Gustav & the Seasick Sailors

Infobox musical artist
Name = Gustav & the Seasick Sailors


Img_capt = Gustav Haggren (2006)
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Helsingborg, Sweden
Genre = Folk pop
Years_active = 2003–present
Label = Marilyn Records
Associated_acts = Helena Arlock,Shooting John,Thomas Denver Jonsson, Yeats Project
URL = [http://www.gatss.com/ www.gatss.com]
Current_members = Gustav Haggren Jon Mattsson Victor Widerberg Patrik Andersson Helena Arlock
Past_members = Johan Olsson Kristian Rimshult

Gustav & the Seasick Sailors is a folk pop band formed in 2003, from Helsingborg, Sweden.Influences range from Tom Waits to Fleet Foxes. GATSS was formed in 2004 when the album Vagabonds Polka was released on the record label Marilyn Records. The singles Nightlife and Vagabonds Polka was aired on MTV and the Swedish media announced Gustav to one of Sweden's most promising singer/songwriters. [ [http://www.gatss.com/ Official Website] ]

History

In [2004] , when Gustav Haggren released his first album Vagabonds Polka, he wrote about the dream of traveling. This time he conveys his experience of making those dreams come true. All 10 tracks on Brilliant Hands were written on the road and the track Tigers and Kittens was even recorded while touring - in Pittsfield, New Hampshire USA.

The sound of the album is bright and folky, somewhat resembling the approach of his debut. But Brilliant Hands, also produced by Gustav himself, clearly displays a more serious and mature songwriter; one who can unravel the finer nuances of heartache as well as expressing the simple joy of being alive. By fully trusting the strength of his material and effectively stripping the arrangements, he manages to let the songs speak for themselves. And thus the album recounts the different handshakes, voices, smells and people that Gustav has encountered during his travels.

In January 2007 Gustav left his sailors back home and went to USA and Canada for a 3-month tour with vocalist and cellist Helena Arlock. They performed 52 shows all over the continent, starting off in New York, and managed to drive coast to coast in less than three days.

As Gustav returned to Sweden he gathered The Seasick Sailors and began working on the new record. But things did not go smoothly. Trumpet player Johan Olsson left the group. And meanwhile Gustav felt that the material did not come together as a whole. The songs were written the year before and now they seemed out of place. So instead of banging his head against the wall he dropped the recording sessions and instead went on another 3-months tour, in Europe this time. New songs were written and perspectives gathered.

Back home in December 2007 Gustav threw away most of the material already recorded and replaced it with newly written songs. Gustav invited some guest musicians to the studio; like Malissa Larson from USA (who found Gustav on the streets of New York and let him crash on her floor), and Swedish Singer/Songwriter Thomas Denver Jonsson, as well as the bunch of friends who are singing along on the track Sing it out. And this time it all came together perfectly. The missing pieces had been found. [ [http://www.myspace.com/gatss Official Myspace page] ]

Discography

Albums

* "Vagabonds Polka" (March 3, 2004)
* "Sirkus" (April 5, 2006)
* "Brilliant Hands" (September 26, 2008)

Singles

* "Nightlife" (Marilyn Records, February 10, 2004)
* "Charlie Fay" (Marilyn Records, February 28, 2006)
* "Devil When You Cry" (Marilyn Records, April 4, 2006)

Press

* [http://meadowmusic.se/en/?p=55 Blog article at meadowmusic.se
* [http://briantucker.blogspot.com/2008/01/gustav-haggren-and-helena-arlock-come.html an article by Brian Tucker for Encore Magazine
* [http://www.listennaked.com/review/17 Review on album Sirkus
* [http://plagueofangels.blogspot.com/2007/01/gustav-seasick-sailors.html Blog article on Plague of Angels
* [http://www.swedesplease.net/2005/04/08/gustav-and-the-seasick-sailors/ Blog article on Swedesplease

References

External links

* [http://www.gatss.com] - Official website
* [http://www.myspace.com/gatss www.myspace.com/gatss] - Official band MySpace.com page
* [http://www.marilynrecords.se/ www.marilynrecords.se] - Swedish indie label based in Helsingborg - south of Sweden