drivin’ & Dreaming tour.

If you haven’t had a chance to come to any of the concerts on the tour, or if you’d just like to see Sofia live again, sign in to view an exclusive concert on-line on December 21st, time: 2pm EST.

Just log on to your computer and go HERE.

You can pay what you will, but the suggested ticket price is 5 dollars. You can also tip during the gig, one token is 10 cents.

Don’t miss out on this special gig – available to everyone all over the world!

Waking up on St Pete's Beach

Our cozy bedroom

Truckin' & Dreaming

This week I played at the Independent in Tampa and St Petersburg. Got invited to a real southern lunch at Otis and Sian’s place and was treated to a great massage at the Warm Mineral Springs where I did a sold out intimate concert at the spa café. Yesterday was a long day with two gigs. One in the daytime at the Flamingo Flea Market in Bonita Springs and later on a house concert followed by a bluegrass jam. Bluegrass seems to be the melody of this neighborhood and even though I tried to pitch in, I think I’d better stick to folk music. But Roger Borg who set me up with the gig treated us all to some awesome Swedish meatballs, so I felt right at home anyway.

With John, Sian and Otis at the Independent, St Pete

Featured act at Flamingo Flea market

Flamingo Flea market

Trying to understand the bluegrass business

 Thanks to all who came out to see me this week. To everyone who has been so kind to invite us to their homes and to all the venues!

Don’t miss out on downloading me free Christmas single and support ActionAid in their fight against poverty here:

We then headed to Publix supermarket to get a lot of basic stuff that we needed in the RV kitchen, like ketchup, spices and stuff like that. We spent way too much time shopping and then had to speed our way to the Tampa radio station WNMF 88.5 where I played some songs and had a chat with DJ John Palmer.

I love the name of this product

Visiting WMNF 88.5 in Tampa

In the evening we played at The Independent in Tampa, or Seminole Heights to be exact. We had a great time and met some awesome people.

Thanks to Evolution Records, WNMF and the Independent as well as everyone who came to see me!

Don’t miss out on downloading me free Christmas single and support ActionAid in their fight against poverty here:

But as it sounds just like cannon, I put a little cannon shooting snowflakes on the cover.

Post

Winter Canon by Sofia Talvik

Here’s some links to the reviews that’s out so far:

Sofia returns to her Indie folk pop roots on a very pretty down-tempo number with beautiful imagery of the season.  It’s entitled “Winter Canon”, which is a cute title but doesn’t really express how lovely the song actually is.  About the only thing wrong with this single is that Sofia didn’t include her picture on the cover art.
(read more at) Stubby’s house of Christmas

She’s definitely one of the finest Swedish singer-songwriter, and there are doubtlessly many good ones. This year’s song is called Winter Canon and it matches the expectations easily. Her soft, bright voice makes this tune really special.
(read more at) Lie in the Sound

“Winter Canon” has a very old-fashioned American Christmas feel to it….I recommend giving it a listen, downloading it and going out of your way to do something for someone else.
(read more at) The Useless Critic

Get the single for free here!

Winter Canon by Sofia Talvik

Every year I release a free Christmas single and today at Advent second it’s up for grabs. As usual I want to urge people to do a good deed instead of paying me money for the single. It’s my Christmas gift to you and I hope you will pay it forward. This year I’m happy to be working with ActionAid as my choice of charity.

Read all about it and download it here!

Thanks to Martin Q Larsson and Joakim Lundgren for playing on the song! I hope you all like it.

Thanks to the Broward Folk Club for inviting me and to everyone who came to listen!

In Orlando before the gig

Sofia Talvik at the Broward Folk Club in Davie, FL

Sofia Talvik and Len Perry after the gig

E - Part Four of H.A.T.E by Akribi

Today is the day when the L.O.V.E & H.A.T.E saga has reached it’s end as “E – Part Four of H.A.T.E” is released. I’m extra happy to see that the last metal band in this project has a female singer, and that it doesn’t make it one bit less hard rock than the other EPs.

You can now listen to and buy “E – Part Four of H.A.T.E” by Akribi on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon and all your other favorite online stores. You can also stream (and buy) the entire EP here!

Thank you to all who have participated in the project through pledging, and to all the great metal bands who worked hard to make my songs their own. I’m blown away by they wonderful job they’ve done and I can’t wait to hear more from all of them!

Akribi photo by Alexa Andersson