Sofia is writing a guestblogg at muzic.se this week fin out more at www.muzic.se
This blog has gotten good respons and will therefore continue on this site in English as a weekly blogg
After the release of the soloalbum ”The Need To Destroy”, Sofia sets off to Berlin, rewarded with a couple of music grants, to work on her next album Dream.
Dream is an astonishing piece of work. A shimmering pearl, full of stories and experiences. Beautiful, fragile, hard and raw.The sound of beautiful, heartbroken strings join hands with the sound of steelmills and concrete crushing.
On top of that Sofia Härdig’s extraordinary voice, by many considered to be the best female rock-voice around. The album is written, recorded and performed by Sofia herself.
Sofia Härdig has from the start demanded attention. In 2003 she starts off with a tour to New York. Playing at CBGB:s twice, doing
two live shows at Unitygain television and various club gigs. At the same time as playing with her band ”Sofia Härdig And The Needles”, the new band 303 is formed. In the band is Johnny Essing (bob hund, Bergman Rock) and Mikael Nilzén, both members of ”The Needles” as well. ”303” makes their debut in live television and is later well known as the project ”Trio Switzerland”, to the listeners of experimental noise/electronica. Back home after the successful NY-tour Sofia forms the band ”The Happiest Girl In The World”, together with guitarist Otto Milde. Right away they are chosen to be the opening act of Rookie 2003, which is a newcomer event in connection with the well-known Swedish Hultsfred Festival.
In 2004 Sofia is chosen to be a “Room Five Artist” by the Ystad Artmuseum.
She performs with all her three bands, as well as doing a sound-installation. Just before the gig Kenny Håkansson, bass player of ”The Hellacopters” joins the band ”The Needles”.
In october she shares the stage with world famous musicians like Merzbow, Ikue Mori, members of Fugazi and many more at the Perspectives Festival 2004 in Västerås/Sweden. She performs once again with all her three bands, showing an impressive range and complexity with music spanning from heavy guitar-based rock to improvised noise-electro.
During 2004 she records songs for the forthcoming album ”The Storm In My Head”. The Single ”OOO OOA OOA OOO” is released in a limited 7” vinyl edition.
Spains biggest Rock magazine “Rock Sound” discovers Sofia and writes a rave review and an interview, entitled “Born To Win”.
In the beginning of 2005 Sofia is isolated in a lonely cottage, writing and recording, what will become ”The Demotapes Album”. All songs written and recorded in three solitary weeks by Sofia. First intended as demos for the band but later released as a ”bonus” album to ”The Storm In My Head” . Raw, dark and pure. Definitely nothing for those who are afraid of the dark…
In april 2005 ”The Storm In My Head” is released. The album is very well received in Sweden as well as internationally. Songs from the album are played on radiostations in Sweden, Spain, Germany, Finland and in the United States.
In may Sofia plays the big Openmusic Festival in Ystad/Southsweden with all her three bands again. She also plays together with Yoshimi (Boredoms, OOIOO, Free Kitten), Mats Gustafsson and Dror Feiler.
In august 2006 Sofia Härdig’s album ”The Need To Destroy” is released. The new songs which are written, recorded and produced by Sofia herself, state a new direction in her career. More synthesizers, programming and strange sounds. Cool, sharp and sexy electronica.. Grinding guitars and industrial noise. The response to the album is great and Sofia once more gains a lot of radio airplay both nationally and internationally. She is rewarded once more with the STIM stipendium.
In May 2008 the single from the forthcomming album "Dream" is released. It gains rave reviews and Once more Sofia is rewarded with the artist working grant for the upcomming album.
"Swedens next electronica Queen ...you get stuck, You listen and forget time and place"
Emma West muzic.se
" ..another great taster for the upcoming new album Dream. I'll look forward to it with great anticipation"
Anna Maria Stjärnell Luna Kafe
"You are drawn into the music which seems to grow a hundred percent with each listening Sofia and her sidekick Otto Milde has produced real noisy modern rockelectronica to be copied and imitated by wannabes. They themselves has taken over the drivers seat for good!" Gary Landström Groove
About The Need To Destroy: ”An adventurous electronica foray in which Sofia makes an art out of distorted vocals that are nonetheless emotionally wrenching. Dark, machine-laden grooves that grip the soul. " It's a trap..." she’s an amazing songwriter..Its awesome!... Whats especially striking about Sofia Hardig is how she employs interesting little twists within the often predicable realm of gritty guitar rock, and commandeers the genre like shes got it all to herself. Nervy, sensual, and self-assured,.Härdig deserves to be widely heard, as she’s far more interesting than many others mining this same stylistic territory.” Kevin Renick, Playback St. Louis, USA (who elected The Need To Destroy as one of the Top Ten albums of the year )
"Sweden has been lacking a strong female rock-voice. Sofia Härdig has a great voice and strong lyrics which provides new hope for the swedish rock-scene...A splendid debut" musikkanmedelse / Denmark
" What a voice! her nerve-racking, melodic lo-fi version of blues punk is
not possible to miss.. Especially hauntingly when the menacing
stranglehold of her minimalistic, reduced songs grab your throat like a
cold hand in the darkness. - guitars and drums rumble into the darkest
corners pure and raw rock'n roll, Markus Wiludda, Eldoradio*, Germany
"she masters the wild wolfwomen stile great. It’s delightful thunder and grinding on the debutalbum. Sofia sings aggressivly and drags her hair in the dirt and is a raw chick with potential" Expressen
"A Swedish debutant that makes musik that bites hard. Sofia Härdig makes suggestive raw and intensive rock. Rockmusic that scraches and claws. and above all she sings with a voice that burns hot and touches. sparkling songs that vibrates and glows with intensity. The voice alone reaches far.” Östran
"I cant help gasping in amazment over that this is her first work. Its rock with
experimentall dimensions burtn to black at the edges, one moment beatiful the
next sissling furiusly stinging like pins and needles.. " Lars Thulin Ystad Allehanda
"Sofia Härdig conquers the world with her voice...." Sydsvenskan
"SOFIA HÄRDIG The Next Girl in experimental rock" Perspectives 2004, Västerås
"An impressive and strong debut from a very exiting, interesting artist and
songwriter who you definitely will hear more about in the future.." Thomas Fridholm Musikindustrin
"BORN TO WIN ... La-La-La Härdig.... is on the verge of bursting in like one of new jewels of the inexhaustible Scandinavian mine There is no doubt that you will end up hearing and speaking of the extraordinary voice and the charisma…"
Rock Sound, Spain
"A fantastic voice" Sundsvalls Tidning
"Damn good........ Will make her a household name among the people in rock....
It's not a question whether she is going to make it big time or not, but WHEN...
Remember where you read it first" Ystad Allehanda
"With a voice that burns through skin and concrete.... a register that lifts you
from under your feet to heaven. Some have spoken of deepest black. Yes, but
she gives this darkness a quality that is felt on the inside of your palms: russling
silk, curessing velvet, skin in the dark... because the voice goes outside. In to.
Under.. one of the coolest voices around" Thomas Millroth, Ystad Artmuseum
Det blev en hektisk festivalsommar i år igen. Joyzines redaktion besökte sammanlagt 11 svenska festivaler, recenserade 148 konserter och gjorde en mängd intervjuer. Nu är det dags att samla allt det goda på ett och samma ställe:
Hej Sofia... Detsamma! Synd att vi inte hann tänka på det innan ni packade ihop era saker! Hör absolut av dig om du är på väg ner, så sätter vi ihop något kvickt!! Sköt om dig/ Affe
During 2008 we will release one more calender piece, not included on the album, for each month for listening and downloading. Be sure to check in regularly.
Hallå Sofia! Det var inte igår... Nu har jag äntligen skaffat en egen myspace-sida, men ännu nekar jag hårdnackat facebook. Kul att hitta din musik! Har faktiskt inte hört vad du gjort tidigare även om jag har hört om dig. Hoppas allt är bra med dig, och att allt går din väg!
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