Strangers in Wonderland

Time to move

2008-09-01T20:15:00.002+02:00

We have been working on total redesign of our blog and web site, with the new album coming soon.
The blog was good for quick news and ramblings and the web site was sort of our home on the net.

Now we put them under the same roof.

So this will be the last post here.
But don't despair, the blog will continue on our new homepage at www.strangersinwonderland.com

And for those that subscribe with e-mail or with the help of feedburner, you don't need to do anything. The transition will be transparent.

Otherwise you need to update your RSS feed to the new one: http://www.strangersinwonderland.com/siw/feed/

See you in the new site.

First review of the new album

2008-09-01T14:54:00.000+02:00

The Next big thing just published a review of the new album.

Deep into the second track, `Every Day, Every Night’ the listener is made aware that hiding behind this perfect pop electronic funk (edging into new wave) even a simple love song has its own fears and darkness.

Shooting then into a slow blues, these Strangers show their wonderland can be full of a fragile and pulsing desire. This Wonderland is seductive and slightly dirty and not always as safe as the sugar coated music sighs would suggest. But who wants safety when the pleasure is in the hidden ragged beauty of the needs and the dreaming of this band.

We come now to what is my favourite track, `Still Standing` a song that distills essence of the ghosts in the radio, the lost spirits caught among the shifting airwaves, this glides and swirls , uneasy yet powerful.

More cool slightly on the edge tunes follow, the sound of what should be on the nations pop charts, the alternative strokes within are subtly painted and without sacrificing the catchy, there are enough twists to comfort the listener who wants a bit more.

This is the kind of album that makes those people who categorise tunes for ipods tremble, cause it slinks from style to style, keeping though, the essence, the DARKNESS of the band.

Mention must be made of the Chuck Dread remixes included on the CD, adding a neon dance floor glow and kapow to the tunes, a late night strobe shiver, bring even more magic to this strange Pop-land.

podcast update

2008-09-01T01:09:00.001+02:00

Posted by Lasse on September 1, 2008

Well, I’m deep into the work of a major overhaul of the web site. An rehearsing for the gig on Alcazar. And other things that need to be done now that the album is on it’s way back from the CD-plant. Media kits needs to be put together and so on. Work, work, work. But it is a labour of love.

But I’ll try to surface for a second and tell you about two great podcast plays from two of our friends (Yes you are!)

First out was Ed Ovett with his mixed bag. Playing Fast Car as his bonus track. Ed, where would we be without you. Less happy, that’s for sure.

And then Gabor of the electrical language with his soothing (in the best interpretation of the word) and laid back show, playing So Much More.

We said thanks before, we do it again, and we means it down to every letter. Without you two and all the other podcasters that played us, we wouldn’t be where we are, or what we are today.

Now I’ll dive back in to that pool of web design. Splash, or whatever!

Live at Alcazar on th 13th of September

2008-08-24T12:25:00.000+02:00

Strangers In Wonderland will play at Alcazar/Nalen in Stockholm on the 13th of September.
For the first time with a full band setting, The Strangers will play songs from their new full-length CD.

Also on stage the same evening is Zibur, Sassy’s Kitchen and WCSA

Price is 100 SEK and the doors open at 8.00 PM.

A night not to be missed! See you there! In Wonderland!

Summers end

2008-08-15T13:06:00.003+02:00

Well, we now. There has been little activity on the blog recently. But it's been summer, and we've been in the studio putting the finishing touches to the CD.
All bits and pieces are falling in place, and hopefully it will go to the CD-plant on Monday.
And by the way, it's great!!
More new to follow, and in the meantime have a look at the CD cover art above.

I´m in the band...

2008-06-29T22:13:00.003+02:00

Here we come...

Strangers in wonderland as a full band...
We have now found a great bassplayer, a fantastic drummergirl and on keyboards, an outstanding musician....
now we just have to find the choir....
( which seems to be the most difficult part...)
The heavy dist guitars I will play myself, and the funky/crunchy ones are Lasses headache...
Looking forward to start this new project!
I know it will be great !

Single Released

2008-06-17T14:26:00.002+02:00

Yesterday was the official release date of the single. A day to forever remember. The first single, sort of like the first kiss, or something.

Anyway, you can download it at our website, or if you like to hold it in your hand for real (or just support us) you can order it at CDON (at least if you live in EU).

And either way, listen to it, and let these strangers be a part of your summer.

Link to order single on CDON

Link to buy and download on CDON

Out of this world

2008-06-14T14:14:00.003+02:00

Don't miss Ed's Mixed Bag this week. The podcast that's out of this world according to the host Ed Ovett. And this week it's more true than ever, this week he is visiting Wonderland.
We are proud and pleased that he took the time and effort to spotlight us and our music. It's five songs and an informal chat about life in Wonderland and the upcoming CD.
And an exclusive play of one of the new songs, Fast Car. The only place to hear it before the CD is released in September.

Thanks Ed! You're making Wonderland a better place to live in.

Link to Ed's Mixed Bag - Don't Be A Stranger! - Show #140
or download the show in mp3 format here.

Win a single!

2008-06-12T15:25:00.004+02:00

Become our fan on Facebook

If you're on Facebook and you like our music, give us your support and become our fan.
And get the chance to win our new single So Much More that's released now on Monday.
When we reach the first one hundred fans on Facebook we will randomly draw ten who will get a single sent to them for free.

Strangers In Wonderland on Facebook

So don't be a Stranger! Be a fan!

Hanging Out

2008-06-11T14:30:00.005+02:00

Yesterday the hanging out in 100b music blog mentioned So Much More:

So Much More is an immersively haunting song from Swedish duo Strangers In Wonderland. This is the soundtrack that carries us toward lands we have yet to explore and people we have yet to meet.

We couldn't have said it better I think.

Read the full post here.

Summer at last

2008-06-09T12:52:00.004+02:00

Just two pictures from yesterday, of two strangers, sitting on the porch, enjoying the warm summer evening, picking on their guitars and laying the plans for world domination.
Sort of...
...but nice!

Ready to order

2008-06-05T13:05:00.003+02:00

Well, maybe not. Not until the 17th. But you can already find the single on CDON.COM.
So if you want to give us your support and you live in an EU country, bookmark that page, and order the single on the 17th.
Nothing would make us happier (truly!).

Link to Strangers In Wonderland on CDON

Isn't it lovely

2008-06-04T12:54:00.004+02:00

The cover of the single (above) is just perfect I think. And now the release date is set to the 17th of June. Then it will be available in record stores in Sweden and in all major online stores as well.
Way to go!!

Hitting the May list

2008-06-03T09:31:00.002+02:00

So Much More made it to the list as number seven of the most played songs in podcasts in May on www.mevio.com (formely known as podshow.com).
Pretty amazing we think!

The list of May 2008:

#1 All That I Know by Collective Soul

#2 New Soul by Yael Naim

#3 Where Did All The Scene Girls Go by The Crash Moderns

#4 So What? by Corey TuT

#5 Ghost In Your Mind by Black Lab

#6 Sorry by Buckcherry

#7 So Much More by Strangers in Wonderland

#8 SUMMERTIME by Brother Love

#9 American Dream by Joe Colledge

#10 Reconcile Our Love by Journey South

They have arrived

2008-05-30T09:18:00.004+02:00

It's perhaps not the most exiting picture in the world. But proof that the single is back from the CD-plant in Germany. So now we have a thousand of them. Ready to be spread all over the world.
Yes! Yes! YES!

Still number four

2008-05-29T19:42:00.001+02:00

So Much More is for the second week in a row number four on the chart of played track last week on www.mevio.com (formely known as podshow.com).

01 - Reconcile Our Love
by Journey South
02 - Where Did All the Scene Girls Go?
by The Crash Moderns
03 - All That I Know
by Collective Soul
04 - So Much More
by Strangers in Wonderland
05 - American Dream
by Joe Colledge
06 - I Got Sunshine
by Sarah Vonderhaar
07 - Ghost in Your Mind
by Black Lab
08 - So Lo So Hi
by The Presidents of the United States of America
09 - The Gambler's Regret
by Rumble Club
10 - She Walks on Water
by Love = Action

The Chuck Dread Remix

2008-05-28T15:52:00.006+02:00

Head over to Cut & Paste Productions to hear the new remix of our new single So Much More.
Done by Fred [alias: Chuck Dread] who really pampered us with a brilliant remix that made this day a wonderful day in Wonderland.

Artists of the week

2008-05-27T10:20:00.004+02:00

Yes we were selected as artist of the week (together with Twiggy Frostbite) in the Facebook group Blindmen presenterar Veckans Artist (Blindmen Presents The Artist Of The Week in English).
Well, you need to be a member of Facebook to access the page, but this is what they write:

Veckans Artist (Pär) - Strangers In Wonderland
Här bjuds vi på mystik, drama och drömmar i en pop/rock-skrud som känns egen. Strangers in Wonderland släpper sin singel "So Much More" inom några veckor och bjuder er att ladda hem denna låt plus flera andra på:
http://www.strangersinwonderland.com/
De har även en blogg ni kan följa här:
http://strangers-in-wonderland.blogspot.com/

All in Swedish of course, but there you are.
Very nice indeed.
Thanks

Handing out thanks

2008-05-21T16:00:00.005+02:00

Time maybe for podcast update. Giving out a lot of thanks to those who just keep on playing us, giving us the great idea that there are people who like it.

First out is Grant Mason (in the picture), host of the Three From Leith Podcast. Always with a interesting choice of music and with a soothing voice that makes it a pleasure to listen to him.
Highly recommended!
He played So Much More in his latest cast.

And then of course Martin from the nextbigthing who's love of music always shines through in his show. A mix of styles and genres that's a treat for your ears and is opening your mind.
And his latest show is so far the only place to hear Odd Hell's remix of So much More, together with the original version.

Last, we got a surprise last week when the MSBPodcast (made by and for people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis) played us. And not only one track but six of them in the same show.
It put wide smiles on our faces.

And except those shows mentioned, in May so far, we've been featured in Pod Shots, The Sitting Duck Podcast, Dalecast, RockCast Italia, Bite Size Bonus, RobCast Radio, Moth Pod, Big Phils Love Parade, Music Remyx, Average Joe Show and Top Of The Podsafes.

Thanks to you all!

Number 4 again

2008-05-20T15:51:00.004+02:00

To our pleasure So Much More did really well in it's first week available for podcasters.
It went straight up to fourth place as most played track last week on www.mevio.com (formely known as podshow.com).
And it's currently number seven of most played songs in May.
Hang in there!

Top ten:

#1 All That I Know by Collective Soul

#2 So What? by Corey TuT

#3 Ghost In Your Mind by Black Lab

#4 So Much More by Strangers in Wonderland

#5 Love Like This by Mike Zito

#6 Break Your Bond by Paper or Plastic

#7 SUMMERTIME by Brother Love

#8 Dance by SwampdaWamp

#9 Too Smart for Me by A Rex

#10 The World The People Together by The Dandy Warhols

In the mail

2008-05-16T18:48:00.004+02:00

Just came back after visiting the postboxes in the picture. And after disposing of our CD-single master in one of them. It's on it's way to the CD-plant in Germany. Travel safely and well I say and pray.
Just a two weeks wait before it has multiplied into a thousand.
A very good feeling that is.

Don't we all want more?

2008-05-05T13:29:00.004+02:00

So much more?
And then we're not talking about money.
Because life is all about love! And worlds that are colliding!

And our new song So Much More.

An almost hypnotic mix of things that were never meant to be. But still are there. Resisting. That just won't go away. Because they are.

So Much More is released as a free mp3 today and will be realeased as a CD single in the beginning of June together with a remix by Odd Hell (We're meeting tonight for a first session). It's also the first taste of our forthcoming debut CD that will be released on our label Last Refrain Music on the 22nd of September.

We just want so much more!

Strangers In Wonderland - So Much More

Strangers in a mixed bag

2008-04-27T14:09:00.004+02:00

There is a new song coming up. The name of it is So Much More and we think it's somthing special (But then we always do that). And it will be released on the fith of May on our web. But you can listen to today if you head over to the Ed's Mixed Bag Podcast. Ed Ovett, the host of the show, is featuring it as his special bonustrack in his latest show.
To good to be missed we think.

Link to Ed's Mixed Bag

Last Refrain Music

2008-04-26T15:49:00.003+02:00

Well, we've tired of sending out demos. It seems to be a waste of time and money. So we just started our own record company instead, Last Refrain Music. And signed ourself.
The first release is a single track, So much More, wich will be available the 5th of May. And the CD is scheduled for september.
Head over to the website to have a closer look.

Wonderland is expanding!

Sitting here thinking about the CD

2008-03-24T20:51:00.005+01:00

So hard to choose the best songs.
We now have about 20 and I like all of them a lot.
If you, dear reader, have any suggestions, please don´t hesitate to let us know...

How to say thank you

2008-03-23T11:51:00.003+01:00

You can do as one of the winners in the Sunday Sundown - Strangers In Wonderland competition. Make a movie.
Very, very cool.

Thanks for the thanks!

Antipode pleasure

2008-03-20T20:10:00.003+01:00

It's still the same thrill when someone plays us in a podcast. It's a good feeling that someone picked our music for their show, and then there are listeners that will hear us.
This time it's Allister from the Sitting Duck Podcast in New Zeeland who again are giving us this pleasure. He's playing I Like It it his latest show.

Link to mp3 file.
Link to Sitting Duck Podcast Website.

It's all about having an audience. And what a difference it makes.

Thanks!

Far, far away

2008-03-18T15:50:00.004+01:00

Well as far as you can get from Sweden, New Zeeland that is. And there you find Allister, host of the Sitting Duck Podcast.
And he dedicated a whole episode to us. Six tracks and us talking about some of the songs.

We think you shouldn't miss it.

Direct link to mp3
Sitting Duck's website

And thanks Allister, for your time, your effort, and for obviously liking our music.

The Number Four

2008-03-03T16:36:00.004+01:00

What a nice number that is. We like the number four. Yes, we are so pleased with four.
Our new track Still made up to fourth place over most played tracks on podcasts in February on the PMN (Podsafe Music Network).
Kind of cool we think.
And a warm thanks to all of you podcasters who played us in your show.
All smiles here.

On stage

2008-02-28T14:12:00.005+01:00

At last, some pictures from the gig at Patrica last Wednesday. We think we did good, really good. And thanks for all of you that showed up. We enjoyed very much to play for you.

Still alive?

2008-02-19T12:27:00.004+01:00

We know, we've haven't blogged for awhile. But only because we've been a bit busy. All the time has gone to promoting the newly released song Still. And for getting prepared for the gig tomorrow at Patricia here in Stockholm. Anyway. Here is the remake of Still. We are pleased with it. And it went straight into 4th place on the Podsafe Music Network chart over most played songs.

Strangers In Wonderland - Still

Laying here alone again
Thinking about you
Dream of all the things
We´re never going to do

We could let the winds take us up to higher skies
We could let the angels show the way to paradise
We could let the rain wash the tears out from our eyes
But still we have to dance with the Devil
…for a while

Walk around in circles
Sneaking like a thief
Hiding in the darkness
Never ever alone

We could let the sun paint our silhouettes in gold
We could tell the stories, no one ever told
We´ll pick up our lives and walk another mile
But still we have to dance with the Devil
…for a while

Still we have to walk among the shadows in the night
And still we´re on a road through the tunnel without light
still we have no answers to our knock on heaven’s door
still we see no dawn, can we take it anymore
…anymore

We could let the colors shine like diamonds in our mind
We could let the moonshine show the way when we were blind
We could reach for heaven, we could even touch the stars
But still we have to dance with the Devil
…for a while
For a while…
Still we have to deal with the Devil

Face the fear...

2008-01-24T19:38:00.001+01:00

I´ve never been so afraid of blood before...

So.... I had to cover my face in that disgusting liquid....

Now the question is....

did I get rid of the fear?

...sorry, think I have to face it again.

Suddenly I wonder....

do I have to face the spiders too ?

...and the pain...

...and death...

...and needles...

vanilla icecream ?

...

Up in flames

2008-01-21T21:08:00.001+01:00

Yesterday evening was the time for yet another video shooting session.
As you may have guessed the video is a low budget production (to say the least). We have to make with what we've got. This time we were outside in Åsa's backyard with a lot of lighter fluid putting the barbecue and soya sauce to good use, setting fire to the dolls in the video. And my god, did they burn.
It was freezing but the result was sort of warming.

Here are a few stills

More fear

2008-01-15T23:18:00.001+01:00

The work with shooting and editing the video is progressing. And it looks promising I think.
Here are some stills of what we've done so far.

Fear

2008-01-08T16:07:00.001+01:00

So finally, we're doing a video. For real this time. For a new song named Fear. We have a first draft of the storyboard finished and now we're doing still shots to test out a few ideas. We publish some in this post. A taste of our little fellow strangers who will appear in the video.
Actual shooting is scheduled for the last week in January.
We'll keep you updated.

(..this is a lot of fun)

The year of strangers

2007-12-31T20:29:00.001+01:00

We wish you all a really good and prosperous 2008.
Thanks for all the support we got in 2007. For all those moments of pure joy we've experienced. For all the kind words, encouragment, and appreciation we've got.
You know who you are as usual, and if you're unsure just join in with those who knows.

May 2008 be the best one so far!
And the year of strangers!

Win a Strangers In Wonderland CD

2007-12-26T14:54:00.002+01:00

We just had to take a short break from all that Christmas stuff that is keeping us busy and tell you. Now you have the chance to win yourself an extra Christmas gift, a special edition Strangers In Wonderland CD. Done together with Maurice from the Sunday Sundown Podcast who picked the seven songs that are included. Head over to his site, listen to his latest show and answer a simple question and with a bit of luck one of the fifteen signed copies can be yours.
And don't forget that you still can pre-order the free “The Best of Sunday Sundown” CD. Click here to go the ordering page.

Now we go back to sip that "glögg" and eat our "lussebullar". They makes us nice, soft and fluffy strangers.

The magic 100

2007-12-04T09:50:00.001+01:00

The magic 100 - There is a party going on in Wonderland. Drinks are free. The Duck and The Dodo has gone a bit wild in the pool of tears. The March Hare and the Hatter is not drinking tea by the look of them. And there is even a rumour that Alice will show up later in the evening.
We are celebrating 100 podradio plays. Number hundred was Zack Daggy of the Mothpod who played In My Dreams the other day.
A lot of thanks Zack and all of you who has played us. Sorry to say there is no prize for beeing number 100 (or 98 or 56 or 12), other than an insciption in our hearts forever of course.
Not we are looking forward for that next big number. One thousand.
Just imagine the party.

Dug up from down under?

2007-11-27T18:29:00.001+01:00

Music blog DugguP (from Australia?) wrote some kind words about us yesterday.

"...Strangers In Wonderland is an old school straight ahead rock band. They rely on good songs and good arrangements and it helps that Åsa Girgensohn has a killer voice. Sort of a polite Maggie Bell without the gravel. Lasse Thomasson shares the arrangement and playing bits.

“Behind The Mask” is a great little rocker. About half way through my perverse brain started thinking “Hmm I wonder what Jim Steinman would have done with this?” and then the break kicked in and I decided that they were doing just fine without him. Some nice guitar at the end."

That Åsa has a killer voice i obvious for anyone who heard her sing, not that it shouldn't be mentioned again and again.
But calling my modest tries at playing guitar for nice earns you a special place in this strange heart.
Hey, I'm smiling.

Still up there

2007-11-21T15:12:00.001+01:00

Yes, House Of Dreams is still doing well on the Podsafe Music Network. This week two places down to fifth place.
To see and and listen to all top ten, head over to Pod Music Countdown. There is some good music on offer. Except for us, you find songs from Suzanne Vega and Lovespirals among others.

To our pleasure

2007-11-12T11:51:00.001+01:00

House Of Dreams went straight into third place of the most played tracks on the Podsafe Music Network last week.

Here is the full chart:

01 - So Far Down
by David Usher

02 - Berlin
by Black Motorcycle Club

03 - House of Dreams
by Strangers in Wonderland

04 - Living Too Fast
by Black Lab

05 - Lost My Way
by Matthew Ebel

06 - Autumn Song
by Manic Street Preachers

07 - Broken Years
by One Day Remains

08 - Mi Corazoncito
by K.O.B.

09 - Pornographer's Dream
by Suzanne Vega

10 - Radio
by Big Bang Radio

A house of dreams...

2007-11-07T23:32:00.001+01:00

a castle in the sky...

so many nights I spend there, among the beautiful dreams...

for what reason? I ask...

Is it worth the trouble packing the bags and travel all the way, time after time, only to realize that I once again have to eat my breakfast alone...?

In that house of dreams....

or shall I call it - house of nightmares...

A new song...

Strangers In Wonderland - House Of Dreams

I checked into the room
In your house of dreams
Asked for the key
To your house of dreams
You said, "You don't need a key love
You can stay for free
And if you are a good girl
You might even visit me"

I knew somehow it was too good to be true
But I couldn't resist
I couldn't resist that dream of me and you
In that house of dreams

I had a look around
In your house of dreams
And all the doors were locked
In your house of dreams
There were endless corridors
And no one to be seen
It seems to be a lonely place
That house of dreams

But the walls are thin
And at night I can hear you scream
In pain or of pleasure
Who knows?
Who knows what's in you house of dreams
More than me

God knows I tried to escape
I've tried to break free
But I surrender now
'Cause the only thing I see
Is the inside of these walls
In this house of dreams

And so I've settled down
In your house of dreams
I've made myself comfortable
In your house of dreams
Somehow time just passes by
Year after year
And I feel no regrets
And I feel no fear

I only wish you visit me
More often than you do
I don't like to dream alone
I don't like to dream without you
In your house of dreams

Remedies

2007-11-05T10:03:00.001+01:00

Just think of all the things we do to find that cure. All the trouble we take to heal our souls. To sleep untroubled in the night. To make that restless feeling go away.
When it's all just very simple.

Time for a new song from us. Enjoy. Hope you like it. We sure do.

Strangers In Wonderland - I Like It

Tried so many ways
No improvement to see
Candles and hypnosis
Nothing for me

Doubt my skin with oils
Scents of herbs all around
Magnetic fields to my head
No comfort I found

But your fingers through my hair
Make miracles to me
Kisses on my eyes
And suddenly I see

Used to ask the crystal
I convened the spirits
Searched for any god
Only demons appeared

Heal me baby heal
Come take my fears away
Feel me baby feel
Follow me to wonderland
Love me baby love
Give me shelter under your spell
Let me share your magic
Follow me to hell
I like it

Asked my cards again
Magician showed his face (Drew straws and got the tower)
Needles into my skin
Lost in this maze (Just made me loose my power)

Tried to meditate
Relaxed in light of fire
Your face among the flames
Called back my desire

Heal me baby heal
Come take my fears away
Feel me baby feel
Follow me to wonderland
Love me baby love
Give me shelter under your spell
Let me share your magic
Follow me to hell
I like it

(A)Live in Wonderland

2007-10-30T14:32:00.001+01:00

Since we're working on a promo kit to get us some gigs, a live recording here on the blog could be appropriate.
Here is The Big One from our gig at the Thai Yai Resturant on the 5th of May.

Strangers In Wonderland - The Big One (Live at Thai Yai)

Old-fashioned and uncool with pretty good songs

2007-10-23T11:56:00.001+02:00

That's us according to mp3 blog Into the groove. Thank God our music is good, otherwise there would be no hope at all I guess.
And the other way around (cool dudes with bad songs), is even worse I think.
So, as long you like the music, we are happy.

Candy and pop

2007-10-18T11:42:00.002+02:00

That's our fuel when we're in the studio. Sugary sweet we like. And last night we did the final takes on our second new demo track, House Of Dreams. Polishing on the vocals and the odd piano. A little glitter and glamour to the edges.

The first new demo track, I Like It, is already finished. And even though it's not released yet Paulie at the DigiVegas Indie Podcast got an early copy and played it in his latest show today. (Click here to listen, it's right at the end of the show). Great. Thanks Paulie. We love you!

And I'm not going to waste any energy on the Eurovison Song Contest. More than no, we did not make it this year. Much could be said, but then you would have to buy us a few (well maybe more than a few if you pleasssse) Margaritas first to get us going. And you probably need as many yourself to stand our rantings and venom.
No, enjoy the pictures from yesterdays session instead.

Cheers!

Strangers in Las Vegas

2007-10-04T16:52:00.001+02:00

"Joining me this episode, from Wonderland Studios, near Stockholm, Sweden, is wonderfully talented duo of Lasse Thomasson, and Åsa Girgensohn, of Strangers In Wonderland."
Paulie Podcaster, host of the DigiVegas Indie Podcast

No, don't miss us on the DigiVegas Indie Podcast. Learn to know us better as we chat with host Paulie Podcaster and listen to five of our tracks.
And what did Åsa actually answer when Lasse called and asked if she would sing with him?

Direct link to mp3 file (click to listen)

or check out the show at www.digivegas.wordpress.com

And Paulie, thanks, we had a lot of fun and you made us sound better than we thought possible.

The first month is magic...

2007-10-02T00:20:00.001+02:00

September has gone. Time to do a bit of summing up. What have strangers been about during the last and dying hours of summer. Well a short recap would include the following:
- It was my first full month working for the band full time.
- We released two new songs, Addicted and Behind The Mask.
- We submitted 3 entries for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest.
- We've done promo campaigns targeting Music Blogs and Podcast radio.
So it's been a busy month.

And I've must honestly say I was a bit nervous in the beginning. What if nobody would listen, nobody would play us, simply nobody would care? But I shouldn't have worried. Our song has been streamed or downloaded more than a 1000 times, our homepage has been visited more than 500 times, and our songs were played 35 times in podcast radio stations. In September alone. And that is only boring statistics. What really has moved us is all the wonderful things a lot of people has said or wrote about us:

Strangers In Wonderland sounds like nothing I've ever heard before. A haunting lead singer and great, to the point lyrics ... Here are a couple songs that were sent to me to sample, and I really enjoyed them and I hope you do too.
Music for Humans

... to me, Strangers In Wonderland is the perfect melding of post-punk and the out-of-date disco-pop sleaze of the world's biggest band, Abba
The BiBaBiDi music blog

Thank goodness for honest, purely not contrived sweet Swedish pop
that dude jeff from the culture of me music blog

Behind The Mask is a killer track. It's left me shivering. WOW!!
Paul from the Indie Music Sampler podshow.

One of the most absolute BRILLIANT groups out of Sweden! A dark/brooding ABBA (if you like) for our darker times! Brilliant! Brilliant! BRILLIANT!
The Search for Molly Ivins

The best that has come out of Sweden since the Volvo
GD from the Bite Size Bonus podshow.

Thanks!
And there is more...
And there will be more...
We know that.

Where is that sponge?

2007-10-01T01:01:00.001+02:00

We need it to suck up those kind words from the Search for Molly Ivins podcast:

Our musical feature this week : Strangers In Wonderland! One of the most absolute BRILLIANT groups out of Sweden! A dark/brooding ABBA (if you like) for our darker times! (ABBA aside, you can not deny that the Swedes are MASTERS of solid song writing. Something that ‘SIW’ solidifies with their current offerings.) This is the kind of music that hooks you deep and ties you down (in a good way!) and invades your soul and shakes you around a bit and you’re all the better for it! We can’t wait for you to hear them! Brilliant! Brilliant! BRILLIANT!

Our babies left home today

2007-09-17T21:27:00.001+02:00

They're on their the way (by post), to see if they have what it takes to be a star. Or at least make it to Swedish finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2008.
We have three entries this year. First last years entry, that made best 100 (out of 3000). We've remixed it and re-recorded the vocals to make it even more catchy. Then two new ones that we recorded in the end of spring. One of them is a real ESC 2008 killer in my eyes.
But we love them all equally, like proud parents should do.
And keep our fingers crossed.

Fingertip blues

2007-09-14T16:02:00.001+02:00

My fingertips are in agony today. They got the blues. They hurt. Badly.
It's the price you pay for not playing that guitar every day in combination with a gig now on Saturday. For Save the Children. On short notice of course. Only three days get back in gear.
But gears are not the problem, fingertips are.
So I send a thought of thankfulness to the inventor of surgical tape. Without it life would be even more painful. And if you don't believe me just ask my left hand fingers.
So thank you, whoever you are and wherever you are.

A good man

2007-09-10T17:18:00.001+02:00

Most of the time I think we're pretty good. Maybe we're not deep, or ground breaking, maybe it's just silly love songs we play, but we're honest. What we write and perform is important and means a lot to us.
Then there are moments of doubt (don't we all have them?). When the perspective becomes twisted, when focus is blurred.
That's when you need a good man or woman to pick you up. That's when you need someone like Gabor Kovacs. Gabor hosts electrical language, an very much enjoyable podcast from Hampshere, England. He featured our two latest songs in his most recent show.
Here is what he had to say about them:

"That song, Addicted, really is perfect pop music"

"This is a remarkable song coming up. It's called Behind the Mask. Listen to everything, the musicians, the music, the production, the vocals, and I'll think you'll agree, it's really a special song."

Thanks, Gabor. We are moved. We take your words to our heart, to be taken out when doubts are closing in and courage fails us.

Abba and Post Punk Volvos

2007-09-07T12:39:00.002+02:00

Somehow there is no way getting round it. If you are from Sweden then your're just bound to be measured and referenced to Abba. This time its the BiBaBiDi music blog:
"Yes, to me, Strangers In Wonderland is the perfect melding of post-punk and the out-of-date disco-pop sleaze of the world's biggest band, Abba."
Not that we mind really. On the contrary, Abba was always there in the background when we grew up. On the school dance, softly playing, when kissing for the first time in a dark corner. Or distorted blasted from some radio when trying to get drunk on cider behind school. We like Abba, and then maybe not, but there is no way to escape. It's to late. They are forever imprinted in our brains.
Which could account for the kind words from The Culture of Me:
"Thank goodness for honest, purely not contrived sweet Swedish pop."
Yes we would very much like to be that. Thanks.

And at last, what about the Volvos. Very Swedish indeed. And obviously no way to escape the m. GD at the Bite Size Bonus Podshow (and he is our podcaster god) has seen to that:
"Strangers in Wonderland, the best thing that has come out of Sweden since the Volvo"

And with those lucid words words ringing in my ears I'm off to do some shopping. In my Toyota of course.

Addicted

2007-09-03T12:28:00.001+02:00

Yes, time for yet another song. Another glimpse of life in Wonderland.
And we are beginning to get worried, maybe life in Wonderland isn't that wonderful after all. What if it's more or less like here?
What if there is no cure? To love? To life?
Not even in Wonderland?
Are our dreams in vain?

Addicted - Strangers in Wonderland (direct link)

A prayer into the night

2007-08-27T14:11:00.001+02:00

It's been awhile since the last song, but at last it's here. Behind the mask (You can find it on top of the playlist here on the blog or on our web). We lived with it for a some time and now it's time for you to say hello if you want to.
It's a classic love song. A prayer into the night.
Like a dark wish upon a star.
And if you didn't now, Wonderland can be a lonely place.

--------

Behind The Mask

In Wonderland tonight
Just me and my piano
In Wonderland tonight
Just me and my fear
I wonder what you do
I wonder what you dream of
I wish that you were here
In Wonderland with me

But where ever you are
Don't pretend
It's all that I ask
'Cause when the night falls
You're my guiding star
Please, please don't change
Don't pretend
Just be what you are
'Cause I love the man
I love the man behind the mask

In Wonderland tonight
It's dark and it's cold
In Wonderland tonight
Only my demons laugh with me
And if you look into the sky
Is it the same moon as here?
I just wish that you could see it
In Wonderland with me

But where ever you are
Don't pretend
It's all that I ask
'Cause when the night falls
You're my guiding star
Please, please don't change
Don't pretend
Just be what you are
'Cause I love the man
I love the man behind the mask

Shine, shine on me
I beg you, shine on me
I'm all lost
I can't find my way
So shine, like a star
Just shine

But where ever you are
Don't pretend
It's all that I ask
'Cause when the night falls
You're my guiding star
Please, please don't change
Don't pretend
Just be what you are
'Cause I love the man
I love the man behind the mask

Nothing to be excited about?

2007-08-21T12:44:00.001+02:00

Strangers resting between vocal takes, outside Studio Wonderland

This may not be the most inspired of posts. Just that I was caught by surprise because summer has returned and life feels good. Had to write that.
Only a few days grace I guess, before autumn hits. Still feels very good.

No more, no less!

A new stranger

2007-08-20T14:34:00.001+02:00

At last it's finished. Our new website. An we are proud parents to that new baby on the net. Strangers in Wonderlands new web home.
It gives a good reflection of what our music is about. Much more than the previous one we think.
And we got ourself a proper domain too.
So don't be a stranger, just head over to www.strangersinwonderland.com and have a look for yourself.

Traveling south

2007-08-04T15:20:00.001+02:00

On a bus going south from Stockholm for a week of holiday by the sea with my family. Fields and trees passing by outside my window (There are truly a lot of trees in Sweden). Yesterday was my last day at work. Well, I will continue to work, maybe harder than ever, but for the coming year it will be for the band, for our music. Fulltime (and maybe more).

Is it possible to make that dream we have to come true? To reach out with our music. Of course it is!

And I do believe that!

We have great songs and a fantastic singer (yes Stranger 2, that's what you are!).

What could possibly go wrong? A lot of course, but I'm in a good mood today, so those thing doesn't count.

So a week of leisure and then there is two new demo songs waiting. I have high hopes for them. It will be Strangers in Wonderland better than ever before. And I hope we have them finished by the end of this month.

And then we'll make the world listen.

Taking strangers for a spin

2007-07-29T11:36:00.001+02:00

A few weeks ago we remastered some old demo songs from last autumn. They're good songs but they needed som more punch and clarity. Lets be honest, it was a year since we recorded them and we learn all the time. So they needed some new polish to shine again.
And then we uploaded them to Podsafe Music Network. Maybe not the best of timing in the middle of summer. Even podcaster take vacations!
Or do they?
I'm not that sure anymore.
Since Wednesday we've been played 5 times!

First out was GD at Bite Size Bonus. He featured us three days in a row. He has forever a place in our pantheon of podcast gods.
Then Help Andy Buy A Mac played Will your love fade.
And then today suitcase full of dimes included As long as I don't cry.

We are not really used to this yet.
A big thank you. You make two strangers in Sweden very happy by doing what you do!

Waking up from strange dreams

2007-07-25T00:11:00.001+02:00

Here is another preview of our new promo pictures.

Photos by fotograflotta
Artwork by Strangers in Wonderland

Strangers in a new and lesser light

2007-07-23T12:30:00.001+02:00

Here is a little preview of the pictures from last weeks session. We think they came out very well. They have a somewhat darker feeling to them than our previous picuters. A better feeling on what it's like to be that stranger. To reach out but never far enough. And when you think you finally got it, it slips through your fingers and you're all alone in the night again.

Images © Lotta Appelgren

Say cheeeeese... well... or don't -

2007-07-19T00:14:00.001+02:00

I wonder if it's rock'n'roll to smiles in pictures? Or should you look serious? Or maybe windswept and interesting? Or coy but still playful and maybe a bit sexy (God help me in that last department)?
And we did our best tonight. Three hours in the photo studio taking new promo pictures. And Lotta, the photographer, was the for ever patient angel. And at the same time our tormenter with her camera.
I loved it. And in a few days we will get the previews.
I hope it's came out as good as it felt. If it did we'll post some of the pictures here.
It's still life. Still Strangers. In Wonderland tonight.

Unfaithful.....?

2007-07-15T13:51:00.001+02:00

Played all night with another band....

A big weddingparty....

But no Strangersongs of course.

Just covers.

Forgiven ?

Now back to the studio to go on with my favourite music...

So many great songs to finish.

To these songs,

my heart belongs.....

They say it's summer

2007-07-09T12:44:00.001+02:00

Well, you could've fooled me. I had to look in the calendar and it stated that it's July. Hard to believe.
Anyway, rain or no rain, summer is the time for doing stuff, other stuff, different stuff, the stuff you don't, for different reasons, ordinary do. Like reading books, repaint the house, ware stupid looking hats, show of your very white legs in public, get pissed on white wine in the company of 1 millions mosquitoes (all strangers), and so on. The list can be made long.
And write new song of course.

And so far it’s been a good year for the Strangers.
We've worked hard. We've got a lot of kind words, a lot of encouragement, a lot of contacts.
We've entered the stage and been played on a few pod shows. We've made a lot of friends.
We went to hell and back and we have spent some good time in Wonderland.

And we've had a lot of fun.

Thanks to you all. You know who you are and if you don't, thanks anyway.
We will be back in August with a bag of new songs. New dreams from that back alley close to Wonderland.

Now it's time for summer, just let me get my raincoat.

Friends or still strangers?

2007-06-15T15:51:00.001+02:00

I think it is time to make an update on what has happened on that big, big internet. At least regarding two strangers. Who actually are less strangers to the rest of the world than before.

First My Pocket Player featured us again. This time with Still Standing.
Then Andy from Polarbear Podacast took The Big One for a spinn in his Polarbear #97.
Last Bite Size Bonus #379 had the good taste to include In my dreams.

On top of that the Musikoon blog featured us today.
Thanks to all of you. You make us feeling good.

Now I get back to enjoying the summer.

On stage again

2007-06-05T12:30:00.001+02:00

And the strangers will enter the stage again. I just got a booking for a gig now on Friday. A private party here in Stockholm.
We're happy about that.

And yesterday evening I had a few glasses of wine with an old friend. It was one of those magic summer evenings. We kept the door to the studio open and I played most of our recordings (he is obviously a good friend, and maybe the wine helped).
Anyway, they sounded good in that surrounding. Especially did I like the unplugged versions we recorded a month ago.
They sounded fresh and direct. Focused. And the lead song is the best Stranger 2 has done so far I think.
I've posted them before here in individual post but I think they deserve to be posted again. This time the whole lot.

Strangers in Wonderland - As long as I dont cry (Unplugged)
Strangers in Wonderland - Still (unplugged)
Strangers in Wonderland - Will your love fade? (Unplugged)
Strangers in Wonderland - Stay (Unplugged)
Strangers in Wonderland - The Big One (Unplugged)

Unplugged pleasures 5

2007-06-01T12:55:00.001+02:00

Don't we all want to ride the big ride, drive the fast car, get the big thrill. Of course we do.
But are we willing to pay the price?
Here comes the last one of the songs from the unplugged session, The Big One.

Strangers in Wonderland - The Big One (Unplugged)

Walk with me to Holland

2007-05-30T16:00:00.001+02:00

The delicate art of noise pollution podcast (what a great name I think) has had the good taste to play Walk with me.
It describe itself "Read and listen what moves a writer and music producer in his daily life. And let the latest podsafe music move you!".
I will listen when I get home after work.
And as usual we feel honoured. And happy. Thanks.

Strangers in Poland

2007-05-29T12:57:00.001+02:00

I just noticed that a podshow, My Pocket Player, based in Poland played us today. My Polish isn't what it shoud be, so I have no clue to what the website says. But the show seems good.
We are not used to this yet, people playing our songs. It feels really good.
Many thanks, you makes us very happy.

Unplugged pleasures 4

2007-05-25T18:50:00.001+02:00

Here comes the fourth song from the unplugged session. This time it's Stay.

This is a very naked version of what from the beginning was a very naked song. And I like it. Very much. The take is a bit rough on the edges but that only adds to the feeling.
Of all the song we've done so far this is maybe my favourite. The one that holds best against the erosion of time.
For me it's so easy to picture that feeling, the night that has fallen and the desire. A lonely but dangerous woman left to herself and her dreams and her call into the night.
Who can resist that.
Not me.

Strangers in Wonderland - Stay (Unplugged)

Indie Music Sampler

2007-05-25T10:27:00.001+02:00

We got a mail from Paul at Indie Music Sampler.

I would like the play "The Big One" on my podcast #47, which should release on Friday...

Yes of course, and now it's friday and the podcast is released.
Go and check it out at Indie Music Sampler.
He seems to have a good thing going and there is some other really good music to sample.

As usual we feel honoured and more than pleased.

Jaha !

2007-05-19T17:39:00.001+02:00

Vad gör vi nu ?

Det är så det känns efter ett lyckat framträdande.

Men för oss tog det inte så lång tid att hämta oss efter världspremiären.

Med många lovord i ryggsäcken har vi återigen krupit in i studion och

satt våra hungriga tänder i nästa års schlagervinnare !

Med en riktig discodänga med rockinslag, tror vi att vi ska få åka till Serbien...

Ja, jag vet... Drömmarna är höga, men vad är det som driver människan till stordåd om inte drömmarna...?

och så länge man tror på drömmarna är självförtroendet på topp !

Mardrömmar..? Jodå, de finns några sådana också men de får man lära sig att tolka till sin fördel...

Och får vi upp döden i vår tarot kortlek, så tolkar vi det som början på något nytt !

Och.... Vi har inget att förlora men allt att vinna !

Vi hörs !

Looking good

2007-05-15T22:11:00.001+02:00

Here are a few more pivtures from our live performace on the 5th of May.

Unplugged pleasures 3

2007-05-10T18:13:00.001+02:00

Yet another one from the session in the studio last week. Will your love fade? this time.
We think it is a good question. And the answer is no, our love for this song will never fade.

Strangers in Wonderland - Will your love fade? (Unplugged)

More publicity to bask in

2007-05-09T14:22:00.001+02:00

We never get used to it. Thanks.

Look at Aankomaat

And of course, we can never get enough.

On stage

2007-05-08T12:45:00.001+02:00

Yes, for the first time, and it was a success. Last saturday we played five of our songs on a venue in Nacka outside Stockholm.
Only positive reactions.
And Stranger 2 was as good as only she can be.
It was fun, a really good time. We have to do it again.

Here is one of the songs

Strangers in Wonderland - Stay (Live at Thai Yai)

Unplugged pleasures 2

2007-05-05T11:01:00.001+02:00

And here is the second song from the unplugged session, Still.
Still good.

Strangers in Wonderland - Still (unplugged)

Unplugged pleasures 1

2007-05-03T01:15:00.001+02:00

Here is the first result from our session in the studio the other day. Back to the basics. No frills, just the two of us. No doubling, no editing and seconds takes (Well almost not). Just trusting the songs, the lyrics and and our abilities.
First out is As long as I don't cry. Enjoy (we do).

Strangers in Wonderland - As long as I dont cry (Unplugged)

En heldag i studio wonderland....

2007-05-01T20:45:00.001+02:00

Bestämde oss hastigt och lustigt för att göra en unplugged platta till lördagens gig....

Så fram med de aukustiska gitarrerna och microfoner....

1,2,3,4.....

Inga syntar, inga pålägg, inget fusk här inte....

Rakt upp och ner...

och ta me tusan !

Det svänger som attan !

Otroligt spännande och förbannat kul att höra låtarna i det här formatet...

Så avskalat...

Så avslöjande....

Så naket....

Gillar särskillt denna version av The big one. Känner mig riktigt nöjd efter dagens slit och väntar ivrigt på att stranger 1 ska mixa färdigt.....

Jaaa....

Ögonen är lite trötta för idag har vi verkligen synat oss själva i sömmarna....

Blushing

2007-04-23T10:22:00.001+02:00

There is more kind words about us at the culture of me
Thanks, and yes we like it.

Är det någon som vet?

2007-04-20T21:40:00.001+02:00

Vad händer egentligen i Underlandet? Är det nått kul? Är alla lyckliga? Är det glass till middag varje dag? Inte vet vi! Som dom främlingar vi är.

Men vi har våra projekt. Som gör oss lyckliga. Viktigast just nu är världspremiären för Strangers in Wonderland på scen. Den femte maj. Det blir fem låtar, unplugged. Just nu repar vi. Jag sitter en stund varje dag och kör, för jag vet hur det kommer att bli. Jag kommer att vara jättenervös, och sitter inte låtarna då så kommer det att bli svårt.
Fast jag har Stranger 2 att luta mig mot och det känns tryggt. Hon kommer att fixa det så bra.

Förutom det går det mesta av min tid åt till att promota oss för tillfället. Skickar mail efter mail med senaste demon till skivbolag, jounalister och musikbloggar. Tröstlöst arbete känns det som ibland men det börjar ge lite resultat. Och då är det värt varenda minut. Några skivbolagskontakter som kanske kan bli något efter sommaren, men framför allt lite publicitet på nätet. Titta på Xylitol och Hot Stuf. Det känns nästan lite märkligt att någon vill skriva om oss, men det betyder väl att dom gillar det dom hör. Häftigt är det.

Musikaliskt så är det Melodifestivalen som tar upp tiden just nu. Vi ska göra ett nytt försök i år igen. En ny låt är på gång som känns otroligt bra. På ett sätt är jag tudelad, men samtidigt är det en utmaning, en slags musikalisk gåra som måste lösas. Åhhh glöm tvivlen Stranger, full fart framåt!

Fredag kväll, och nu vet ni lite vad som händer, om inte i Underlandet, så åtminstone bland främlingarna. Det står alldrig still.
Själv ska jag röra mig mot köket och ett glas vitt till.

Hot Stuf

2007-04-20T13:38:00.001+02:00

är en musikblogg i Holland som har skrivit om oss. Det tackar vi för. Det är kul, riktigt kul.

Lite publicitet

2007-04-11T00:34:00.001+02:00

Nu kan man läsa mer om oss på Xylitol.

Jättekul tycker vi!!

Oj !

2007-04-10T22:39:00.001+02:00

Oj oj oj ....
Nu är vi farliga....
Utfärdar härmed en varning...
en hitvarning.
Tyvärr kan jag inte avslöja mer och inte heller lämna något smakprov.
Men den här kommer att ta oss till nästa melodifestival, det är jag säker på.
Fylld av självförtroende lyssnar jag om och om igen, vilket driv, både tungt och rått men samtidigt så melodiskt och lätt!
Säger bara detta:
- Yes ! Akta dig !
När du hört denna, är det redan försent...
...försent att fly från främlingarna...
...då har vi dig fast !

Rörliga bilder

2007-04-04T01:00:00.001+02:00

Det är kul med saker som rör sig. Det är kul när vi rör på oss. Det är kul när det sprattlar lite. För då vet man att det lever. Om man nu var osäker på det från början, det vill säga.
Har suttit lite under kvällen och börjat arbeta med videon till Walk with me. VI gjorde lite tagning i söndags och nu har jag fått in dom i datorn. Har försökt hitta lite roliga ideer.
Gillar egentligen inte att lägga ut ofärdiga saker, men det här är ännu så ofärdigt så att det spelar ingen roll.
Håll till godo, en väldigt tidig scen från "Walk with me" videon.

Sitter här med morgonkaffet...

2007-04-02T09:53:00.001+02:00

...och tittar på bilderna från gårdagens film och fotosession. Vi gjorde en första omgång tagningar och bilder till videon. Har ingen aning än om det blev bra eller dåligt. Men delar av det går säkert att använda, och en del är nog oanvänbart.
Kul var det iallfall.

Video

2007-04-01T11:56:00.001+02:00

Nu har vi börjat bolla med tanken på en video. Tror att Walk with me står först på tur. För mig är det så. Mest för att det är så lätt att skapa bilder till den tror jag. Bilderna kommer av sig själva när jag hör den.
Jag har redan gjort några skisser på några klipp. Och det känns lovande. Bilden är från skisserna.
Budget? Noll såklart. Men det spelar mindre roll. Vi har det mesta vi behöver inklusive redigeringen. Tid är det som kommer att gå åt mest.
Och roligt kommer det att bli.
Håll koll så kommer kanske något så småningom.

Det som göms i snö

2007-03-30T11:37:00.001+02:00

Våren är äntligen här och allt som legat gömt och begravet kommer fram igen. 1990 var jag med och producerade en LP med en band som hette Ping Pong Show. Dom spelade med egna ord Acid Jazz i folkparkstappning. Tror inte att jag har lyssnat på det på 15 år och jag har säkert tappat bort alla LP exemplar jag hade. Döm om min förvåning när jag hittade dom på Myspace. Bandet finns såklart inte längre men några av låtarna låg där och jag fick kontakt med en av medlemmarna, Cosimo. Så nu har jag mp3 på alla låtar. Dom ligger som en liten oväntad skatt i min iPod.
Dessutom har influensan släppt greppet lite om mig idag så nu ska jag ut i solen och lyssna.
På gamla synder.
Jag tror att det är bra.

Rampfeber

2007-03-27T12:41:00.001+02:00

Så ska då främlingarna upp på scenen för första gången. Inge band eller så utan unplugged, bara vi två, sång, gitarr och kanske piano. Men ändå. Det är mer än 15 år sedan jag stod på scenen sist på den gamla goda Tugga Terrier tiden. Det kommer att bli roligt
Så nu blir det till att repa.

Demodags igen

2007-03-20T11:12:00.001+01:00

Sitter här och tokbränner CD skivor, skriver ut ettiketter, omslag och följebrev. Det är helt enkelt demodags igen.
Nu slänger vi iväg The big one, Still standing och Walk with me till skivbolagen. Vi gör både ett mail och CD utskick den här gången. I hopp om att någon ska lyssna och tycka det är bra. För bra är det tycker vi. Bättre än någonsin tidigare, och framför allt mer originellt och eget. Jag tror att det låter mycket Strangers in Wonderland.
Men det är väl det där med att få någon att lyssna som är det första hindret. Jag får känslan att på de flesta bolagen hamnar demos direkt i papperskorgen. Det är ingen som orkar och har tid att lyssna på drivorna av CD skivor och mail som kommer in.
Samtidigt, om vi inte skickar så är det helt säkert att ingen lyssnar.
Så det är bara att köra på, med en dåres envishet.
För envisa är vi.
Och dårar?
Ja, kanske det.

Backe upp och backe ner

2007-03-18T17:38:00.001+01:00

Dags för ännu en låt, The big one. Om livet kanske, för det är ju stort. Eller om livets backar? Dom kan också vara stora. Eller kanske kärleken? Eller glädjen eller sorgen?
Vem vet?
Kanske du!

__________________________________

The Big one

You’ve got everything you need
There’s nothing more you want
You are as happy as you can be (or so you say)
Nothing more in this world you want

On your way to work
You’re body starts to shake
Find yourself in a traffic jam
Caught up in a lie
Crying like child

(and then you know)

Life is a roller-coaster ride
And it scares you ’till you cry
Still you want the big one

Life is like driving when you’re blind
You just crash and don’t know why
Still you want the fast one

Life is life is like a knife
A stab in the dark
A cry in the night

You know who you love, and who you don’t
You say there is no other choice
You think you’re always in control
You know your do’s and you know your dont’s

One day in the shower
Your world begins to swirl
You reach out for something to hold
When your legs begin to curl
Crying like child

(and by now you know)

Life is a roller-coaster ride
And it scares you ’till you cry
Still you ride the big one

Life is like driving when you’re blind
You just crash and don’t know why
Still you drive a fast one

Life is life is like a knife
A stab in the dark
A cry in the night

Tiden är relativ

2007-03-14T20:38:00.001+01:00

och tiden har också små små men snabba ben som gör att den springer fort. Det var ett tag sedan vi uppdaterade bloggen. Men det beror inte på overksamhet för övrigt. Tvärtom. Nya låtar är på gång.
Det har också varit kul att se reaktionerna och recentionerna av Walk with me på All Ears.
Här kommer några av kommentarerna:
- Shit!.. vet inte vart jag ska börja... är helt förvirrad!
- Låten är skum, men det gillar jag!
- Efter att ha lyssnat på låten ett stort antal gånger hittar jag inget att klaga på!
- Hela upplägget är genialt, den väcker mitt intresse just för du/ni lägger till en sån feeling i allt ni gör, jag menar sången gör ju nästan så att man får gåshud.
- Sen är det väl ingen låt som jag så gärna vill lyssna till många gånger, inte minst på grund av sitt djävulusiska känsla.

Min känsla av alla recentioner är att den berör men också är lite jobbig att lyssna på. Ungefär som jag känner själv faktiskt.
Men vi är är nöjda tror jag, både med hur den blev och hur den togs emot. Allt kan inte vara lättsmält, färdiglagat och klart för micron.

Helvetet tur och retur....

2007-02-09T21:30:00.001+01:00

Ja, det är en resa som senaste skapelsen " Walk with me " har fått uppleva...
Om livet, om döden, om kärlek , om hat....
Den har tagit god tid på sig att återvända från de eviga flammorna, men nu är den äntligen tillbaka...
Men inte blev den direkt renad i någon skärseld...
Nej, den osar av svavel och är sotig och svart...
Den skrämmer skiten ur mig....
Väcker ångest utan att ta ansvar för följderna...
Ger mig kalla kårar och får mig att ängsligt snegla över axeln för att
förvisa mig om att ingen illasinnad står och lurpassar bakom
min rygg.....
Hu !
Den berör mig och jag älskar den.
" Walk with me " är definitivt ingen schlager och det var inte meningen heller.
Men nu är den här och vi är lite oroligt nyfikna på hur världen ska ta emot denna skapelse, för det är vad den är - en skapelse....
..och hos mig kommer den att brinna.... för evigt....

Har ingen kontroll

2007-02-05T11:07:00.001+01:00

Det är spännande med låtar som inte vill foga in sig. Som stretar emot. Som inte vill tämjas. Och frustrerande på samma gång.
Igår kväll mixade vi Walk with me. Fem timmar koncentrerat arbete med en motspänstig best. Som vrider och vänder sig, som inte vill stå still. Som kämpar emot.
Precis när man tror att den är tämjd i fållan så sliter den sig igen.
Ska lyssna på resultatet idag. Se vad det blev. För jag vet faktiskt inte riktigt. Det kan vara genialt. Kanske. Eller så är det bara att ge sig ner dit igen och ta en kamp till med besten.

Hoppsan, är det dags igen?

2007-02-04T13:01:00.001+01:00

Stranger 2 ringde igår kväll framåt halv nio.
- Du kollar väl?
- Kollar på vadå! svarade jag.
Jo, hade faktiskt glömt bort. Eller förträngt, eller något. Första uttagningsomgången med Melodifestivalen.
Så den är den tiden på året. Jag har ju knappt hunnit gömma undan julskivorna.
Det betyder också att det är ett halvår kvar innan anmälningstiden till nästa år går ut.
Det gick ju över förväntan det här året. Vi nådde nästan fram och vi har fått kontakt med ett förlag som säger att dom är intresserade att förlägga oss till nästa år. Det är kul, skulle öka chansen att komma med ytterligare. Men det hänger väl också på vad vi kommer fram med.
Det Innebär att det är dags att slå på schlagermaskinen igen.
Problemet är väl bara att vi med våra senaste låtar inte direkt närmat oss schlagerpopen. Tvärtom.
Ikväll ska vi mixa Walk With Me. En vandring i helvetet. Knappast en schlager.
Men man kanske tävlar i musik i helvetet också. Isåfall ligger vi bra till tror jag.

En dålig dag...

2007-01-26T21:30:00.001+01:00

Jo, det har vi alla ibland.
Eller...
man börjar med en envis förkylning,
för mycket att göra på jobbet,
får p-böter,
tusen samtal att ringa och ingen svarar,
Upptäcker i affären att man tappat pengarna,
kreditkortet avmagnetiserat,
bränner middagen i ugnen....
ja, ni vet...
Känslan av irritation och oro växer och till slut vill man bara liksom explodera....
Men.... Biter ihop, står stark och lyssnar till ljudet av radion som inte riktigt hittar rätt station..... Ett ständigt oroande, rastlöst, brusande som man
inte kommer undan....
Vad gör man åt det ?
En låt förstås....
...om alltings jävlighet och styrkan att stå rak mitt i stormen. Om att våga vägra depressionen.
Kort och gott :
Om man tar ordentlig fart i utförsbacken färdas man snabbare mot nästa topp i livets berg och dalbana.
Tjoho !
Här kommer " Still standing ".

Men...hallå

2007-01-24T13:55:00.001+01:00

Vad är det frågan om? Jag menar, på en skala från 1 till 10?
Så är detta en klockren 11!!!
Finns den på riktigt?

En sån där vill jag ju också ha!
Det är nog så illa att livet upphör att ha all mening utan en dylik mojäng.

Döm om min förvåning

2007-01-15T22:31:00.001+01:00

Plötsligen stod Stranger 2 där, med såg och stråke i handen, och hartset i bakfickan.
- Nu ska vi spela såg, sa hon och såg lagom bakslug ut.
Jag undrade lite vad det var frågan om. Min senaste (och enda upplevelse tror jag) av såg i musikaliska sammanhang var när jag såg Pippi Långstrump på rymmen, och det var inte igår. Men jag sa ingenting. När Stranger 2 har den blicken är det ingen mening att säga emot.
- Vi ska ha den på nya helveteslåten "Walk with me", på refrängen, fortsatte hon.
Så det var bara starta datorn, sätta upp mikrofonen och trycka på inspelning.
Jag vet inte om jag var helt beredd, men plösligen steg klagoropen upp från plågade själar, för evigt dömda att vandra i mörker och brinna i aldrig slocknande eldar.
Precis vad vi behövde.
Spooky!

Eld!

2007-01-08T21:37:00.001+01:00

Brinnande eld....
Det är något magiskt , lockande med värmen och de dansande flammorna...
Vackert och rogivande....
Hur kan helvetet gestaltas med något så gott ?
Slutsats - det kan inte vara så farligt att hamna där om man nu skulle hejdas i porten av Sankte Per.
Detta är temat för vår senaste skapelse " Walk with me " som vi utsätter för experiment som det inte finns namn för...
Vad sägs om att spela flygel med plektrum eller klusterkörer ?
Intressant och nytt. Spännande kommer det att bli att se
var denna låt landar....
Studio wonderland är tillfälligt förvandlad till ett brinnande,
rytande inferno av explosioner, åskknallar och stråkar från underjorden...
Nä... att brinna i evighet är nog inte så illa om man är i gott sällskap...
...Så länge man inte bränner sig... Hm...
Åtminstone är det fantastiskt roligt att försöka gestalta detta med ljud...

Strangers in Wonderland

Time to move

First review of the new album

podcast update

Live at Alcazar on th 13th of September

Summers end

I´m in the band...

Single Released

Out of this world

Win a single!

Hanging Out

Summer at last

Ready to order

Isn't it lovely

Hitting the May list

They have arrived

Still number four

The Chuck Dread Remix

Artists of the week

Handing out thanks

Number 4 again

In the mail

Don't we all want more?

Strangers in a mixed bag

Last Refrain Music

Sitting here thinking about the CD

How to say thank you

Antipode pleasure

Far, far away

The Number Four

On stage

Still alive?

Face the fear...

Up in flames

More fear

Fear

The year of strangers

Win a Strangers In Wonderland CD

Blogrolling

The magic 100

Dug up from down under?

Still up there

To our pleasure

A house of dreams...

Remedies

(A)Live in Wonderland

Old-fashioned and uncool with pretty good songs

Candy and pop

Strangers in Las Vegas

The first month is magic...

Where is that sponge?

Our babies left home today

Fingertip blues

A good man

Abba and Post Punk Volvos

Addicted

A prayer into the night

Nothing to be excited about?

A new stranger

Traveling south

Taking strangers for a spin

Waking up from strange dreams

Strangers in a new and lesser light

Say cheeeeese... well... or don't -

Unfaithful.....?

They say it's summer

Friends or still strangers?

On stage again

Unplugged pleasures 5

Walk with me to Holland

Strangers in Poland

Unplugged pleasures 4

Indie Music Sampler

Jaha !

Looking good

Unplugged pleasures 3

More publicity to bask in

On stage

Unplugged pleasures 2

Unplugged pleasures 1