SONG PREMIERE: Jesper Lindell Braves “Stormy Waters” With Soulful Rock and Roll

Jesper Lindell was the breakout star of 2017 on the Swedish music scene, when he released his debut EP. Produced by Benkt Söderberg, father and former producer of the world-renowned sister duo First Aid Kit, Little Less Blue presented a collection of songs that were equal parts soul, Americana and rock. The praise from Swedish music journalists was immediate: the notable rock guru Jan Gradvall likened Jesper Lindell to a “young, agile and karate-kicking Van Morrison”, and well-respected music magazine GAFFA noted that Lindell was a “shooting star” who seemed too talented to be a product of a such a small country like Sweden.

Lindell went on to star in the acclaimed show “Who by Fire”, a tribute concert to Leonard Cohen organized by First Aid Kit at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, where Lindell performed the Cohen classic “Chelsea Hotel #2”. During a busy year he also opened for Americana heroes such as Justin Townes Earle and Andrew Combs and played at the prestigious festival Sthlm Americana.

Engineered by Zach Anderson, of the American/Swedish band Blues Pills, Jesper Lindell’s enticing debut album Everyday Dreams (out November 29th via Alive Naturalsound Records) is a clever mixture of rock, folk, blues and soul, performed by a 26 year old musician in love with classic pop, Stax-Volt R&B, and that old time rock & roll. The album finds the young guitarist/pianist/songwriter delivering an intimate collections of songs that could have been recorded in the late sixties. This is modern classic rock music, and hearts full of soul will fall in love.

Today Glide is excited to offer a premiere of “Stormy Waters”, one of the main singles on the new album. The song is a groovy nugget of throwback soulful rock and roll. Lindell showcases a voice that is completely original and well-suited to lead a band. Speaking of band, his conjures a subtle yet powerful sound, letting the music ebb and flow around the singer’s emotive vocals and the catchy choruses and harmonies. With its stomping piano and revelatory lyrics that feel like Lindell conquering life’s challenges, it’s easy to picture this song being a hit in the vein of acts like the Black Keys and Nathanial Rateliff. 

Lindell shares his own story behind the song:

“When I wrote ‘Stormy Waters’ I was signed to one of the larger record labels in Sweden. I had just been to a meeting with the label and had played some of my demos, and the head of the company didn’t like any of them. And I remember feeling like a shipwreck when I got home. And that’s when I wrote ‘Stormy Waters.’ Though the song is not about that meeting. It’s about that feeling. And holding onto something that’s dragging you down. The songs I played for him turned out to be my debut album Everyday Dreams.”

LISTEN:

Jesper Lindell’s Everyday Dreams will be available on Black Friday (November 29th) on Limited Edition Vinyl, CD, digital and streaming formats via Alive Naturalsound Records.

Photo credit: Stefan Johansson

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