A Partial Print

A fond farewell

2008-10-15T02:49:00.000-07:00

So this is it. The last lines I write. The last lines you read. Here on this very blog. Thank you for tuning in, for paying attention. It means the world to me. Please don't ever forget that. Come next week »A Partial Print« will leave the safe warm place I call home, and travel off into the cold void that is the world. Be good to her, and she'll be good to you.

As a small token of my appreciation … here's an MP3 of the first single »Crushed By A Crowd«. It's a few minutes of funk for y'all.

Thanks again for caring … and please come back to www.tigerlou.net late next week. That's where I'll be from then on out.

Love, R. Kellerman.

Sweden here we come …

2008-09-25T02:10:00.000-07:00

There's too much confusion … I can't get no relief …
Here we are … after having chopped down a few trees and killed some deer with our bare hands! New tour dates to the right!

Oh … and also, John Dahbäck is not contributing to the remix-disc, and has been replaced by my favorite great dane: Opiate

Tour updates …

2008-09-17T01:59:00.000-07:00

We're getting ready y'all!

Fall comes a'knockin

2008-09-01T01:13:00.000-07:00

As the weather gradually starts to adjust to better accompany the release of »A Partial Print«, so do I. And although it's been two years since I started working on these 10 songs … I don't think I'll ever learn how to fully prepare. Mainly because I think I don't want to. My head is preoccupied with new ideas and plans and whatnots and should haves. I guess that's how you maintain a stable mind. Not to dwell. Not to linger. Food for thought is one of my favorite expressions – and is how I choose to view my creativity. Something you prepare, cook, consume and then shit out. Just to start all over again the next day. Or afternoon. Or evening. And, it's probably not the last time »A Partial Print« will be described as a pile of feces!

Right now, there's a lot of magic happening over at Startracks HQ, with digipak CD's, seven inches, twelve inches, promos and videos being ordered. Also, our bookers at Luger and 2 For The Road are keeping themselves busy as bees setting up shows for us in November and December. Dates will be posted here asap.

Me and the band have started rehearsals … sometimes it's like a blind leading a blind, sometimes it's divine intervention – like getting your sight back after a lifetime of fumbling in the dark. In short – we're doing great. Come next week we'll head to Pontus' summer house, together with the new kid on the block; Johnny, and start mending everything together. Exciting times to say the least. Expect a full report soon!

I leave you now with the following:
30 seconds of BJNilsen's remix of »An Atlas Of Those Our Own«

A Partial Album Cover

2008-08-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

A partial start …

2008-08-04T04:41:00.000-07:00

Yes … something has gone incredibly wrong … my site has been hijacked! As I await the response from my server host, I managed to finally mock with these pages a wee bit. I realised yesterday … that there ain't much point in setting up a new "official" Tgr Lou website, as everything is already out there. So therefore this is the new official home of me. Dig it!!! So … I'm going back to work now … run along …

And as far as the two new remixes go … check out the links to the right … everything works now! Turns out I forgot to pay the annual fee for my domain … so I had to buy a new one. Well well.

Sound of music …

2008-08-03T14:40:00.000-07:00

As I am a man of few words … I'll let these two remix excerpts, by (1) Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words and (2) Aril Brikha, speak for me. Or for them. As one. That's some spooky shit right there …

For a brief moment …

2008-07-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

It's finally official! A Partial Print will see the light of day on October 22nd (Sweden) and October 24th (Germany). As for the rest of you, fuck knows! Hopefully labels from all corners of this wretched world will come a knockin' with licensing offers. As so often before! Hint; wink wink.

But there it is. 10 songs. Third album. It took about one year to write. About one year to record. About two weeks to mix. About one day to master. About 1 hour to re-master. And soon it's gonna take about 50 minutes to listen to. You just wait. There's a lot to be said, a lot to be felt and lot to process. Some might look for explanations, so might not. Some things will be self-explanatory, some will not. That's the beauty of it. There will be new websites, new videos, new live shows, new band members, new album sleeves, new t-shirts, stickers, bags, fuck-sticks, guitars, amps and what-not. To some, I guess everything will feel new. Look new. Sound new. Taste new. Smell new. To some, it will feel just like coming home. Maybe this record, these 50 minutes of music, these some odd hundred words, maybe, just maybe, this is what you've been waiting for your entire life. Or chances are you're bound to hate the living shit out of every single little last detail of it. I don't know. And frankly … I don't care. You do with it as you see fit.

My work here is near completion. Once the record is pressed – in my eyes – it dies. It has filled it's purpose. It is no longer mine. It is inevitably and ultimately yours. An obvious metaphor would be to dress up a corpse – of a loved one maybe, or rather in particular a loved one – in their finest suit or dress (of your choice), cover up the bruises and stains with layers of make up, try to hide the smell of decay with cheap cologne or perfume, and stuff that block of dead flesh inside a coffin for the world to see. Gather round people, come pay your respects, whisper your last words and thoughts into this dead ear, weep those tears and with a quick brush of your hand, wipe that mucus off your face. There will be cake and coffee. Assorted spirits for those who are in need of something stronger. Assorted snacks for those who are not. So dawns the wake. Where we all reminisce of things that were, instead of noticing what actually is. Hapening. Right there. In front of us. All along. Something new. And spectacular.

End scene.

Sunny side up …

2008-07-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt from Bodycode's remix of »A Partial Print«. Enjoy!!!

These rants keep getting shorter and shorter. Like peoples trousers these days. The record gets re-mastered next week … it needed more bass! Meanwhile, me and the Mrs are heading for Greece, and an island called Kefalonia. For resting, eating, loving, drinking and sun-drenched-swimming. All the -ings in the book … brothers and sisters. When I get back … A Partial Print will be 100% ready for the printers!!!!!!

I'll holler y'all then … Hugs.

Ps. By the way … today is this blog's first birthday … Happy birthday Blog! … Ds.

Leaving Los Angeles …

2008-06-26T02:01:00.000-07:00

Sean is done. Rolf is done. I am done.
So bring out that old raunchy fork and stick that sucker right into us!!!
That's how done the mixes are!
Plane leaves in nine hours … gotta get me some of that beauty sleep …
Stand by for a full report of things to come …

Love ya // R.

A life in luminous color

2008-06-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

Hollywood is a place I find more and more intriguing, as our days here slowly shifts in various directions. Sean has a schedule prone to leaving us with a lot of free time. Usually he works mornings and nights, and we swing by for a few hours mid-day, listening to what he's done, making little notes for tweaks and alterations. It is a perfect work process – in every aspect. Being a part of the mixing inferno, is not a role for me to play. I hate it, quite frankly. All this analyzing, and fine tuning of details, hertz here, decibels there. So, The Way of The Sean – has proven to be perfect for me. And I know Rolf is diggin' it too. It enables us to explore this gigantic oasis of flat-ass architecture and ass-grabing glamour. The list of things to do and places to visit grows longer for each day that passes. A fact I find both invigorating and demoralizing. With so many plans and so little time … how and what to prioritize is the key problem. But as a problem, not something one should complain about. Ain't that so?

Yesterday we forgot to turn the head lights off, and after a nice 45 minutes spent at Borders (buying books) we returned to our car, only to find its battery dead as a rock. Cue the Hollywood hero – Sean B. – and his jump starting skills of wonder. Courtesy of him, we got our white swedish behinds on the road in no time. Drove straight to the studio and fresh mix number three: »So Demure«. One word can summon up the work put into the mix, and the feelings felt while hearing it for the first time; Perfection. Pure and simple. Not plain. Pure. You dig?

Today is a new day … and a new track.
I'll be back for a shack-attack … you now that's my knack!

Three down … seven to go!

If my new record bombs … I'll move here to L.A. and enroll in this school!

Or keep reading Chuck's books …

Say hi to Rolf!

L.A. (Lite Asgrymt)

2008-06-16T23:19:00.000-07:00

We're here … we're queer and y'all better get use to it!
The first day of mixing, was also the same day as the first legal gay wedding in LA history! So there's a lot to celebrate tonight!

We've pretty much finished mixing the first track (2nd of the album), called »The Less You Have To Carry« and it's sounding all kinds of great. I'm finding words hard to locate at this point. My head is smudgy from beer and time difference. I'll let these pictures speak for 'em selves … and write more later on during the week.

Our hotel …

The two biggest stars on Hollywood Blvd.

A place of dreams …

Rolf goin' at it …

One of Sean's dogs: Jezebel!

The studio …

Also studio …

Our car … a choice of Rolf …

We'll speak soon!!!

Happy Sweden day …

2008-06-05T22:13:00.000-07:00

Round 3, going on 4

2008-06-02T01:37:00.000-07:00

Both me and Rolf (as we've discovered during the recording of A Partial Print) are big fans of K-1, so when the testosterone circus came to town; we joined it! Never been to a fight before, being swedish and all, so I had no idea what to expect really. Glad was I to find it beautiful – in all it's ludicrousness, sweat and blood spurting. After a while you grew tired of all the 90's Hip Hop they kept playing; Dre, Snoop, Cypress etc. and started hoping for some Dolly or ABBA tunes to emphasize the very apparent gayness of the whole ordeal. Sadly, the DJ had forgotten all of his gay discs …

Anywhoo … as I spend my days either walking through the woods of Stockholm, or roaming its streets on my new and shiny Okee-bike, I thought I'd take a moment to tell you about the following: My wife, and her kick-ass band Firefox AK are playing a few gigs this summer that you should NOT miss:

June 10th – Sthlm / Kafe 44 (All ages)
June 14th – Hultsfred
July 3rd – Arvikafestivalen

Hopefully I'll be doin my guest spot on »Winter Rose« on all of the above dates – so I'll see y'all there!

Bess says hi – once again!!!!

A Partial Statement

2008-05-26T01:07:00.000-07:00

As the old and beautiful city of Stockholm gradually heats up, the once so chilly and restrained inhabitants start to defrost – whether they like it or not – and turn their intimidating grimace into a welcoming smile. It is in this time and setting I choose to finally open up the doors that are my arms, and invite a small circle of friends to witness the spectacle that is A Partial Print.

To say the least, it is a nerve wrecking and confidence shattering event – not having the slightest idea of how everyone will react. Not that you can expect a thorough analysis after hearing the album just once – it is indeed a whole lot to process – but you are nervous nonetheless. What will their heart, their brain, their guts and their libido say? Will it make em wanna dance, cry, sing, laugh, curse, sleep, eat, self combust, run away, fire me, hug me, sucker punch me or simply tell me to bugger off? After having heard the record only once, I asked my friends to write down the first sentence that sprung to mind. This is the lowdown:

»Straight into the darkness together with Rasmus«
Anders / Universal Music Publishing

»I need a new delay pedal«
Mathias / Tgr Lou

»I really wish they'd let me play drums instead of the violin in elementary school«
Rebecca / Universal Music Publishing

»How deep and great his voice sounds«
Morgan / Luger Booking

»Epic … can you say epic in the bio without making people think of Yes?«
Fredrik / Startacks

There you have it … now on with the show …

Pssstttt …

2008-05-13T01:48:00.000-07:00

… I'm done recording!

Holy fucking shit man!

r.

London

2008-04-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

Bess says: About time you finish that friggin album dude!

Right … me and the Mrs are off to London for a few days of social calls … once I'm back home I'll track some vocals and complete A Partial Print. Can't believe it … I'm two weeks shy of wrapping up my third album!!! And Sean has started the first round of mixing … we'll head over to LA mid-June for final tweaking. So right now … it actually looks like there's gonna be a new Tgr Lou record in the fall!!!

Hooray, hooray!

2008-04-24T00:52:00.000-07:00

If somebody wants to give me a cake … here are some subtle suggestions!

Today it's exactly two more years until I hit rock bottom and turn 30! Suck on that! So happy birthday me, and to my mom Agneta and everyone else who was born on the 24th of April. Here in Stockholm the sun is shining, the skies are blue and everything is Beverly Hills 90210–Peach Pit–perfect!

Yesterday was a wonderful day down in the Matching Head cellar … Rolf's friend Anna came by and played cello on the track we're working on right now (A Partial Print). And just as Rolf promised, she was an amazing musician and nailed every harmony and rhythm. What a pleasure it is to watch someone who has total control over their instrument. Fun fact; Anna has toured the world playing with the likes of Brian Wilson and Love … and turned out to be friends with the Tgr Lou soundman; Mr. Ugglan! The world is a small place, and by the looks of it – getting smaller by the minute.
Check this link out for a little cello nibble!

I've also received remix number two, courtesy of my long time favorites Error Error. They brought some 80's electro house magic to the song Trust Falls, making some spot on chord progressions alterations and cow bell madness!
Check this link out for MORE COWBELL!!!

Right … I'm gonna go about my day now … spending a lot of it in bed, together with Bess and a movie!

A musical timeline

2008-04-21T01:46:00.000-07:00

Above: a picture of the new and improved (but yet not finished) Matching Heads studio.

Things have once again been set in motion. No more beating around the bush. Because after all; nine songs does not an album make! The last song I will be recording for this session, just happens to be the title track – A Partial Print – and has turned out to be a real little gem of a song, clocking in at approx. 9 minutes. When finished that is. The road is long, slippery and less traveled for sure. I spent monday and wednesday of last week editing drums for what seemed like for fucking ever. When I made The Loyal some songs were written, recorded and mixed within two days … this time around … not so much. Seems strange to go about things this way … but the end result has so far been extremely satisfactory. And both funky and fresh!

I've come to realize that this album is the most personal and innovative piece of work I've ever extracted from my self. And if my musical upbringing and influences would be made into a perfume, much like the one courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, it would probably smell like all kinds of shit – but sound just like my new album will. A strange but humble and respectful blend of all the music I've been chewing up and spitting out for the past 15 years or so.

When I was 12 – 13 my gods were Depeche Mode, Front 242, Skinny Puppy, Slowdive, The Cure, Front Line Assembly, Nine Inch Nails, Swervedriver, Ministry & the soundtrack for Judgement Night (a Rap Vs. Rock mile stone).

Between 14 – 17 all things Hardcore & Emo made me tick: Refused, Snapcase, Battery, Split Lip, Sense Field, Sunny Day Real Estate, Ignite, Undertow, Earth Crisis, Copper, Texas Is The Reason, NOFX, Ten Foot Pole, Promise Ring are some of the bands du jour.

From 18 to 19 I fed on predominantly acoustic/folky sad-ass stuff like Gillian Welch, Whiskeytown, Ida, The Secret Stars, Red House Painters, Sophia, Mojave 3, Idaho, Low, Rex, Codeine etc.

20 – 21 where better know as the DJ-Days; hosting a line-up to die for, including: semi-god DJ Shadow, but also DJ Vadim, DJ Krush, DJ Cam and DJ Spooky. Around here is also the time when I engaged in some serious deep sea diving of the electronic depths. Many thanks to Napster for providing me with the necessary tools to make my explores as fruitful as they were.

And as far as 22 to present goes, I've been on a steady diet of all of the above, plus a lot of Techno (favs include all the artists on the upcoming TgrLouRmx-disc) and film scores (to name a few: Solaris, The Assassination of Jesse James, The Fountain, The Piano).

There's also been a few artists hovering about for the past 15 odd years, transcending both genres and periods – helping me walk the righteous path. They include Portishead, Afghan Whigs, TOOL, Radiohead & Blonde Redhead. What's up with that Head obsession?

So there you have it. Take a little here and a little there, add a little something and – wham bam, there you have it! – it's the new Tgr Lou album. Plain and simple. Can you dig it?

Below: Matching Heads seen from outside.

A Partial Remix

2008-04-04T07:45:00.000-07:00

It might be a little early for this … but fuck it … I'm so stoked I can barely contain my self. For the longest of times I've wanted to assemble an army of my favorite techno artists and have them remixing Tgr Lou songs. For reasons to me unknown, this plan has never been set in motion – until now!

I made some inquires here and there … and to my outermost astonishment, almost all the people I contacted, mainly via MySpace, answered my call of distress. So here we are … four became six became eleven then ten. Is any of this making any sense? Not? Well here is the lowdown:

The first edition of my new album »A Partial Print« will include an extra disc featuring the album remixed in it's entirety, by eight of my favorite techno producers + two modern electronic composers (for lack of better words). They are as follow:

1. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words [Swe]
2. Aril Brikha [Swe]
3. Özgur Can [Swe]
4. Error Error [NL]
5. BJ Nielsen [Swe]
6. Daso [GER]
7. John Dahlbäck [Swe]
8. Pär Grindvik [Swe]
9. Mikael Jonasson [Swe]
10. Bodycode [PT]

Click here for a short excerpt of Mikael Jonasson's remix of the song »Crushed By A Crowd«.

For now … that might just be it … and oh … please buy the new Portishead album … it's beautiful.

14 days and 14 nights

2008-03-26T03:47:00.000-07:00

So, we finally made our way across the pond that is the Atlantic. First stop New York. Upon arrival at the venue we learned that hours earlier the Department of Health had shut the place down due to an excessive amount of fruit flies. Suck on that. The promotor was however nice enough about it and managed to squeeze us onto the bill of a bar across the street. We got to play four songs and everyone was happy. Next day was all about roaming the streets of Manhattan, trying our best to see as much as possible within our tight ass schedule. Later on jumping a train that took us to Asbury Park for our 2nd show. Pontus and Mathias were ecstatic due to being two huge Springsteen fans. Finally got to hang out with Baumer, the band that took us under their warm and fluffy wings. Much love to these four knights in denim armor, lending us their gear, making room for us in their car and making us feel at home. I miss y'all, my brothers from other mothers!

From here on the next couple of days were mainly about driving, making our way down to Colombia – Baumers neck of the woods. Had a few amazing days there, drinking, eating and shooting guns! Being a swede, it's not everyday you get the chance to shoot a Glock 9 mm, so shame on the one who passes on such an opportunity. I've never been more scared in my life, as the moment before letting the first round go off. My only regret is not shooting a revolver, but hopefully I'll have the chance again. Man, I loved shooting that friggin' gun. Tgr Lou proudly laid to rest 250 rounds of ammo and in the process managed to maim or kill at least three hostages and two terrorists. Thank you Colombia Shooter's Gallery for teaching us the Way of the Gun!

Down in Charleston – one of the most beautiful towns I've been to – me and Pontus hopped on the Kiss Kiss School Bus Deluxe. It was a real treat to get to know this lot of great people and great musicians. Also included in the Kiss Kiss funfair were Alex and Kenny from Invisible Children who's organization we were promoting each night – two amazing people working for an amazing cause. Please check their website out.

Austin and it's pride and glory – SXSW – was a real treat. Mainly due to its amazing weather but also because the festival itself being a display of human nature at its strongest and weakest. 1500 bands in 10 days – many of them playing several shows – an endless amount of parties, BBQ's, beers being drunk – putting out the hopes and dreams of many, refueling some – celebrities, wrist bands, iced coffee, walking, walking, walking and standing in line. We played two shows, whom were both great. So come next year, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed we get to return.

All in all, the two weeks we spent driving, stuffing our faces with waffles, pancakes, Doritos, Skittles, Bud Light, orange coffee and the occasional apple, were perfect in ever aspect. The total of paying people at the shows – for the whole tour – fell way short of 100. But Baumer and Kiss Kiss put on amazing shows each night and inspired me in ways I might have forgotten to tell them. So thank you Josh, Kenny, Chad and Nate. Thank you Josh, Mike, Rebecca, Sam and Jared. Thank you Alex and Kenny. And the Thank you to Mike and the Eyeball boys! I hope we'll meet again soon!

And from all of this:

… we came home to this:

Glad Påsk!

2008-03-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hey there … I might just be the worst blogger ever … but I promise to max my sufficiency over the next few months. Right now, I'm at my mom's for Easter, but come next week I'll tell you guys all about our US-tour, SXSW, Kiss Kiss, Baumer and Tgr Lou shooting 250 rounds of 9 mm ammo while hung over like crazy. So stay tuned for stories, great pictures and an update on the proceedings of A Partial Print and The Loyal (US version). Vad säger sörmlandspojkar när de får en sup? Jo ja tackar!

Lots of love to y'all!

The Loyal hits the fan

2008-02-25T03:29:00.000-08:00

9 down 1 to go

2008-02-16T06:44:00.000-08:00

Man … it's been a slow year so far … been working far to few hours in the studio and far to many doing design stuff. Mind numbing, mind fucking and not a wee bit of mind blowing. But hey … shit could be worse right? The good thing is I finally committed to start working out! IGod knows 've been talking about it for years now and finally found something I genuinely like doing; kick boxing. Great stuff although strange and intricate. So you won't see me inside a ring anytime soon – that's for sure.

As the headline for this entry reads: I have now only one song left to record. »It's about time«, my wife tells me and she's right (per usual). The last one (9th) was a real pain in my behind and it took me about two months to finalize the lyrics for it. It's a mixture between opera, rap and Queen. The rhythm and melody – not the actual words. Probably the best song I've produced in every aspect. If you ask me anyway. Looking forward to mixing it, and speaking of mixing; I've actually located the person up for the task!

When Peter Katis was forced to cancel on me, due to work overload, I freaked out and started searching for a worthy replacement. I decided early on that I was looking for someone who had a completely different background and track record than Peter – someone who'd mainly worked with heavier bands and artists. Three names came to mind;

– Alex Newport (Mars Volta, Sepultura, Melvins etc)
– Brian McTernan (The Bled, Thrice, Engine Down, Snapcase etc)
– Sean Beavan (NIN, Marilyn Manson, Slayer etc).

Amazingly enough they all answered my call, and ended up doing a test mix for one of the new songs. All three versions were really really good – but ultimately I chose Sean's due to the nerve and atmosphere it added to the song. So come end of April me and Rolf are heading to LA to mix the remaining 9 songs of the album. Do I need to tell you I'm stoked beyond stokeness? Well … I am.

And as an end note … I have now filled all the slots for the remix album I'm putting together for the limited edition of »A Partial Print«. Ten artists. Ten great artists. I'm guessing that version of the record will be better than my own!!! Will let y'all know soon enough who they are and what they've done. Til then …

Spare a moment?

2008-01-19T08:21:00.000-08:00

Imagine a dark & sweaty club. You've been there for about four and a half hours and a few beers have been drunk. Maybe a nice cold vodka tonic is calling your name over at the bar. The half naked buffed up gay dudes are getting pretty nasty over in their corner and they couldn't care less what you and your friends are up to. The local drug dealer has stopped asking if you wanna buy X or K. You're just like me; the music, friends and beer is all you need to light up this sad little life your leading. But right now you're in need of a break. The toilets are flooded and reek of piss and unwashed foreskin. You think: Fuck it, and decide to go home … but wait … what's that? A slow and gritty drumbeat begins … all of a sudden a dark voice emerges … you feel drawn to the dance floor … and once you're out there … you ain't goin nowhere else for another hour. I'm there too … cutting sloppy mixing, but playing nine songs that make you forget all about tomorrow and the days that follow. Jobs, lovers, apartments, dinners, pets, shopping, school, teeth brushing, nail cutting, ass wiping, working out, learning new and wonderful things, talking for hours and hours about nothing in particular, fucking, saving up money for that trip, death angst. All of that is history now. For one hour. The only thing right here, right now – worth a damn – is this:

1. Burial – Spaceape
2. Stephan Hinz – Diescinerum
3. 6884– Distance
4. Mark Mendes – Beneath You
5. Deadmau5 – Jaded
6. Ozgur Can – I Guess It's Not Meant To Be
7. Del Horno/Groove Garcia – Bali (Andrea Bertolini Remix)
8. Modeselektor – The Black Block
9. Dandi & Ugo, Piatto – Serenase

Those are the songs you'll be dancing to this month. If I was a DJ and you were me!

Meanwhile … if you feel like stayin at home, check out the new Firefox AK feat. Tgr Lou video for 'Winter Rose'. Great stuff!

Let's jam this sucker …

2008-01-19T03:10:00.000-08:00

Things are moving kinda slow as of late.
Slow as fuck to be precise.
But soon … I'll pick up the pace.
Soon …

Queue the strings …

2007-12-21T04:21:00.000-08:00

As the year draws to an end, I reminisce about all the wonderful things that actually happened during it. I spent the first half in Berlin – the city that turned out to be so spellbinding that my little family have decided to move there permanently, come summer of next year. And as of now, my family has a new member – Bess. This means a lot of loose hair everywhere, early mornings, frustration, responsibility, less clubbing, buying nasty shit like pig ears and dried up tendons. But most of all it means having a kool as ice companion who treats you in the exact way that you deserve. Be good to her, and she'll be good to you. For a real long time. She's mighty big by now but still has a long way to grow until she reaches her full size. Imagine a mix 'tween a wolf and a panther and you've got Bess!

I also managed to finally start recording my new album. The process is ongoing and have ended up stealing more of my time than I anticipated. Seven songs are done … three or more to go and a few lyrics to write. All and all it's been a great journey so far. It's always weird as hell locking yourself up inside a studio, or your own head – trying to cram out whatever leftover creativity you might still have. I feel as if I'm not making an updated version of my previous work, but rather creating something new and unique – from my point of view anyway. And it's with great enthusiasm I think about the day when everything is finally done – according to my mental schedule, sometime in February. So stay tuned for further updates …

As a small Christmas-gift, I can hereby confirm that my last album 'The Loyal' have been picked up for US release by way of the kind people at Eyeball Records. It features a sort of new cover, plus the song 'Pilots', which is a replacement track for 'All I Have'. There's a simple thought behind this – 'All I Have' is a track that should not have been on the album in the first place. I wrote it right after the first album and it's whole persona is unfitting for an album as 'The Loyal'. So, when one is given the opportunity to correct ones past mistakes – one should embrace that opportunity to the fullest. And as far as adding 'Pilots' goes, it's a great song that I really like. No more, no less. So to the all good people in the US of A … stayed tuned for 'The Loyal' hitting stores in February 2008.

Bess is waking up which means we're heading straight for the darkest of woods, for the longest of walks, as the cold winter sun sets behind us, leaving us lost and confused as we search for a way out the twig maze. I wish you the warmest of holidays, the best of times and a new year that makes the last one look like a pile of dog poo!

Hugs // R.

Here are two small lists of items I enjoyed during the year …

Top 5 movies of 2007

1. Darren Arronovsky 'The Fountain'
2. Brad Bird 'Ratatouille'
3. David Fincher 'Zodiac'
4. Roy Andersson 'You, The Living'
5. Robert Rodriguez 'Planet Terror'

Top 5 records of 2007

1. Clint Mansell 'The Fountain'
2. Burial 'Untrue'
3. The National 'Boxer'
4. Marilyn Manson 'Eat Me, Drink Me'
5. Blonde Redhead '23'

Do I sink or swim?

2007-11-30T08:11:00.000-08:00

This is a 01:10 minute excerpt – pre-mix – from the song »Odessa«.

The biggest set back of recording album No. 3 happened a few days ago when Mister Peter Katis declined mixing duties. This is a way more severe problem than one might assume. For my money, he's probably the only one who can make this album sound exactly as I intend it to. And having said that … this makes finding a proper replacement one hard noodle to cook. But rest assure – I'm working hard and have spent countless hours searching the internet for people with that little extra something hiding under their hood. Some I've contacted, some have replied. The hunt continues … and a decent update will follow asap.

So, I've felt somewhat submerged the last couple of days. Doing my best to drench the old sorrow. Coming down harder than a ten ton truck filled of vomit and fecal matter. Or maybe I'm exaggerating. Just a wee bit right?. But before I implode I hope to learn more about myself and the thoughts I call my own. It's like having race horses running around, trying to beat each other up while a crowd of thousands cheer and rumble. One thought leads to another and within minutes it's a maze of trails without beginnings nor ends. I often wonder how my brain works – is it so different from the next guys, or does everyone feel this way? Things would be real convenient if I could weed out some of the grey tones and for once just focus and the yin and the fucking yang. To many options racing through me. Can't seem to focus on the things I should be focusing on. My mind is very much grid-oriented – as I live and breathe in squares. Seamless through them I skip while trying not to gaze behind. If I stop to think I lose my direction. If I stop to orient I my mind starts to wonder. Often I find a bottle of wine loosen the bolts, clouds the mind and narrows the options. Too often some might say. Too little others may retort. One way or the other … too many options are of the key problem. And narrowing them the key solution. Any ideas?

Some good news are as follows: I've set the wheels in motion to produce a remix-cd for the first edition of »A Partial Print« featuring some of my favorite techno/electro producers around. So far everyone I've asked has accepted and the line-up will soon be presented here. I did not expect this amazing turn out … and I'm more than confident that all of em will make versions to goes far beyond my own. So be sure to buy the album fast os hell in order to get your sweat soaked fingers on the remix-one as well.
I've also been busy writing a few small musical pieces for a documentary, together with Viktor Ginner (Rupesh Cartel). Again, more info will be presented here asap.

So how do I find time recording while doing all this other shit, one might ask one self. Well … I don't. As of late we've been remixing songs – adding, subtracting and altering subtle nuances to pretty much all six of 'em. Hopefully will wrap the last one come Monday and start fresh on Wednesday with a new track. I have still some words to write … but hopefully inspiration will come and blow me away faster than a hurricane.
In the meanwhile … Bess is making steady progress, she can now do a high five without breaking a sweat and hasn't so much as looked at another dogs (or humans for that matter) poo for the last week! My wife is back from a weekend trip to Budapest and is busy finalizing the plans for the february release of her lovely and amazing 2nd album. The first single (featuring guest vocals by yours truly and remix versions by like a zillion great producers) should hit the stores before the holidays.

Monday

2007-11-26T14:24:00.000-08:00

Ok … right now I just have one word for you: Californication.
Thank you Showtime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The elusive Lou …

2007-11-20T07:24:00.000-08:00

Some days you fall between the floorboards
Some days you stay the same
Some days are longer than the life span
of the person you never became

I was in need of a little breather. Too many distractions, too much to do. My head was spinning at 80 mph, and if I slowed down the bomb would inevitably detonate. Courtesy of one Dennis Hopper. To my luck, Sandra Bullock and Neo was not present at any point. Or Jason friggin Patrick for that matter, but there was a boat involved. As you can see below. I managed to find my little haven, located at Skäggaudd, in the farthest corner of Stockholm's archipelago. I brought some gear, some food, some drinks, some movies and pretty much went to town, in a manner of speaking. Managed to write and demo two new songs, tentatively entitled »Of Those, Our Own« and »By The Atlas«. Two small pieces of reluctant beauty. The only thing I couldn't seem to do was to muster up some lyrics for the two, or the title track for that matter. Seems strange. Out there – me, the sea and the sauna – the perfect spot for clearing my head from sidetracking thoughts, focusing on creativity and connecting the last few left over wires. Well … as fate had it … my mind drew a complete blank. But I guess there are other days for writing. Most importantly though … I "swam" in the ocean three times! Try that one out for size!

Came back day before yesterday, put on my suit and went to a birthday party. Spent a few hours in the studio and have now almost completed my most funky, radio-friendly and weirdest work to date: the aptly titled »Crushed By A Crowd«. It's too early to say if I love it or not … give me a few days to absorb this little monster of a song. I promise to return the favor once the album inhabits your iPod. Or maybe stereo – if I'm lucky.

I'll leave you now with a small set of pictures from my recent escapades …

Welcome to Chateau Nickebo …

Sauna slash shower slash toilet.

The view from my own private jetty.

In case of drowning … I could throw this out and rescue my self!

You'll need a healthy stock of supplies.

This little dude woke me up the first morning. He jumped down into my garbage bin … but couldn't jump back out!

Coalitions

2007-10-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

Here's »Coalitions«, unplugged and wearing a plaid flannel shirt!

Tomorrow at 20:00 I'll be enjoying the view from 10 000 feet, as I hover through the ever so dark and brisk swedish night. Destination: Berlin! Mission: Reinforce my bond to the city and treat my lady to a few crazy nights of great food, great drinks and lots of tete-a-tete time. The plan is far from meticulous, but will beyond reasonable doubt leave us both more than slaked. It's the Mrs' birthday and our first few days together, without Bess and/or any obligations, in a real long time. To describe me as stoked, might just be the understatement of the year. In my book anyways.

Last friday, courtesy of my sister looking after Bess, I attended the Torpedo release-party/show! What a fine event and finer night it turned out to be! Met a lot of friends I haven't seen in ages, and got to support one of Sweden's finest bands as their debut album finally hit the stores, online or regular. Be sure to pick up a copy, if not for the killer tracks, then for the very luxurious packaging – which includes a huge map over the Republic of Torpedo. You know, so you don't get lost in there. Gotta take measures of precaution these days folks! Condoms, maps and all the water you can carry. Now you can!

In my own republic, I'm happy to report that I – as of yesterday – have a new song for the album almost finished. It's entitled »Coalitions« and not a single soul has heard it. Who knows … maybe no one ever will?! We'll just have to see about that … as cryptic and mysterious is the new me. And a little bored out of my mind. I've been boxed-in here for an unhealthy period of time now. Buried in work and dog poo and music waiting to be written. I have a lot of songs left to finish before I can head back into the studio full time. I thought I was done. More done than ever before. Over time, I learned I was wrong. Shells have to be mended, words made into sentences, melodies transfered on top and underneath each other. I have plans, ideas, notions and an iron will just waiting to explode over the pages in my little grey notebook or into my little grey MacBook. But I can find no peace here. I'm too easily distracted. So … I plan to make a little detour – an escape, if you will. Wheels have been set in motion. Early november I'm off. Which direction are you heading?

Half-time

2007-10-05T03:37:00.000-07:00

Five small cups of coffee later, or two really big ones – which ever you prefer – and I'm more than ready to kick-start the day! Today is Friday, which for me means a day of rest, contemplation and design work. I'm currently working on five book covers at once, and hopefully by next week, most of them will be finished. The Mrs is at her office, Bess is sleeping by the radiator and I'm listening to Rachel's – a band I'm falling deeper in love with by the day and hour.

Yesterday was the last studio-work-day in a while, due to the Mrs leaving for Berlin next week to mix her new album. She'll be gone for a little over two weeks, and since Bess ain't quite ready to conform to the zen-like conditions we consider us proud of maintaining over at Matching Head studios – I'll be staying home with her all day. Hopefully getting some work done, writing the last few lyrics and recording demo versions of a few new songs I have yet to complete.

So far – we have three songs finished; Odessa, So Demure and Trust Falls. Three more are in the pipelines, having recorded drums for all of 'em and a fraction of the guitars and vocals. So, hopefully by the end of October I'll have 'em wrapped up as well. But who knows … some days our pace is pretty fucking far from "light speed", some days proper at best. And since we only record three days a week, from 09:00 to 17:00 things tend to take a while.

Anywhoo … I'll be leaving you today with two nice pictures some of the bizarre shit I encounter everyday on my way to the studio. And also a nice new clip of Pontus proving yet again how to beat those drums to a bloody pulp!

Have a weekend to remember – and please listen to Tea Merchants by Rachel's!

A short notice of outermost importance

2007-09-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

I command y'all to go see the movie »You, The Living« by Roy Andersson and the wonderful crew of Studio 24. I'm in awe, is all I can say.

For you guys who didn't know this, the Studio 24 crew are the same people that helped out shooting the Tgr Lou videos for »Sam, As In Samntha«, »Oh, Horatio« and »The Loyal«. Magnus Renfors directed, and they took care of the rest. A fun little anecdote concerning the film is that, when we shot »Sam«, most of the studio was set up to shoot the second scene of »You, The Living«. This was in 2003!

They'd painted some buildings on the walls, built a bridge out of papier mache and made some funky looking miniature cars out of some pieces of god-knows-what. I remember thinking (not aloud) »Jesus Christ – what kind of drugs are these guys on – if they think anyone will think this is real?«.

But as the second scene of the film (yes … they've shot every scene chronologically over the past four years) unfolds, the set design, lighting, sound and atmosphere is flawless. I'm left totally dumbfounded.

Fuck man, I wanna make movies!

»Therefore rejoice, oh thou living one
blest in they lovelighted homestead
Ere the dark Lethe's sad wave
wetteth they fugetive foot«

Oh … and here's a picture of me sleeping.

Meanwhile in Stockholm …

2007-09-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

If I'm busy recording the new album … one might wonder what the other guys in the band are up to these days. Well, here are the answers:

Pontus, is studying graphic design, records drums with TGR LOU every thursday and earns some spending cash from modeling (see picture!!!). He's also, together with Erik, getting ready to release the new Torpedo album due in November on Knievel records.

Erik, is working full time at Beyond Retro, a very superb vintage and second hand store and – as stated above – getting ready to hit the charts with Torpedo.

Mathias, is working full time at DHL and just bought a new car and two cats. He's also playing the occasional gig together with Ed Greene.

Ugglan, was hired as the new house engineer at Debaser and is currently roaming Germany with his band eminent Holiday Fun Club. So if you're a kraut, check 'em out!

And on the studio front … things are looking ace. Finished the third track »So Demure« yesterday, after a few days of hazzle and angst. It sounds classy and groovy, just the way I like 'em. I also decided to re-work and re-mix »Trust Falls«, due to reasons as simple as: because it sounded like crap!!! So, hopefully I'll get my ears together on Monday and wrap it up real tight. After that … who knows …

Have a kick-ass weekend!

A partial statement

2007-09-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

In the past, I feel as if everything I did turned out exactly as I intended it to. But the older I get, the more random everything seems. In part, I find it invigorating, and in part not so much. In most aspects I have a one track mind, that tend to work best when everything is tightly planned and predestined. A tour, a song, a meal, a night out, a drink, a club, an outfit – everything has its certain place and logistic – and moving shit around often throws me off course. So to say the least, spontaneity is not one of my stronger features.

But as I dig deeper into this recording … I feel the need to loosen up and gamble a little more. Or maybe I should say … as I dig deeper into life itself – it makes me sound a tad less shallow and self absorbed. There are so many things one should try out … you know, learn and grow by the mistakes and the mishaps and the whatnots.

Making records is a very strange thing. You pour your heart into it – hopefully – and try to create something that will move, touch and affect the person who listens to it. Maybe you have something to say, maybe you don't. Maybe people will listen, maybe they won't. A record is a beautiful piece of art nonetheless. So to quote Chuck Palahniuk »The goal isn't to live forever, it's to create something that will«. A record inevitably will, whether you intended it to or not. That's why this record is called »A Partial Print«. It's a partial piece of me, intended to hopefully leave a print – of sorts – in history.

I'm well aware of the fact that this might sound pretentious and pompous – but so be it. Making music have been a very easy and natural thing for me, so this time around I'm trying to write something that will transcend my past limitations, both musical and lyrical. It's driving me fucking nuts as of late … but I'm confident the end result will be satisfactory. When the album will be done or what it will sound like, I can't tell you – even if my life depended on it. I guess what I'm trying to say is; the fetus is forming and transforming as I write this. So if y'all don't mind … I'll get back to work now!

Bess says hi!!!

Slacker friday …

2007-09-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

Taking things slow today … hanging out with Bess, watching movies. Gonna wish y'all a nice weekend with a little something I put together. Thanks to Rasmus for providing me with the link to The Perception Laboratory's Face Transformer.

Adjöken!

Berlinesque

2007-09-11T01:24:00.000-07:00

For all of you who didn't know this; last year me and the Mrs temporarily relocated to Berlin, to take some time off touring, nurture our passion for food, club music and ourselves. The goal – for me anyway – was to endure for three months, maybe scribble down some lyrics and possibly write an melody for accompaniment. We ended up staying for a total of eight months, fell completely in love with the city and I basically wrote all the songs for the new album. So, it's with both astonishment and weirded-out-ness I learned that the German embassy has moved in across the street from the studio! I figure it to be the most definite sign, pointing me and the Mrs to return to Berlin – which is our present intention. So see y'all krauts in the fall of 2008!

As far as recording goes; we're making slow but steady progress. Track two; »Trust Falls« is now completed, so come wednesday we'll move on to the next bit, a little something called »So Demure«. It is the first song I wrote for the album, and also the first song I ever recorded by myself (the demo-version at least), so I have a good vibe about it. It's very danceable, with a freaky beat and includes harmonious guitar solos. Stay tuned for video clips next friday!!!

As an end note, I'd like to take a moment to state that Bess is now fully vaccinated and will soon be coming around your house looking for dogs to play with! So we'll see y'all in the fields!

And also … consider this my solemn remembrance of the murder of Anna Lindh.

A threesome and then some …

2007-09-07T06:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I managed to lure Pontus – the god of all drums, including bongos – inside the batting cage, with flawless results.
After about one hour of stomping and beating and throbbing, he had lost about one kilo (2,2 pounds) due to perspiration. But as I said, the result was fucking mind shattering!

All the songs I've demoed for the album, has programmed drumming, which sounds way kool and all, but is easy as pie to do. You know, find a nice snare, a kool tom and some sexy china crash and then just go to town – anyone can do it, and any one can use the same sounds as I've used. So the plan was to get Pontus, to copy all the rythms and patterns and fills, in order to get a unique sound out of every stroke. Also, when I program drums, I tend to write completely different stuff, than any "normal" drummer would do, which is the kool thing about all this; having Pontus play like a drum machine. So, yesterday was the first day of trying this idea out. Having already recorded vocals, background vocals, all the guitars and bass, we then finished with recording the drum parts. And it worked like a charm – a charm I tell you! The song is called »Trust Falls« and is the second song we've finished this far.

Click: THIS THINGS to view a short video clip from the proceedings.

I'll leave you with a nice picture from the very scenic route I ride my bike along every monday, wednesday and thursday at 08:30. Makes me think of Pittsburgh and Wonder Boys – my all time favorite movie. So, it's a view I fancy, to say the least!

Have a nice weekend y'all.

So dawns a new day

2007-09-01T23:58:00.000-07:00

These days, on account of Bess, I get out of bed around 07:30 every morning. If I'm lucky. This is a change I find less and less frightening. In fact, after merely five to six hours of sleep, I feel better than after ten hours of it. Sleep mushes your brain and cloud your visions – I've come to realize. Look at me … I'm turning old! Soon I'll be up at 05:00 everyday, drinking coffee, crackin' crossword-puzzles, talking a little too much to either the dog or myself, then take her for a walk while still in my pajamas. Oh, I forgot, I also have to pee all the time, probably due to benign prostatic hyperplasia, i.e. an enlarged prostate. But not worry … it comes with the age!

So, before I go brew some Zoega coffee, I'll leave y'all with a list I made last night, when I couldn't sleep. It's my list of:

The ten most influential records of all time

1. Dj Shadow – Endtroducing
2. Portishead – Dummy
3. Depeche Mode – Violator
4. The Cure – Disintegration
5. Refused – The Shape of Punk to Come
6. Cliff Martinez – Solaris
7. Radiohead – OK Computer
8. Red House Painters – Ocean Beach
9. Interpol – Turn On the Bright Lights
10. Clint Mansell – The Fountain

If your record collection is missing out on any of these … please support your favorite record store by purchasing 'em there.

Todays Groucho quote is:
»Military justice is to justice what military music is to music«.

Over and out.

A Partial Beginning

2007-08-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

Today was, in all accounts, the first proper day of recording – a fact I find both invigorating and terrifying as fuck. We started out pretty easy, with laying down some vocals for one of the calmer tunes, a song called »Odessa« that is the former title-track of the album. It's a sort of bland word, but I guess what draws me to it, is this very serene and isolated quality it resonates. But after deciding to name the album »Odessa«, I googled it and soon learned that:

A. it is the name of »Organisation der ehemaligen SS-Angehörigen« or »Organization of Former SS Members«

B. the title of a Bee Gees album.

You do the math. Nuff said.

Once vocals were in the bag, we moved on to guitars and I finally got to try out my latest eBay find – a black Gibson ES-335 dating back to -91. It sounded exactly as perfect as I had anticipated – after a little tweaking and intonation magic – courtesy of Rolf.

It's feels kinda strange being back in the studio and having done all the writing beforehand. Usually what happens is, I write some song at home on my guitar, and then book studio time and just go with the flow. We toy our way through each song, adding instruments as we see fit, and never having the faintest idea as to where the hell we might end up – for better and for worse. But this time around I did most of the writing and "pre-producing" during my eight month stay in Berlin. So every guitar lick, all the drum parts, bass lines, vocals and backgrounds have already written, demoed and tabbed. This is a new and pretty fucking kool way to go about things, 'cos it enables me to move seamlessly between songs, recording guitar or vocals or whatever – without having to wait until every little piece is in place – 'cos they already are. Now we just have to re-record everything – due to insufficient sound quality – and hopefully leave some space for play time and improv. I feel very optimistic regarding the outcome of things – but as someone said – »The proof will be in the pudding«. True indeed.

So after a fruitful day in the studio, I came home, had an argument with the Mrs, that eventually turned into a full on and stupid fight, ending with her leaving and me making a tomato sauce to die for (I'll post the recipe here some day) and opening a bottle of Tommasi Amarone. It's hard being married some days, and even harder having a little puppy that requires constant and undisputed attention. Well well, somedays I'm amazing and some days I'm a fucking asshole. Some days I'm a little bit of both – but then again, who isn't? Without the downs, the ups wouldn't even register.

But let's not end on a sad note … let's end with a quote from my man, Groucho Marx: »Time wounds all heels«.

Lupus in fabula …

2007-08-25T01:07:00.000-07:00

Feast your eyes on the reason for my recent radio silence; Bess!

Me and the Mrs brought her home two weeks ago and haven't been able to focus on anything else ever since. Screw our records and our jobs and our friends … we've got a new baby y'all! We named her Bess and she's a crossbreed between German Shepherd, Border Collie, Labrador Retriever and plain Collie. Her ears are bigger than bananas and she's snug as a bug. Once house broken and rid of her separation anxiety I'll commence the recording of 'A Partial Print'. But for now … I'm all about scoopin' the poop!

I'm also happy to report that the Matching Head studio is being set up by wiz kid Rolf Klinth as I write this, and Peter Katis has once again enlisted for mixing duties once we're done recording. So the wheels have been set in motion my friends … and soon the wagon of ROCK will speed off, with you riding shotgun! Unless I die prematurely, on account of using retarded metaphors.

Stay sharp!

The artists nipples

2007-07-23T03:18:00.000-07:00

One might wonder – and rightly so – where the hell the sun's been lurking all summer. Well, yesterday I found her roaming about, and engineered a little sit down between the both of us, to set things straight, get the latest happs and what not. I'm happy to report that coffee was drunk and bread was inevitably broken. The cheese was a little too sweaty and – as reported by several – the coffee had both aroma and flavor reminiscent of burnt almonds. But all in all it was a very fruitful conversation and here – to demonstrate the sun's goodwill – is an "after picture" of yours truly and what appears to be one well fried torso. Thank god I chose a tank top for the wearing!

Regarding the ongoing process of writing wonderful words for wonderful music, things are developing so so as of late. But not to worry … that leaves more time for fishing – a recent distraction of mine. But all that several hours of experimenting with every lure in the bright orange – and ghastly smelling – fishing box amounted to, was; A. a blue shell mussel and B. a three inch bass, who fortunately let go of the hook before boarding our boat. Please note that I applied both persistence and professionalism, but was left empty handed nonetheless. I don't know what I did wrong and now feel terribly put down by all of this. From this day on I will regard fishing as a sordid and infantile waste of time, and will not in a foreseeable future embark on any more fishing escapades. Also please note – if you don't already know this – that I am one for the loving of irony.

Only three days left now … and since fishing and sunbathing is out of the question I guess I'll get back to writing again. Anyone got any leads on a good poem I can ape?

A quick hello

2007-07-12T03:10:00.000-07:00

Ok – you in the back. Yes you. If you have something to share with the entire class, speak up so that everyone can hear you! "Why another blog?" A just question my bold friend. Do you want coffee with that? Questions are like trip wires set up around invisible perimeters. Answers can be set off like bombs. Blog-bombs? Nah … no one will buy that. So skip the antics and get to the fucking point already.

This is a blog about the latest undertaking of mine. The making of the third Tiger Lou album, tentatively called 'A Partial Print'. It felt like a good time to invite you guys – the listeners – for a little heart to heart on things. The process. The studio. The producers. The coffee and the donuts. 2007 is me and my producer/engineer Rolf Klinth's ten year anniversary working together. It is a very special thing. We met when I was 17 – he recorded a demo with my old band Music By Em. Since then we've stood by each others side. Every single Tiger Lou song have been recorded at his mansion; Matching Head Studios, and this time around we welcome you inside!

I will try my best to document everything in words and pictures – moving or still. I should however warn you – it might not be the most interesting of stories – or the most colorful or action filled. But it will be an honest one. A bleak portrait of something strange and magical – if you will. Recording will start around August 15th. The players will be me, Rolf and Pontus – the danceable drummer. And who know, maybe if we're lucky, mister Peter Katis will join us, right before the curtain hits the floor. So keep your eyes fixed on the screen and your hearts in close proximity.

As of right now, I'm hanging out together with my wife and our friend Viktor Ginner at his parents summer house. They're half way through the recording of the new Firefox AK album – and from what I've heard – it sounds amazing. Me, I'm trying to get some writing done, but it's hard with all of natures distractions. I see water snakes, lizards, fish, snails, birds and bugs everywhere. In most ways it's amazing out here, the stillness of the air and the lake and woods is so mesmerizing. You forget about all the shit your mind usually dwells on. The downside is that I loose focus on my work. But hey – who am I to complain?! In most aspects, I'm more prepared then I've ever been before entering the studio. All the songs are finished. All guitar, drum and bass parts. I just need to wrap up some lyrics. Hopefully I'll be able to that, even if the snails and fish slow me down!

So, I leave you now … in the midst of nature's spectrum.