A true road warrior

Over the past ten years, Swedish singer-songwriter Sofia Talvik has woven a rich tapestry across the American musical landscape. Blending Nordic melancholy with Americana’s heartland warmth, Talvik has become a cherished figure in the U.S. folk scene, captivating audiences from coast to coast. She’s travelled and played in 48 of the U.S states so far.

The Journey Begins

Talvik’s deep connection with America was solidified with her 2015 album Big Sky Country, inspired by her extensive U.S. tours. This period marked the beginning of her transformation from a visiting artist to a perennial presence on American stages.

Navigating Challenges

The 2020 pandemic brought unforeseen challenges, halting her planned tour for the album Paws of a Bear. However, by 2022, Talvik returned to the road, reigniting her bond with American audiences and reaffirming her commitment to live performance.

Center of the Universe

In 2023, Talvik released Center of the Universe, an album recorded in a historic Swedish village with American musicians Peyton Clifford and Drake Duffer. The album delves into themes like war, displacement, and personal loss, resonating deeply with listeners. It achieved notable success, reaching No. 14 on the U.S. Folk Radio Charts and earning consideration for a Grammy nomination in the Best Folk Album category.

A Rolling Stage

Touring in her vintage 1989 Winnebago Warrior, affectionately named “Lil’Chief,” with her husband Jonas Westin handling logistics, Talvik has embraced a nomadic lifestyle. Her performances span intimate house concerts, art centers, and festivals, offering audiences a unique blend of storytelling and song.

Recent Highlights

In 2024, Talvik graced stages across the U.S., including a performance at The Dover Art League in Delaware. Looking ahead, her 2025 tour includes stops at Bishop Hill Creative Commons in Illinois on April 24, the Swedish American Museum in Chicago on April 26, and the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center in Minnesota on May 29.

A Decade of Dedication

With over 150 concerts in the U.S. alone, Sofia Talvik’s decade-long journey reflects her unwavering dedication to her craft and her ability to connect deeply with audiences. Her fusion of Swedish roots and American folk continues to enrich the musical tapestry of every town she visits.

For a complete list of upcoming performances, visit sofiatalvik.com/gigs.

Swedish singer-songwriter Sofia Talvik is set to embark on a captivating journey across the United States in 2025. Known for her atmospheric blend of Nordic melancholy and Americana-infused folk, Talvik’s upcoming tour will span three transformative months, offering fans an intimate look at her evolving musical narrative. Here’s a detailed look at the tour dates and venues as listed on sofiatalvik.com/gigs.

Florida Beginnings

The tour kicks off in the Sunshine State with a series of engaging shows:

• Thu, Mar 27 – Troll Music, Venice, FL
  An inviting start to the tour, where fans can RSVP or secure tickets to experience Talvik’s evocative live performance.
• Sat, Mar 29 – Roberts Hall, Lynn Haven, FL
  Continuing her Florida run, Talvik will perform at Roberts Hall with tickets available for purchase.
• Mon, Mar 31 – Washington County Public Library, Chipley, FL
  A community-centric venue where admission is free, giving local audiences an accessible introduction to her music.
• Tue, Apr 1 – Niceville Public Library, Niceville, FL
  Another free show that promises an intimate setting to enjoy her storytelling and signature sound.
• Wed, Apr 2 – Calhoun County Public Library, Blountstown, FL
• Thu, Apr 3 – Jackson County Public Library, Marianna, FL
• Fri, Apr 4 – Holmes County Library, Bonifay, FL
• Wed, Apr 9 – Graceville Library, Graceville, FL

Each of these stops in Florida is designed to foster community connection and deliver Talvik’s unique musical experience in cozy, local settings.

Crossing the Southeast and Midwest

The tour then ventures northward:

• Fri, Apr 11 – Like Hearted House Concerts at Madison Hall, TN
  and Sat, Apr 12 – Jackson Pollock Microphone Presents in Murfreesboro, TN
  These Tennessee stops promise dynamic house concert experiences that blend musical intimacy with a communal vibe.
• Wed, Apr 16 – Gallatin County Public Library, Warsaw, KY
• Fri, Apr 18 – Terrific Terrace House Concerts in Richmond Heights, MO
• Sat, Apr 19 – The Focal Point in St. Louis, MO
• Thu, Apr 24 – Bishop Hill Creative Commons, Bishop Hill, IL
• Fri, Apr 25 – Sub-Urban Concert Series, New Berlin, WI
• Sat, Apr 26 – Swedish American Museum, Chicago, IL

These mid-tour dates take Talvik through a mix of house concerts and established cultural venues, reflecting her commitment to both grassroots shows and larger performance spaces.

The Heart of the Tour: Michigan to Minnesota

The journey continues with a robust Midwest segment:

• Sun, Apr 27 – Carmel Clay Public Library, Carmel, IN
• Thu, May 1 – The Treelawn, Cleveland, OH
• Fri, May 2 – Stony Lake Brewing Co., Saline, MI
• Sat, May 3 – Trinity House Theatre, Livonia, MI
• Sun, May 4 – Don & Carrin’s House Concerts, Clarkston, MI
• Wed, May 7 – South Haven Memorial Library, South Haven, MI
• Thu, May 8 – The Lucky Wolf Theater, Paw Paw, MI
• Fri, May 9 – Green Wood Coffee House – Out of Eden, Grass Lake, MI
• Sat, May 10 – Lake House Music, Bath, MI
• Sun, May 11 – Al&Mo’s BBQ Concerts, Southfield, MI

Talvik will then journey into Wisconsin and Minnesota with stops like:

• Thu, May 15 – Sundown Concerts, Green Bay, WI
• Fri, May 16 – The Park Center, Hayward, WI
• Sat, May 17 – The Big Easel Gallery and Bistro, Wabeno, WI
• Wed, May 21 – Big River Theatre, Alma, WI
• Thu, May 22 – McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
• Fri, May 23 – Folk House, Minneapolis, MN
• Sat, May 24 – Rieder Homestead Concerts, Minneapolis, MN
• Sun, May 25 – Sun Dog Farm Concerts, Maple Plain, MN
• Thu, May 29 – New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, New York Mills, MN
• Sat, May 31 – Musician’s Corner House Concerts, Minneapolis, MN

This segment highlights a mix of library venues, intimate house concerts, and regional cultural centers, showcasing Talvik’s versatility as a performer and her dedication to connecting with diverse audiences.

The Final Stretch: North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico

The tour winds down with an adventurous finale:

• Sun, Jun 1 – The Acoustic View, Kasson, MN
• Sun, Jun 8 – Stutsman County Courthouse State Historic Site, Jamestown, ND
• Tue, Jun 10 – Memorial Park-Bandshell, Dickinson, ND
• Wed, Jun 11 – Ellery Park, Rugby, ND
• Thu, Jun 12 – Morton Mandan Public Library, Mandan, ND
• Sat, Jun 14 – Cheyenne Guitar Society, Cheyenne, WY
• Sun, Jun 15 – The Legion, Estes Park, CO
• Wed, Jun 18 – The Courtyard at 610, Ridgway, CO
• Fri, Jun 20 – Turquoise Raven Art Gallery, Cortez, CO
• Sat, Jun 21 – Bell Tower Cultural Center, Florence, CO
• Sun, Jun 22 – The She Shack, Chama, NM
• Fri, Jun 27 – Alamogordo Area House Concerts, Tularosa, NM

The final leg spans an impressive variety of venues, from historic courthouses to art galleries and community centers. This diverse lineup underscores Talvik’s commitment to bringing her music to audiences in both urban and rural settings, ensuring that every show is as unique as the locales it visits.

A Journey of Connection and Musical Exploration

Throughout the tour, Sofia Talvik will bring her deeply personal and evocative musical style to life, offering a blend of introspective ballads and upbeat tracks that reflect her Nordic roots and American influences. Fans can look forward to a series of memorable, community-focused events that celebrate not only her music but also the shared human experiences found in every performance.

For more details on tour dates, ticket availability, and RSVP information, visit sofiatalvik.com/gigs. Whether you’re a longtime follower or a new listener, Sofia Talvik’s 2025 tour promises to be a journey worth experiencing.

Makaki Music is proud to present a new song from Hansan today!

Hansan’s new summer single, “Smultronblom och Vit Jasmin” (Strawberry blossoms and White Jasmin) takes the listener on a nostalgic journey to an idyllic summer world. With poetic lyrics describing a day under the trees, surrounded by linden flowers, oaks, and the scent of wild strawberry blossom and white jasmine, the song captures a sense of timeless romance and nordic melancholy.

The song tells of a moment of closeness and silence, where everything that needed to be said has already been said. “Smultronblom och Vit Jasmin” is a tribute to those moments when the world feels distant and only the present exists, framed by the beauty of nature.

Hansan is a Swedish-German duo who has released two acclaimed full-length albums, “Nattflykt” in 2020 and “Blod eller Bläck” in 2023, which included the single “Vårt Långa Land” (Our Long Country)that won the audience award at the “Swedish Folk and World Music Awards” in 2021. Hansan’s music can best be described as New Acoustic, with mixed influences from everything from movie score compositions to 60’s jazz and classical music.

“Smultronblom och Vit Jasmin” is written and recorded by Hansan, mixed and mastered by Hans Olsson at Svenska Grammofonstudion, and released by Makaki Music.

On her new 9th album ‘Center of the Universe’, Swedish born musician; Sofia Talvik, brings together her own distinctive nordic melancholy, Laurel Canyon vibes and modern folk mixed with bluegrass, further defining the path that is uniquely hers.

Throughout the 10 songs on the album, there is a broad range of topics of some of life’s most earnest moments, ranging from the Ukraine War, American women’s rights, the thousands of missing children in the US and the torment of domestic violence survivors across the world.

About ‘Center of the Universe’:

Imagine yourself in a small rural village in Sweden. White-trimmed wooden houses that date back several hundred years are tucked in between the pines and birch tees next to the quiet lake where the sunlight glitters like gold on the gentle ripple. All around you, you can hear the buzzing of bumblebees, birds singing in the trees, and the sheep are grazing in a nearby pasture, surrounded by a hand tied willow fence.

This is Sulegång and it’s the place Sofia Talvik chose to record her new album ‘Center of the Universe’.

With a group of carefully selected musicians; Peyton Clifford and Drake Duffer on accordion, guitar, and mandolin (both hailing from North Carolina) and Janne Manninen on bass (from Sweden), she built up a studio in the living room of one of the old houses.

2020 was the year when Swedish singer/songwriter Sofia Talvik was going on tour to promote her new album Paws of a Bear, but that all went down the drain when the world was hit with the Covid pandemic. In 2022 she could finally play the songs live for all the people who had waited for it, and this year she’s releasing her new album “Center of the Universe” along with playing a whopping 50+ Summer and Fall dates all over the U.S.

”Lots of people released albums during the pandemic, because there wasn’t much else to do, but I didn’t want to ”waste” another album by not being able to tour with it”, says Sofia. ”Also, many of the songs were written during the pandemic, including 2 songs for a good friend who passed away, as well as reflections about war and refugees, in particular about the Ukraine. There has been a lot to write about these past couple of years.”

The album was recorded over a week in an old Swedish rural village that has been around since the 1500’s. Bringing over two American musicians for the recordings, that she met in NC on her 2022 tour, she has taken her mix of Swedish melancholy and American folk to the next level.

”When I heard Drake and Peyton (of the band Discount Rothko) play last year I instantly knew I wanted to work with them. The way they played was both modern and traditional at the same time and I could really hear that being a great complement to my songs.”

Together they built a studio in the living room of an old traditional wooden house and created magic. Sofia’s unique songwriting and crystal clear voice brought together with a more Americana and bluegrass feel with mandolin and accordion. You can even hear the birds outside sing along on some of the songs.

The album will be released about mid-tour, but the new songs will be a part of the repertoire from the start.

The tour takes Sofia from the East Coast to the West Coast and then some. Touring in her 1989 Winnebago Warrior Lil’Chief with husband Jonas Westin on driving duty and sound design, she is playing everything from house concerts to theaters. Evoking the sounds of Laurel Canyon and the intimate coffee houses of the 60s and 70s, Sofia’s shows will treat the audience not just to beautiful music but also to stories from her many tours and her life as a full-time artist of over 10 years.

On days off she takes Lil’Chief and seeks out the wilderness in the U.S, enjoying the less crowded parts of the country, national forests and parks along the route.

”That’s one thing I love about touring in an RV. I get to see so much that other touring artists from Europe never get to see. And you can really tell it reflects in my songs as well, it’s a true inspiration to get to experience the vast and beautiful nature here”, says Sofia.

Sofia’s full schedule can be found here: http://sofiatalvik.com/gigs

Makaki Music är glada att släppa första singeln ”Vårt långa land” från kommande albumet ”Blod eller bläck”

Lyssna här – https://orcd.co/gaqpkpx

Hansan – Blod eller bläck

Release date – 14/2/2023

Record label: Makaki Music

Svensk-Tyska duon Hansan är tillbaka med nya låtar efter 2020s rosade ”Nattflykt”. Nya albumet ”Blod eller bläck” släpps 14e februari och föregås av tre singlar, ”Sommarvisa” som släpptes 2021, ”Vårt långa land” som vann folkets röst i kategorin Nutida Folkmusik på Folk och Världsmusikgalan 2021, men inte har släppts officiellt förrän nu (16/1/2023), samt titelspåret ”Blod eller bläck” (30/1/2023).

Hansan har sina rötter i Folkmusik och Jazz men på nya skivan har de utvecklats både mot mer rytmiska arrangemang samt till svävande filmiska toner – allt med bara cello och sång. Det är nästan så att man ser bilderna framför sig i låten ”Du är allt” och ”Flyger”. Samtidigt kan man ta ett djupt andetag och vila i mjuka jazzpoppiga ”Om vi inte” och ”Sommarvisa”. 

Som vi märkte redan på debutalbumet, är texterna är en viktig del av Hansans musik, och även på nya skivan vävs socialrealistiska texter som ”Vårt långa land” – om immigration och utanförskap och ”Vår värld” som tar oss till en dystopisk framtid, ihop med längtan, kärlek och det svenska vemodet.

Det är inte en överdrift att säga att det inte finns något band i Sverige just nu som låter likadant.

Credits: Text och musik: Sofia Talvik & David Floer

Cello: David Floer

Sång: Sofia Talvik

Mix & Master; Hans Olsson, Svenska Grammofonstudion

Sofia Talvik is back with her annual Christmas single. This is a free download.

Go and listen / download it here:

Read more about the release directly from Sofia Talvik on her artist page here:

As an added bonus this year Sofia Talvik also added a stripped down one guitar and vocals version, which is also part of a digital EP called “Notes For Christmas” with acoustic versions of her two latest Christmas singles as well as a traditional Swedish Christmas song performed in Swedish and German.

Get the bonus EP here:

The Swedish-German duo Hansan released their debut album “Nattflykt” in May 2020. The album has been critically acclaimed in both Swedish and European media.

“Det är Jul” is a stand-alone single, a Christmas song that really reflects the anything but perfect 2020. A dark and lonely Christmas, a Christmas where you crawl out of your skin due to quarantine and social distancing.

“Det är Jul” is nothing like the merry and romantic Christmas songs we normally hear, but with Hansan’s special sound with lush layers of cello and vocals that catches your attention every time you hear them, this is still a given newcomer to all of this year’s Christmas playlists.

Or as Hansan themselves put it, “It’s Christmas, can’t we just live in peace?”.

Hansan’s debut album “Nattflykt” is now available on all streaming platforms and as digital and physical copy on https://hansan.bandcamp.com

Makaki Music is proud to present a new video from Swedish / German folk duo Hansan.

The video for the song “Fjärilsvärld” is a collaboration between Hansan and Tanz-Zentrale Leipzig.

Choreography and dance direction Lisa Hofmann. Dancers: Luzi Madrid Villanueva, Cecilia Nesler, Fine Saelzter, Franzi Becker, Hanna Jacobi, Isabella Grundei, Lara Wunch. Dancers filmed by: Lisa Hofman, Emma Kleiner, Konstantin Tsakalidis, Lara Wunch.

On June 29th acclaimed Swedish artist Sofia Talvik is presenting an unplugged version of “Paws of a Bear” which was released to critical acclaim last Fall.

”Paws of a Bear, finds Talvik taking a more Americana-flavored approach – influenced by Jason Isbell, Valerie June and others” – Billboard.com

“This album is solid gold from start to finish” – Americana Highways

”Talvik’s voice is a thing of thing of singular beauty.” – Goldmine Magazine

When all her shows were canceled due to Corona, Sofia starting doing online concerts – and her fans started asking if there would be any recordings of them available. So on June 29th an unplugged version of Paws of a Bear, with 10 of the original tracks, plus two bonus tracks – all onetakes, with vocals and guitar – will be ­available on all digital platforms as well as a limited edition of CDs

Paws of a Bear – Unplugged