I grew up in Umeå, a small town in northern Sweden with a great music scene.
Since the day I went to hear my first concert, my life has been about music. It's my passion, pain & pleasure.
For some strange reason I've ended up playing three instruments: (in alphabetical order) cello, double bass, electric bass. Electric bass was my first instrument, all my formal training was on double bass, but the last decade has been mostly about cello.
All three are my "main" instruments; and that's really insane, especially being a responsible father of two. I've tried quitting at least one of the instruments, but...they just won't let me.
On top of that, I compose professionally! Aaargh! I've written orchestral works, solo pieces, jazz tunes, film music, chamber music and what not. In my world, composing is just another way of playing, or was it "playing is just another way of composing"... Anyway, there are some examples on this page for you to enjoy, I'll try and replace them every now and then, when I have time ;-).
I, and everybody else, are confused; what "am" I? Jazz cellist? Rock bassist? Rock cellist? Jazz bassist? Classical cellobassist? Crossoverwhatever?
I have no idea. I just try my best in whatever context I find myself in.
And contexts have been plenty. I've tasted just about everything: I was Solo Bass in the Oslo Philharmonic under Mariss Jansons and in the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra under OBE Iona Brown, I played with heavy metal guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen a couple of years, I recorded and toured with Elvis Costello (pop), Jon Balke (jazz), Anne-Sofie von Otter (classical) I briefly played Indian classical music with Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, rock with Ryan Adams, tango with Nestor Marconi, fusion with Scott Kinsey, soul with Stevie Wonder, not to mention all the fantastic musicians here in Scandinavia! The musical environment is so happening, if only musical energy could be used to heat our houses with..
I'm eternally grateful for all the musical meetings so far, for all that I learned and for all the fun I had, and I hope for even more to come in the future.
Whenever I have the privilege of being a medium for music, of being an "air organizer", whether it's improvised or written, mine or someone elses, heavy or light, solo or orchestra, acoustic or electric, studio or live, stadium or living room, my aim is to let the music be free, to stay out of the way of the flow of the music. Needless to say, I never succeed. But I like the idea.
I believe now that the art of Music, as well as the art of Life, is about being a good listener.
I'm not as good a listener as I would like, but I'm working on it...
when I have time.
Yours,
Svante
