Jens Lekman: Difference between revisions
improvement |
|||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
'''Jens Martin Lekman ''' (born [[February 6]] [[1981]] in [[Angered]], [[Sweden]]) is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] pop musician. He has released one album and several [[Extended play|EPs]] since 2003. His music can be described as guitar-based pop with heavy use of samples and strings; the lyrics are often witty, romantic, and melancholic. His work is often compared to that of [[Stephin Merritt]] of [[the Magnetic Fields]], [[Jonathan Richman]], and [[Morrissey]]. |
'''Jens Martin Lekman ''' (born [[February 6]] [[1981]] in [[Angered]], [[Sweden]]) is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] pop musician. He has released one album and several [[Extended play|EPs]] since 2003. His music can be described as guitar-based pop with heavy use of samples and strings; the lyrics are often witty, romantic, and melancholic. His work is often compared to that of [[Stephin Merritt]] of [[the Magnetic Fields]], [[Jonathan Richman]], and [[Morrissey]]. |
||
Lekman recorded and released much material privately from 2000 to 2003 on [[CD-R]]. Because one of his songs during this time was entitled "Rocky Dennis' Farewell Song to the Blind Girl", Lekman was mistakenly referred to as '''Rocky Dennis''' for a while (the song was actually written from the perspective of the main character of the 1985 film ''[[Mask (movie)|Mask]]''). Lekman says that it was a "mistake": "someone thought that was my real name cause I had a song about him, and then radio picked up on it, and I never had a chance to change it"<ref>[http://www.indiepop.it/articoli/jenslekman_int_eng.htm Jens Lekman Interview]</ref>. He put the confusion to rest with his ''[[Rocky Dennis in Heaven]]'' EP (2004). |
Lekman recorded and released much of his material privately from 2000 to 2003 on [[CD-R]]. Because one of his songs during this time was entitled "Rocky Dennis' Farewell Song to the Blind Girl", Lekman was mistakenly referred to as '''Rocky Dennis''' for a while (the song was actually written from the perspective of the main character of the 1985 film ''[[Mask (movie)|Mask]]''). Lekman says that it was a "mistake": "someone thought that was my real name cause I had a song about him, and then radio picked up on it, and I never had a chance to change it"<ref>[http://www.indiepop.it/articoli/jenslekman_int_eng.htm Jens Lekman Interview]</ref>. He put the confusion to rest with his ''[[Rocky Dennis in Heaven]]'' EP (2004). |
||
His self-released 7" vinyl [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[Maple Leaves (Jens Lekman)|Maple Leaves]]'' caused a big stir in 2003, mainly due to sound files circulating on [[file sharing]] networks. When the same EP was released on [[compact disc|CD]] by the Swedish independent label [[Service Records]] in the autumn, he was already a well-known name. The songs "Maple Leaves" and "Black Cab" were heavily played on Swedish national radio. He soon signed a contract with the American label [[Secretly Canadian]] for releases outside of Sweden. Heavy touring and his debut album soon followed. |
His self-released 7" vinyl [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[Maple Leaves (Jens Lekman)|Maple Leaves]]'' caused a big stir in 2003, mainly due to sound files circulating on [[file sharing]] networks. When the same EP was released on [[compact disc|CD]] by the Swedish independent label [[Service Records]] in the autumn, he was already a well-known name. The songs "Maple Leaves" and "Black Cab" were heavily played on Swedish national radio. He soon signed a contract with the American label [[Secretly Canadian]] for releases outside of Sweden. Heavy touring and his debut album soon followed. |
||
Revision as of 05:00, 21 December 2006
Jens Lekman |
|---|
Jens Martin Lekman (born February 6 1981 in Angered, Sweden) is a Swedish pop musician. He has released one album and several EPs since 2003. His music can be described as guitar-based pop with heavy use of samples and strings; the lyrics are often witty, romantic, and melancholic. His work is often compared to that of Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields, Jonathan Richman, and Morrissey.
Lekman recorded and released much of his material privately from 2000 to 2003 on CD-R. Because one of his songs during this time was entitled "Rocky Dennis' Farewell Song to the Blind Girl", Lekman was mistakenly referred to as Rocky Dennis for a while (the song was actually written from the perspective of the main character of the 1985 film Mask). Lekman says that it was a "mistake": "someone thought that was my real name cause I had a song about him, and then radio picked up on it, and I never had a chance to change it"[1]. He put the confusion to rest with his Rocky Dennis in Heaven EP (2004).
His self-released 7" vinyl EP Maple Leaves caused a big stir in 2003, mainly due to sound files circulating on file sharing networks. When the same EP was released on CD by the Swedish independent label Service Records in the autumn, he was already a well-known name. The songs "Maple Leaves" and "Black Cab" were heavily played on Swedish national radio. He soon signed a contract with the American label Secretly Canadian for releases outside of Sweden. Heavy touring and his debut album soon followed.
His first album When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog was released in 2004, and consisted of recordings made between 2000 and 2004 (some tracks had been previously released independently by Lekman). The album attracted attention among the alternative music press in both Europe and the US. The song "You Are The Light" was a successful radio hit, and a video received some rotation in the Nordic MTV and ZTV. In Sweden the album reached #6 in the national chart. Lekman was nominated for three Swedish Grammies, three P3 Guld and three Manifest awards, as well as dubbed album of the year by Nöjesguiden.
A concert film shot from Lekman's sold-out show with José González at Göteborg's concert hall in December 2003 was broadcast by Swedish national television two times in 2005. In June 2005, a compilation CD of Jens' three first EPs, with extra tracks, was released as Oh You're So Silent Jens. According to Jens Lekman's myspace (which he runs himself), a new album is tentatively scheduled as "upcoming (hopefully this year)."
Live performances by Lekman have differed in style; at times he has performed alone with only a guitar and a CD player, sometimes doing a capella versions of his songs, while at other times he has been accompanied by a choir and string quartet.
Discography
In Sweden
Albums
EPs
-
The Insect EP Self-released 2000 -
I Killed a Party Again Self-released 29 May 2004 -
Singles
-
El Perro Del Mar/Jens Lekman Self-Released 30 October 2004
Compilations
In the US
Albums
EPs
-
-
-
-
USA October 2005 Self-Released October 2005
Singles
Compilations
In Australia
EPs
-
You Deserve Someone Better Than a Bum Like Me Self-Released May 2005
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Appearances on various artist compilations
- En Garde Fanzine CD-R (2003) - contains "F-Word" and "Sky Phenomenon"
- Based on a True Story (2004) - contains "Be Good"
- Accelerator Compilation (July 2004) - contains "The Wrong Hands"
- Risky Dazzle: A Service Party Shuffle (Jan 2005) - contains "Maple Leaves", "And I Remember Every Kiss (Demo Version)" (previously unreleased), and "You Are the Light (Reprise)
- Rallye Cloak 02: Swim Sweet Swedish (Aug 24, 2005) - contains "Boisa-Bis-O-Boisa"
References
- Jens Lekman Interview by Salvatore Alessandro, Indiepop.it