Martin Abrahamsson, Martin Hanberg, Erik Laquist, Eric Ramsey
Influences
Smiths, Rilo Kiley, Yo La Tengo, Belle and Sebastian, Jonathan Richman, Housemartins, Jens Lekman, Beatles, Aden, Velvet Underground, Love, Hidden Cameras, Magnetic Fields, Håkan Hellström, Penny Century, Chet Baker, Bear Quartet, Strip Squad, Hot Chip, James Yorkston, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Lemonheads, Jakob Hellman, Hello Saferide, Burt Bacharach, Broder Daniel, Radio Dept, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Supremes, Field Mice, Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, Popundret, Teenage Fanclub, Low
Sibiria was founded in 2002 by Martin Abrahamsson, Martin Hanberg and Erik Laquist. All three contribute with the songwriting. The drummer, Eric Ramsey, has been a member since January 2006. The debut album "Norrlands inland" was released in September 2005. Hallands Nyheter wrote: "The first swedish band in a long time that deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence as The Smiths". The second album "Inom familjen" was recorded in June 2006 during one week at a summer house outside of Strömstad on the swedish west coast. It will be released November 15th.
Even though the band members are located in three different towns far away from each other, the city of Östersund, where Martin and Martin grew up and where Erik is born, is important for the band's identity. The title "Norrlands inland" referes to that landscape and the song "Kastalskolan 9E" is a frank reconciliation with people and memories from the school which the title has taken it's name from. "Emil", the last song on the new album, deals with the loneliness that geographical distances can bring.
Although the distances between the four band members and the strong connection to Östersund is two things which imprints Sibiria, the lyrics range from a variety of subjects, such as love, hate and friendship. But we shouldn't talk so much about the lyrics. It's the music that is important, even if Sibiria sings in their native tongue, which is the most natural thing to do even if a lot of people see at as a statement. Why sing in english when it makes the listeners and yourself less engaged?
There has always been a melancholy touch to Sibiria's songs, even if the band sometimes come up with sprawling pop punches such as "Ljusdal" and, from "Inom familjen", the new single "Det har varit svårare". On the new album the recording process was far more important than on its predecessor. Since Sibiria's three song writers make their music in diferrent places and times and the distances makes it impossible to rehearse, the feeling of still beeing a band playing together was important. Therefore the recordings were made in a week at a summer house on the swedish west coast. If you listen carefully you will here the warmth and love that these days and these songs recapture.
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