Astrid Swan

Soliti zip

2011-12-28T11:53:00.002+02:00

Today Soliti is offering a zip file of all the tracks the new label released this year!
It includes three tracks from my latest Hits (Pavement for Girls). One original from the album and two remixes (the Jori Hulkkonen one and the Burning Hearts one). The zip file also has all the other Soliti released free tracks from these bands: Big Wave Riders, The New Tigers, Cats of Fire and Black Twig.

Enjoy the last few days of 2011!

Video for Here

2011-12-19T09:21:00.002+02:00

Finally, my new video is here!
Up-and-coming video directors from Monday Digital (Patrick Lindholm and Pyry Kovanen) made a video for my version of Here.
Here is the last song on my Hits (Pavement for Girls) -album.
The video was filmed this fall all around Helsinki.
Enjoy and share if you wish – and Happy Holidays!

Here by Astrid Swan from Astrid Swan on Vimeo.

Burning Hearts Remix

2011-10-04T09:34:00.002+03:00

Today I am happy to publish another wonderful remix of a song from Hits (Pavement for Girls).
This one is made by Burning Hearts, a Turku-based girl/guy duo, who are really worth listening to, if you haven't already found them.

Here's Gold Soundz (Remixed by Burning Hearts).

And here's what Jori Hulkkonen did a couple weeks ago on another track (Zurich is Stained) from Hits (Pavement for Girls).

I'm in love with remixing...

Follow Me...

2011-09-15T15:36:00.002+03:00

...on Soundcloud
...on Twitter
...on Tumblr
...on Facebook
...on Last.fm
...I'm spread all over the social networks, you see!

and in case you missed it yesterday:
Here's the Jori Hulkkonen remix of my Zurich is Stained -cover.

Jori Hulkkonen Remix

2011-09-14T11:25:00.002+03:00

I feel lucky! Jori Hulkkonen remixed one of the Hits (Pavement for Girls) -songs: his reworking is of Zurich is Stained. Go HERE to download it and to listen (FOR FREE). It's a radical reworking to say the least – I am getting my first dance floor treatment and surely love it. Hope you dig it too!

Press Reactions and Shop Links

2011-08-29T16:15:00.004+03:00

"The Finnish press response has thus far been excellent, with Astrid Swan picking up some of the best reviews of her career." Said Soliti about their first release!

Here's where to buy the album in Finland and elsewhere:

Stupido Shop

Record Shop X

(Both Ship Internationally)

8 Raita

Anttila

Digital is only available from iTunes

some initial responses:

Echoes

Gaffa Sweden 4/6

Nordische Musik Album of The Month 5/6

“If this gets a whole new group into Pavement who knows, but her covers show how great Pavement songs hold up when covered.” Song of the Day, The New Gay

“Hits is a bold Artistic Bang” 4/5 Aamulehti’s Valo

“It’s totally awesome!” Spin

“”Shady Lane” is drowned in a haze of synths and cooing background vocals; “Zurich Is Stained” is transformed into a radio transmission from another planet; and throughout, Swan’s cracked, multitracked voice brings to mind those of Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donnelly. ” Village Voice

“dropping an album that makes you think of Malkmus in a new way is a surefire way to make a splash in indie U.S.A. And she does so with a certain grace” MTV Hive

KSML 4/5

“Here’s something sorta cool/goofy/perfect…..I particularly dig the “Zurich is Stained” cover. ” Prefix

“I don’t care much for cover albums but I do care for Astrid and I do care for Pavement. Therefore I gave the album a chance to win my heart over and I’ve been really enjoying it.” One Chord

“Astrid Swan covering 9 songs of Pavement, it’s an amazing collection” Gimme Indie

“Finnish Singer Astrid Swan just did an entire LP of Pavement covers, and it’s kinda amazing” Domino Records

“Swan also uses her own brand of dreamy vocals, synths and instruments to truly craft a Pavement 2.0 and a more feminine perspective on the band’s witty and poetic songs.” Cover Me

“…Swan’s interpretation of Shady Lane hits the target” Stop, Shake, Honey, Go

“after listening to the track “Box Elder,” it’s safe to say that Astrid Swan has another cracking album on her hands.” bubblegunked

Album Out Today

2011-08-17T09:40:00.002+03:00

Today is the happy day when Hits (Pavement for Girls) is finally out in the stores in Finland.
You can also buy a digital version from Itunes or order a physical copy of the record anywhere in the world via Stupido or Äx.

Thank you for your interest and support!

Surprise Attention from the Other Side of the Atlantic

2011-08-12T09:03:00.004+03:00

From a couple of fortunate tweets the news about my new album has reached Spin Magazine, who let you stream the whole thing, and even interviewed me a little. Yesterday Village Voice ran an article on Hits (Pavement For Girls).
Also, MTV has a review up on the album!

Pre-listen To Hits (Pavement For Girls) Now

2011-08-10T11:34:00.003+03:00

A week before the release date of Hits (Pavement For Girls) the rapidly moving Nuorgam blog is streaming the whole album on their site. Go and have a listen and let me know what you think!

Now is the time to pre-order copies of the album too.
Stupido
Levykauppa Äx

A nice write-up on Cover Me

2011-07-14T20:19:00.002+03:00

Go to Cover Me to read what they say about my Pavement effort. And you can listen to the available taster there too!

Shady Lane – another taster from my upcoming album

2011-07-12T10:49:00.002+03:00

The release date of Hits (Pavement For Girls) is a month away now! Here's another track from it.
Shady Lane must be the most popular Pavement song ever and I wasn't originally going to work on it all... In the end I was driven by popular demand (the girls wanted it) – I'm glad I obliged.

You can also listen @ Soliti

Pre-order Hits (Pavement For Girls) Now

2011-07-05T09:35:00.002+03:00

Stupido Records is taking your pre-orders for my Hits (Pavement For Girls) album already.
They are offering a really nice price and there's a good write-up too, so GO THERE
They will ship the album anywhere in the world too, which is nice.

First Song from Hits (Pavement for Girls) available for listening and download

2011-06-28T10:37:00.003+03:00

Go to soundcloud to hear my version of Box Elder and download it if you like!
Summerlove,
Astrid

Hits (Pavement for girls) Cover Art

2011-06-14T12:02:00.000+03:00

New Album and New Record Label

2011-06-13T16:35:00.002+03:00

I'm glad to announce that my next album will be out in Finland on August 17th on a new record label called Soliti. The album is called Hits (Pavement For Girls) – it’s an album entirely made of Pavement covers as interpreted by me and only me.

Setbacks and New Beginnings for A. S.

2011-01-21T12:09:00.006+02:00

Happy New Year! Said the voice almost a month late on a blog threatening to die in loneliness. The voice is mine, and I do hope it will be a happy year. The reason why I keep falling into silences here is that I am never clear on what I can and cannot say on my own Astrid Swan blog. Today, encouraged by this post somewhere else in the world of endless blogging, I feel like writing again. I do admire transparency and the ability to keep no secrets – secrets make me sick in the heart. So why keep them?

Last autumn brought many crucial changes to my life as an artist. After Johanna Kustannus (my ex-label) had been sold to Universal Finland in the spring 2010, I got the boot just like most other artists who sing in English and aspire to have an international career. Friends and relatives asked if this was a blessing or a curse for my future, I did not really know how to answer – to experience rejection is hard, but at the same time there was a side of me that did not believe in a future with a record label whose bathroom wall is covered by 5x4meter Gaga face.

So now I am a free agent finishing my Pavement cover album at home! Yes, a bunch of Pavement covers will be the next thing I put out. Later I'll get back to the question why... If you are a label guy/girl and would like to release these covers somewhere in the world, do send me a line. And if you are just curious, keep your ears pricked.

I'm also working on making the fourth Astrid Swan album with original material. We will begin recording this coming spring. The major challenges occurring there are how to make no compromises without a real budget (a record label used to provide that luxury), and the songwriting – I am being pretty slow and demanding on this one.

This was a greeting from the extended hibernation necessary for recording and songwriting.
If there is a particular Pavement song you want to hear me sing, let me know now – I'm still recording for a week or two.

Top Ten of 2010 and Some Gossip

2010-12-03T10:32:00.004+02:00

So, I made a list of great things from this year for ITSATRAP, it's music, but also other important personal things I discovered.

I have given up on myspace, so don't go there to read my latest, it won't be there...
But I did put some music on my facebook site. And there is a soundcloud for me now.

I have been sidetracked from the animals and Indians of my new own songs into the land of covers and 808's. You'll hear more soon on that. Maybe even before the year ends.

I promise to return soon with more breaking news, because this year things really have been breaking and changing.

Thanks to the Norman Palm Gang

2010-09-28T21:22:00.002+03:00

Thanks to the people who attended our shows in Germany, Austria and Swizerland! And of course to the eclectic Norman Palm bunch who welcomed me on the tour with them. Tomorrow The Drunk Lovers are flying to Berlin and on Friday (1.10) we play the first show with Mystery Jets @Magnet, Berlin.
Other shows w/Mystery Jets: 3.10. Underground@Cologne, 4.10. Atomic Café@Munich

Berlin

2010-09-08T11:43:00.004+03:00

Within two hours of getting here I’m carrying the ingredients for a feta salad, good dark roasted coffee, a fresh whole wheat loaf of bread, and water. I'm walking through some previously unknown street of Xberg now thinking I live here. I am the happy resident of a two bedroom 3meter-ceiling apartment with two hours for myself before the record company posse gets here.

My cab driver from the airport was definitely a drummer. I just know. I felt shy, like always with drummers.

I’m reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. We all must read it now because Julia Roberts is on the cover of the paper back edition. The other travel book I took with me is a library book! (Don’t tell your librarian friends). Eat Pray Love is kind of like my life this second – or maybe my life is a lot better right this second. (I’m not sure how I feel about finding my own personal guru for example.) More comments on the book another day when I have read more of it.

My suitcase was five kilograms overwheight I was informed. Please, remove four kilos or pay 10e per extra kilo. Somehow this whole exchange at Helsinki-Vantaa felt very personal. As if we were really discussing my body and not my luggage. If it had been my body, I would have been able to say that on the moon I weigh nothing so what’s the big deal. But I was aware of the line behind me and so I was silent and embarrassed and I half opened my suitcase there infront of the counter and pulled out a box of CDs (2,4kilograms), a pair of knee-high boots (hardly weighed anything) and then panicking I rummaged for a shoulder bag and a canvas bag to stuff everything in there – oh, and the power extension for my computer! Suitcase closes again and now it was 21,2 kilograms and I was a red-faced free woman (with two pieces of hand lugagge).

I will be blogging when I can from this tour but at least once a week the blog will appear on Rumba.fi (in Finnish) and at times I may add something more here in between.

Mystery Jets support shows announced

2010-09-06T14:58:00.003+03:00

Before I leave for my solo tour supporting Norman Palm, I'm just letting you all know that I will be warming up for Mystery Jets on their German dates in October. And for those shows my band is flying in to play too, so beware and be there:

Astrid Swan supporting Mystery Jets (UK)

1-10-2010
Berlin@Magnet
3-10-2010
Cologne@Underground
4-10-2010
Munich@Atomic Café

Astrid swan SOLO supporting Norman Palm

11-09-2010
Hamburg @ Übel & Gefährlich

12-09-2010
Köln @ Studio 672

13-09-2010
Frankfurt @ Brotfabrik

14-09-2010
Dresden @ Societätstheater

15-09-2010
Nürnberg @ Musikzentrale

16-09-2010
Marburg @ KFZ

17-09-2010
Munich @ Atomic Cafe

18-09-2010
Berne @ Kleine Schanze

19-09-2010
Schorndorf @ Manufaktur

20-09-2010
Vienna @ Chelsea

21-09-2010
Graz @ ppc

22-09-2010
Innsbruck @ Weekender Club

24-09-2010
Erfurt @ Klangerüst

Rakkaudesta -interview online

2010-08-30T10:42:00.003+03:00

Last week I was a guest on Lasse Kurki's Rakkaudesta -radio program! We talked about making music and writing songs and all the issues that could possibly relate for two hours on Radio Helsinki. Now you can listen to it again here.

You can find out about my allergy to crisis, how I got into music and what is my routine when writing new songs. My friends said that it was laugh-out-loud funny!

BTW: I went to get my hair done and I look different these days.

One More Show

2010-08-11T17:47:00.003+03:00

Before I leave for Germany and Austria, I will have a chance to play in Helsinki at Club Liberté
on August 21st (Saturday next week). I will be doing a solo show and before me you can catch Minä & Ville Ahonen who are about to release their first album soon.

See you on Saturday 21st of August in Helsinki!

September Tour in Germany and Austria

2010-08-09T16:42:00.003+03:00

I have some great news! I will be touring in Germany and Austria very soon again:
I will be playing solo supporting Norman Palm on his album release tour.
Here are the dates that you will see me on:

11-09-2010
Hamburg @ Übel & Gefährlich

12-09-2010
Köln @ Studio 672

13-09-2010
Frankfurt @ Brotfabrik

14-09-2010
Dresden @ Societätstheater

15-09-2010
Nürnberg @ Musikzentrale

16-09-2010
Marburg @ KFZ

17-09-2010
Munich @ Atomic Cafe

18-09-2010
Berne @ Kleine Schanze

19-09-2010
Schorndorf @ Manufaktur

20-09-2010
Vienna @ Chelsea

21-09-2010
Graz @ ppc

22-09-2010
Innsbruck @ Weekender Club

24-09-2010
Erfurt @ Klangerüst

I'm so happy to be going on this tour with Norman and his Finnish (!) band because over the last couple of years we have kept bumping into each other in different musical situations and I have browsed over his touring photos on Facebook with a slight jealousy...and now they kindly booked a bigger bus so that I would fit in!

Expect to hear material from Better Than Wages, my earlier works, but also brand new songs that I am working on right now!

rabbit, loon and a black bear

2010-07-22T10:35:00.003+03:00

I have painted in every room of my home in the last couple of months, so I thought a little color here would not be bad. Purple.

We had a great show with the band in Alppipuisto on July 9th. Thank you!
I am just sad that there are no more summer shows to come.

My new songs seem to be inhabited by lots of animals. So far there are rabbits, loons, a black bear and a deer. I'm not really the outdoor type so I don't know how these animals keep popping into my lyrics, but there they are and they make perfect sense for now.

I have returned to a loving relationship with my piano again after a good break. So, I believe on the next Astrid Swan album piano will make a grand return.

Summer shows

2010-06-09T17:40:00.003+03:00

This summer I am concentrating on new songs!
But catch me live in Helsinki next week playing solo, or in July outdoors with my band of pirates.

Here are the dates:

16.6. Marginaaliklubi, Dubrovnik Helsinki (SOLO)
9.7. Alppipuiston kansanjuhlat, Helsinki (w/ The Drunk Lovers)

Hopefully there will be more shows in August in Finland before we head for a fall tour of Europe.

Solo Shows

2010-05-10T13:29:00.002+03:00

My silence over here has meant writing elsewhere – songs and journals and social media graffiti walls...but here I am once again, telling you about these upcoming SOLO shows in Helsinki:

21.5. Private party@Hima&Sali, Helsinki
29.5. Olivia-lehti party, Narinkkatori Kamppi (free entry)
16.6. Marginaaliklubi@Dubrovnik, Helsinki

I will tell more about the Olivia show later, but it will certainly be full of fashion and beauty and beautiful people. And it will be in the middle of a summer day. Balloons everywhere and happy music.

Tomorrow in Turku

2010-04-20T11:59:00.004+03:00

Thank you people of Jyrock for last weekend and the cool festival! I found one picture from the band gig here. And thanks to the attentive and kind audience in Oulu on last Thursday.

Tomorrow 21.4. I am taking the gang to Turku. We'll be playing at Klubi with Kiki Pau.
(Photo by www.christophbuckstegen.de)

On The Road Again

2010-04-14T09:14:00.002+03:00

We are leaving Helsinki today and driving up north for some six hours to stay with Arttu the bass man tonight. Half of the crew is still in the grips of serious spring virus, so it will be an unusually calm and zen-like trip I believe.

Thursday 15.4. we'll be playing in Oulu (Nuclear Nightclub).
On Friday 16.4. we'll be at the Jyrock festival in Jyväskylä.
On Saturday 17.4. I will stay in Jyrock and play a solo show (that's where I promised the new song).

I promise to try and update the blog while touring in Finland. Maybe some pictures too of the snow situation in April. Up North we go!

Coffee Break/Social Media Time

2010-04-07T15:22:00.005+03:00

I want to keep blogging even though I cannot constantly announce news here. I'm not a newsagent, and the blog isn't a newsstand, so there should be no problem...(I'm reassuring myself here)

It's sometimes difficult to decide what is important enough (or proper) to write here, because I am not on tour right now (although I will be on a mini one next week) and I don't have an easy label for this phase.

I'm writing songs. It is a fluid time of various activities and non-activities all of which amount to music at some point. But not directly. I have time to have a cough for five weeks straight. I have time to watch a movie in the middle of the day. I have time to organize my closet. I email. I read. I cook and sneeze a lot. I write my diary, update the movie blog I'm one half of. I surf the net and read other blogs and check Twitter and Facebook a little too often. I meet friends at odd hours and drink espresso.

Amongst this routine I write songs. It's exhilarating, lonely and makes me feel possibly the happiest I can be – in short instances. It's frustrating too. Can you believe that having this time actually makes me feel guilty? Am I utilizing it right or am I just lazy?

In any case, next week I'll be playing at least one new song at the solo concert on Saturday 17th of April in Jyrock.

I have been following Penelope Trunk's blog for a while now. She inspires me to become a better blogger. I can't remember how I found her but she has given some good advice on blogging in the midst of her entertaining and intelligent way of telling about her personal life. I have her bookmarked, which is rare in my computer life. (I'm hoping the advice is sinking in slowly)

I would also like to take part in this webinar A Musician's Roadmap to Social Media Success
and become an expert on Twittering and Myspacing (I suck right now!) but it costs 400 dollars and I'm defending my not enrolling with DIY-pride.

Please, follow me on Twitter! I'm soon going to invest in a phone that can access the internet so I can twitter from the most uncomfortable places like the rest of the world.

Live Dates

2010-04-06T18:28:00.005+03:00

Here are next week's live show dates again:

15.4. OULU Nuclear Nightclub
16.4. JYVÄSKYLÄ Jyrock
17.4. JYVÄSKYLÄ Jyrock (SOLO)

then the following week:
21.4. TURKU Klubi

I can't wait to get to play again! And this will be your chance to buy Better Than Wages on VINYL and American Apparel wife-beaters and boyfriend-beaters with the coolest logo – summer is coming, you know.

Blow-Up

2010-03-26T15:11:00.003+02:00

More Shows & Radio

2010-03-18T12:30:00.002+02:00

Yesterday's Päiväntasaaja program is now online for you to listen. I am interviewed among discussion on the state of the music business!

More Finnish shows for April:

15.4. Nuclear Nightclub, Oulu
16.4. Jyrock, Jyväskylä
17.4. Jyrock, Jyväskylä SOLO
21.4. Klubi, Turku

I hope to announce a Helsinki date for this little tour as well!

I'm on Air

2010-03-17T10:33:00.002+02:00

Today at 3PM (15:00) YLE Puhe program Päiväntasaaja will discuss the state of the music industry and I will be interviewed! So listen, please. My interview is not about the gloom and doom of the music industry, I am just a case study – an artist in the storm.

Jyrock and Other Rock Shows

2010-03-16T15:21:00.002+02:00

I will be performing twice at this year's JYROCK 16–17.4.2010.
On Friday 16.4. it will be an evening show with the whole band
On Saturday 17.4. I'll do a solo show during the day

More shows to be announced shortly!

BTW: I am not at SXSW this year, unfortunately, so don't look for me on Thursday nor any other day in Austin. Sad.

TV online

2010-03-11T09:50:00.003+02:00

yesterday's TV program is today's online content! Here is where you can watch Voimala from last night. I was given truth serum before the interview.

I'm on TV Today

2010-03-10T11:46:00.002+02:00

Hello everyone who watches Finnish TV! Today at 10pm (22:00) on YLE TV1 I am one of the guests on Voimala. It is my favorite program on telly and I had the honor of being asked to appear with Chisu and Jona discussing what it is like to be a musician and a woman in 2010.

Also, a couple of new reviews for BTW:
this one from Turku is great and I can pretty much promise her now that my next album sleeve will have the lyrics printed. If you buy Better Than Wages on vinyl, it has the lyrics, so that's a thought for everyone!

I'm in Folkworld! It's a nice review and I don't mind being folk.

Finally, here is a Dutch review which mentions this blog! I am an ordinary girl, yes. I did a google translate on this one as I don't know any Dutch. Google translate brings a daily doze of psychedelia into our lives. I recommend.

Remeber to watch TV today in the evening!

My Controversial Music in Intro Maganize

2010-02-25T12:08:00.007+02:00

The German Intro Magazine has put Better Than Wages in their latest album poll where they let
other bands, critics and members of the audience listen to various current albums and then ask them to rate them. OK, I came second from last and my music divided the judges drastically but I was in the company of the likes of Vampire Weekend and Spoon. Everyone's supposed to love these guys to pieces by now. Familiarity helps in these situations. But as you can see, people's opinion, even where they locate the music culturally, varies enormously. Maybe it's a good thing.

I used to not give a rats ass about criticism, honestly. I knew what I was doing and I liked it enough to be content and it was so straight-from-the-heart that if it wasn't well received, it did not matter to me. Recently, this feeling has changed. I yearn to be understood. I don't want to be compared to Sheryl Crow. I don't think I am 'middle-of-the-road'. I demand more time from you people. And I like Matt's comment ("I think it's a boy"). Thank you.

More Pics

2010-02-22T12:13:00.002+02:00

These two pictures were also taken by Christoph Buckstegen in Haldern, Germany February 4th.

Hair colors and Merch thoughts

2010-02-18T09:32:00.005+02:00

So, here is a new German review of Better Than Wages. This one says that my hair has been red as well as black, brown and blond. How do they know? Last time I looked like Pippi L. was in high school...Ok, yes, but I always feel like a blond and still have nightmares about the accidental dark tone from two years ago. I also think that the reviewer is expecting my next album to be about hitting the big three-oh, but to reassure me and my audience: I can still fit one album into my lovely twenties! And I will.

Merchandise thoughts: I have to figure out a way of selling the new and cool t-shirts and boyfriend/wifebeaters from this site. Meanwhile, this is a snippet of what they look like (photo by www.christophbuckstegen.de):

And then there's the VINYL, which is white and you get lyrics too, as well as an extra song (which starts side two). In Germany you can buy this everywhere, in Finland go to Stupido Shop.

Live Review from Haldern

2010-02-16T10:57:00.005+02:00

There are more and more reviews appearing in Germany now. It is a little hard for me to know which ones are good...I have not used my German very much (ever).

Here's a live review from Haldern. Let me know if it's no good. I think it is good though. And we had a great time there. I fed a deer some bread at night (her breath was warm). And the bartender made lovely drinks. I asked him if he knows Cats on Fire (he looked like he should) but he said NO.

Feature in Rolling Stone & more

2010-02-12T10:44:00.003+02:00

Second month running Better Than Wages appears on the prestigious Critics List in the German Rolling Stone.
There is also an article about me in the newest issue of the mag, as you can see from above!

Here is a great review of the album from Westzeit.

Have good weekend and listen to your heart!

Back from Tour

2010-02-10T12:09:00.003+02:00

(Photo by Christoph Buckstegen)

We returned to Finland yesterday. Over two weeks of touring, driving, playing, laughing, very little sleeping...maybe you have read the YLEX-blog I wrote?

Lots of reviews and articles are appearing in Germany. There is an interview in the new Rolling Stone (Germany) and I am still on the critics pics (#12)!
Here are some new links to German press:

Uncle Sally's Net review

Hooked on Music review

Melodiva review

Live review from Schrobenhausen

Westzeit interview

Tage Rönnquist blog and pictures

Tour&Tour Blog will begin soon

2010-01-23T11:15:00.006+02:00

Today I'm packing because we start our trip down to Europe tomorrow by taking the ferry
to Stockholm.
I will be writing a tour blog (in Finnish) on YleX so check it out some time early next week.
Here is my pre-tour interview!!!

Here is another German review for Better Than Wages
kulturnews.de

Here are the tour dates again:
27.1.2010 Private party@Brussels, Belgium
29.1.2010 Cargo Records store@Wuppertal, Germany
30.1.2010 Club im Park@Furstenwalde, Germany
2.2.2010 White Trash@Berlin, Germany
3.2.2010 Sonic Ballroom@Cologne, Germany
6.2.2010 Lothars alte Nähfabrik@Schrobenhausen, Germany

German Tour Dates

2010-01-20T11:26:00.002+02:00

I have been itching to announce tour dates for weeks.
Here is everything so far. There will be updates very soon,
I'm sure.

27.1.2010 Private party@Brussels, Belgium
29.1.2010 Cargo Records store@Wuppertal, Germany
30.1.2010 Club im Park@Furstenwalde, Germany
2.2.2010 White Trash@Berlin, Germany
3.2.2010 Sonic Ballroom@Cologne, Germany
6.2.2010 Lothars alte Nähfabrik@Schrobenhausen, Germany

Buy Better Than Wages on-line in Germany and the Netherlands

2010-01-19T13:18:00.002+02:00

On the 29th of January Better Than Wages will be available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and Luxenburg on CD and vinyl. You can order it online already, and buy it in mp3 form too.

In Germany:
Amazon (Cd's, Lp's, mp3's)
Libri.de (cd)
Flight13Records (cd)
jpc.de (cd)
jpc.de (LP)
ex libris.ch (LP)
weltbild.de (LP)
Peoplesmusicstore.com (mp3)
Musicload (mp3)

The Netherlands:
Musicstore.nl (cd's, LP's)
Muziek.nl (cd)
Muziek.nl (LP)

My Lawyer Will Call You Lawyer

2010-01-13T11:23:00.000+02:00

Watching movies has turned into a serious hobby of mine, so it was almost
inevitable that at some point I'd want to write about them in some form.
On January 1st me and Nick decided to begin a new film blog together:
My Lawyer Will Call Your Lawyer
The idea is that we both write a review of each movie that we watch together.
So far there haven't been huge disagreements between our reviews, but most certainly
those will follow. This blog will serve as memory, a subjective account, and hopefully it'll inspire discussion. Comment is free!

'Frau Swan' is getting ready

2010-01-12T10:49:00.001+02:00

Last weekend was great! Thank you everyone at Bar Loose on Friday and at Jääpuisto on Saturday.
It is possible to play a gig outside when it's -14C° and be both hot and cold at the same time...

As I am getting ready for Germany, they seem to be getting ready for us! Some great reviews for Better Than Wages have already appeared. And they call me Frau Swan!
Check these out:
Nordischemusic.de
Small Town Criminals

First Gig of 2010

2010-01-08T12:45:00.000+02:00

Tonight we will be playing the first Astrid Swan & The Drunk Lovers show of the year.
We will be celebrating at Bar Loose (Annankatu 21), Helsinki. The new year brings changes to the band line-up: on guitar we have Lauri Eloranta (from Damn Seagulls).
Please, come and feel the music, have fun, it's Friday!

8.1.10 Bar Loose, Helsinki (doors 8PM, Pouta 10PM, A. Swan 11PM)
9.1.10. Jääpuisto, Rautatientori Helsinki – you can ice skate while we play at 8PM

Happy New Year Everyone

2009-12-30T15:08:00.000+02:00

Here is my personal favorite albums TOP10 of 2000-2009
(This list excludes all the great music I discovered in the last ten years that was made in the previous century):

1. Elliott Smith – Figure 8
2. The Kills – Midnight Boom
3. The Strokes – Is This It
4. Rufus Wainwright – Poses
5. Anthony & The Johnsons – I am a Bird Now
6. Kate Bush – Aerial
7. The Rollstons – Doing Time
8. The White Stripes – Elephant
9. The Dears – Gang on Losers
10. Joanna Newsom –Ys

There were tens and tens of other albums I wanted to put on this list, but this is it for today.
I tried to choose ones that I know all the lyrics to, as that's a pretty good indication to how much I listened to an album. It saddens me to see how few women ended up on this top10. the reality is that I spent most of my 2000s listening to music from the 1960s, 70s and 80s and there were a lot of women in that bunch!

Happy New Year and thank you for reading this! I'll be back next year!

/A

Good Wishes

2009-12-22T14:36:00.000+02:00

The January issue of Rolling Stone (Germany) lists Better Than Wages on the critics' list of the month. There it is (my name) where you see a little bit of red on the left side of the picture!!!
(CLICK ON THE PIC TO MAKE IT BIG)
This puts me on a good mood, I might open one of the Christmas chocolate boxes already...

Coma, the guitarist's TOP10 of 2000–2009

2009-12-17T20:22:00.000+02:00

After I thought that the rest of the Drunk Lovers are too
drunk to remeber what happened in this soon-to-be-gone
decade, Coma (the original) saved the situation.

comas top ten:

kg
Snus
Japan
Australia
The studio
Stockholm
wine
food
FIFA
BB King

that felt very strange..

Have a nice christmas! / Coma

TOP10 of this decade by The Drunk Lovers

2009-12-14T14:08:00.000+02:00

Today I begin with my version of the end-of-the-decade listomania!
I have followed with mixed emotions the endless album of the
decade lists sprouting up on the pages of magazines and blogs
(and in conversations with friends). Our public and private need to
reflect back on very recent history seems to have sped up
in this last decade even more. My problem is that when I am asked to
name my favorite album or event, or color even, I go blank.
But I asked all of the old and new Drunk Lovers to send me their
TOP10's of 2000-2009! This is a way for us all to get to know
these people a little better. They were allowed to choose what
they are listing about, so it's not just music.

Today I am posting Niko Votkin's (drums) and Jukka Salminen's
(guitar)TOP10 of the decade LISTS.
Please, send your own Best of the Decade Lists in, as well!


NIKO VOTKIN TOP10 2000–2009

1. Friends, Relationships and Bands
2. Old records and history of music.
3. Drinking and smoking (K-Klubi)
4. Hats
5. Travelling in South America & India
6. Vintage instruments
7. Bicycling and Jogging
8. Berlin & Touring in Europe
9. Biker Boots
10. The Kills

Cheers,
Niko Votkula Lihamestari Votkin


 TOP10 of 2000-2009 JUKKA SALMINEN

 1.      Eeva, Eelis, Niilo
 2.      No. 63 @ Thai & Laos, Tampere
 3.      Eterna Musima Deluxe II
 4.      Dungen
 5.      Touring in Germany, Japan, UK, US, Finland
 6.      Internet
 7.      Vinyl
 8.      Doris / Telakka / Klubi
 9.      Canon EOS 5D Mark II
 10.     KIAD 2002-2005

 That's about it.
J

ON THE ROAD -single available from online stores

2009-12-02T20:30:00.000+02:00

On the Road is my new single in Finland!
You can buy it from the following online stores:
I Tunes
DNA Store
Meteli.net
Anttila
Radiorock

Or go to Myspace to listen to it.

And better yet, in the first month of the super virtual year of 2010 Better Than Wages will be available on VINYL (Cargo Records) and On The Road will feature as a bonus track. Things will get physical again, but until then...

Last show of the decade

2009-11-27T12:12:00.000+02:00

Next week on Thursday, December 3rd, I am playing my last Astrid Swan& The Drunk Lovers show of this year and this decade! Come to Kuudes Linja, Helsinki. Ville Ahonen will be playing as well and the DJ music is chosen by Brooklyn Vegans.

It's PIKKUJOULU-time! Nothing dramatic, but it should be fun!

News

2009-11-26T09:49:00.000+02:00

As Johanna Kustannus announced yesterday, Better Than Wages will be released in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux-countries on January 29th, 2010. Cargo Records saw me and my band perform at this year's Music&Media event in Tampere and immediately set a release date for Better Than Wages.

I look forward to touring in Europe in support of the album release. Here is the schedule as we know it so far. More dates will be added shortly:
27.1.10 Brussels, Belgium PRIVATE SHOW
28.1.10 TBA
29.1.10 TBA
30.1.10 Furstenwalde, Germany
3.2.10 Bassy, Berlin Germany
4.2.10 TBA
5.2.10 Bunker Ulmenwall, Bielefeld Germany
6.2.10 Lothars alte nähfabrik, Schrobenhausen Germany

Group Portraits

2009-11-23T16:34:00.001+02:00

Tavastia backstage 14.10.09

Dynamo backstage 20.11.09

Dynamo by day

Berlin, hotel terrace 18.09.09

next morning after a show in Hämeenlinna 20.11.09

Hämeenlinna, Turku, Forssa

2009-11-19T09:57:00.000+02:00

I'm packing to go on the road for the rest of this week. In addition to CD's, bags will be available in pink, black and white after the live shows. Come and talk to me people!
19.11. Suisto-klubi, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa

Tour continues

2009-11-16T11:15:00.000+02:00

I saw Ville Ahonen play on Saturday and am very happy to tell that he will be playing with us in Helsinki at Kuudes Linja on December 3rd. It is rare for me to get lost in watching a show so completely that I'm surprised when it ends so soon. Ville reminds me of Elliott Smith and Bon Iver although he sings in Finnish. He manages to pronounce the language without the usual sharp edges.

This week I'm looking forward to playing in the following places:
19.11. Suisto-klubi, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa

Bowler Hats and All

2009-11-09T11:56:00.000+02:00

So, as it always goes, Finland invites a load of little and big names from abroad to come and hear the music made here. The guests eat reindeer and drink drink drink and back home some weeks later they try to recollect what it was that caused the headache: the music or the weather?

Here is one such review of events (go to post 'finland 5.')

For me this year's Music&Media, or Lost in Music actually did a load of good and I met some really nice people to work with plus witnessed some roulette action. And to Andy: the hats are here to stay, but maybe we can match the guys' shirts a bit better for you next time!

Some more shows to come in 2009

2009-11-04T13:14:00.001+02:00

Today I am happy to announce an added Helsinki date for December at Kuudes Linja on 3.12.2009

Here is the rest of the year in Astrid Swan & The Drunk Lovers dates:
19.11. Suisto-klub, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa
03.12. Kuudes Linja, Helsinki

BTW: January 2010 will begin with some Helsinki dates and continue with a tour of Europe, which I will tell you more about shortly!

Band picture

2009-11-04T10:11:00.000+02:00

This is us in Seinäjoki last Friday. Picture by Jukka Salminen. Assistant Rami Helin.

Chapter II: Album Reviews

2009-10-27T10:35:00.000+02:00

I have gone from pleading that nobody reads me my own album reviews in the early 2000s to willingly reading reviews both good and bad. I have become the critic of the critics who is more interested in internal flow rather than how many stars they gave my music...

I have been the reviewers' pet for a long time. Always appreciated, never horribly misunderstood, ridiculed or hated. Maybe it is due to this safe feeling that I have begun to read reviews with a genuine interest in the writer's way of thinking, in their approach to music.

With the explosion of on-line media there are millions of platforms for music reviews these days and therefore all guidelines or common principles have been washed away. I think this suggests both immense possibilities and the danger of complete chaos. As the pretense of objectivity and unemotional evaluation is vanishing, album reviews now have the potential of rising from the listener's subjective experience. Putting this experience to a context that is informative or on some other level justified seems to be the problem at present.

What is the purpose of album reviews in magazines and on-line publications? Has it shifted as the printed press prints smaller and smaller reviews and the virtual reality knows no limitations of length? Has it changed when there is continually more and more music to be written about?
Are we reading the reviews to know what to buy, what is in or to learn about one person's experience? Does any one reviewer have authority to decide what we will listen to? Is the loss of authority in criticism a facet in dwindling sales of music?

At best a review of an album is in discussion with the music. It is inspired by it, it responds and creates onwards from there. I am still in search for such a review. I guess writing it would take a long time...In the meantime, I will keep reading.

On Reading My Own Album Reviews chapter 1.

2009-10-26T10:25:00.000+02:00

Here's the Woody Allen case: Woody goes to Europe to make a string of movies mostly slated by the film critics for reasons such as 'not enough Woody in them', 'what does he know about English culture or Barcelona', and he should go back to New York and do what he does best. Woody's stock goes down critically (while a new generation who did not get Annie Hall do get Vicky Christina Barcelona).

Now Allen has gone back to New York (at least for this one film), he has found an old script on which he worked in the 1970's (his golden period) and has done a funny, twisted New York comedy which tackles with his beloved question: what's the point in life when we all die in the end? Classic Woody.

I watched Whatever Works in a cinema called Angelica in SoHo (on Mercer and 18 West Houston). It was a humid and overheated day in last August. I laughed with the responsive and explosive audience–popcorn was kicked and spilled and a man kept commenting loudly to the characters on the screen. We had fun and felt good about Woody's return and his recent victory over American Apparel.

But what do the film critics who hated Allen's European adventures say this time around? Well, they have reversed into 'we preferred his European films'. Plain and clear if not contradictory.
Tomorrow I will discuss the Finnish album reviews so far for Better Than Wages.

Stranded in Stereo & Lost in Music

2009-10-21T20:21:00.000+03:00

American blog Stranded in Stereo has posted my video for download today.
The video was directed by Sami Sänpäkkilä (visual artist, filmmaker and the man behind Fonal Records) and it was shot in my home!

Tomorrow, Thursday we are playing at this year's Lost in Music festival in Tampere@Yo-talo.
We will share the stage with Cats on Fire and Regina.

Cocktail parties

2009-10-21T09:44:00.000+03:00

It started last week with an invitation to an event that somehow related to the new subway line.
Then yesterday a good smelling invitation with candy, big red lips and the name Jade Jagger.
I was asked to enter one of those glitzy new night clubs in town, to wear red, drink champagne and eat canapes. If ever there was a chance to see the bare shoulders of rally drivers' wives and footballers maybe, it would be here...and maybe the infamous Mr. Mouth will be in town himself for his daughter's exclusive Finnish party. I was also sent an invitation to an auction house this week. Do they think they can lure me into bidding on some paintings now that I am a recording artist?

Thank you for the invitations, but I will be working on those dates. I will be in the unglamorous green rooms of small clubs and if anything on me will be red, it'll be my warm woolly leggins from Marimekko.

22.10. Yo-talo, Tampere w/ Cats on Fire and Regina
30.10. Bar15, Seinäjoki
19.11. Suisto-klubi, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa

Today at Tavastia (meet the sober and the drunk)

2009-10-14T10:04:00.000+03:00

Good morning! Me and the Drunk Lovers are in the capital of Finland this morning, getting ready to play Tavastia this evening.
There will be some surprises in the show.
Cats on Fire start at 9PM sharp, so come early.
I remembered that their album is called Our Temperance Movement, which makes this evening a meeting of the sober and the drunk. I guess we have approached the same problem from opposite directions. In this promised land of alcohol all comments are necessary, I think.

Here is the lyric for Hands Tied. It is the last song on Better Than Wages.

the curtains are still drawn
It must be mid-day
you don’t wanna see the sun
it’s cloudy anyway

breaking up with someone
is better than all alone
waiting for a phone call
when the phone’s not on
is lonely

I never promised
but I let myself down
maybe it’s cause I’m tired
of trying to be something

breaking up with someone
is better than all alone
waiting for a phone call
when the phone’s not on
is lonely

you should have warned me
I should have let you in
you should have stayed
when I was sleeping

breaking up with someone
is better than all alone
waiting for a phone call
when the phone’s not on
is lonely
oh, it’s lonely

you left me with nothing
but my hands tied

Live Review and more lyrics

2009-10-12T11:05:00.001+03:00

This coming Wednesday I will be playing at Tavastia, Helsinki with the notorious Drunk Lovers.
Cats on Fire is also performing on Wednesday evening at 9PM so all the more reason to be there rain or shine.

Here is a live review by Aamulehti of a show couple weeks ago (I guess it's for the Tampere show).
The review is very positive, which I am surprised by because it was a very difficult show for the band. I was recovering slowly from bronchitis and just before the show I puked the last antibiotic pill out of my guts and felt like fainting all the time. The next night in Turku we played the best show we have done so far...but hey, thank you for coming to those shows and we did our best on both evenings.

Here is the lyric for The Little You Give. This song is about loving a Pavement fan.

I have learnt two things from you
never to tell exactly what’s on my mind
and never to lie

I have said two things to you
always to say precisely what you feel
and never to die

I
don’t know why
we’re still dancing
around the table
I
don’t know why
we still hold on
to that old refrain:

‘And I accept the little you give
between the lies and the day that you die’

I have kept two things from you
they will forever remain unsaid
and you won’t be hurt

I have sung these words to you
when you had Crooked Rain on so loud
we both thought we were in
Pavement

I
don’t know why
we’re still holding
onto that same old song
I
don’t know why
we still dance
around the table
I
don’t know why
we still hold on
to that same refrain:

‘And I accept the little you give
between the lies and the day that you die’

Waitress' Song

2009-09-30T08:22:00.000+03:00

Today we are playing in Tampere@Klubi w/Them Bird Things.
Tomorrow 1.10. Turku@Klubi (with many other bands as it is the 6th b-day of Klubi)

Here is Waitress' Song

On the first Friday away from duty
the fireman died in a hallway staircase
you became a drunk
and a pregnant woman
you became an endless party
of one

you can cry, you can cry, you can cry cry cry
but you’re never gonna find
that place again
where love felt like it was pure and unspoiled
it’s just gone

you came from money and you were a beauty
even in your waitress’ dress you played the Queen
in a bigger city with the cool cruel people
you thought you could drown in anonymity

you can try, you can try, you can try try try
but you’re never gonna find
that place again
where love felt like it was pure and unspoiled
it’s just gone

So, you tried on faces, never showed your son
what lay underneath the ‘happy mom’
he became aloof in a brilliant manner
you remain a distant porcelain mom

sure, you cry, yeah, you cry, oh, you cry cry cry
but you’re never gonna play
that game again
where love felt like it was pure and unspoiled
it’s just gone

When I Was Taken and I didn't Care

2009-09-29T13:37:00.000+03:00

To continue with posting all the lyrics for Better Than Wages, today it's time for the story of love that will never materialize in time. Or something like that...the timing is off.
I'm sorry I forgot all about posting the lyrics for a while. I'm taking the task up again today with three more songs to come after today.

When I Was Taken and I didn't Care

front door open and we’re moving again
here’s to hoping there’s no collision
with you

there’s no such thing here as two friends

on the road
there’s no such thing here
as lovers and their boat
with you

I admit I like you
but you don’t even have a heart
I admit I like you
but you don’t even have a heart

If you don’t see me it’s your loss
I’m just fighting for my cause

you may guess

your sideways glance is way too late
there’s no such thing here
as ‘come back in ten years’
with you

I admit I like you
but you don’t even have a heart
I admit I like you
but you don’t even know how to start

you preferred me
when I was taken and I didn’t care
I preferred you
when you were single but you didn’t dare
you preferred me
when I was single but I wouldn’t share
I prefer you
when you’re far and you don’t stare
when you’re far and you don’t stare
when you’re far and you don’t stare
when you’re far and you don’t stare

New Interviews

2009-09-28T18:24:00.000+03:00

Meteli.net published an interview with me today. It's in Finnish, it's in-debt and I like it. Somehow e-mail interviews end up being more accurate as far as I'm concerned.

Go to Noise.fi and the N-vitamiini program to listen to a podcast with my interview and a lot of music – for some reason all women it seems. The interview was fun to do, it's in Finnish and I don't remember what I said in it, but it was super windy that day in Hakis.

Get ready Tampere and Turku. I will be turning up with The Drunk Lovers this week. We are all getting over the flu just in time for the Klubi dates:
30.9. Tampere, Klubi W/Them Bird Things
1.10. Turku, Klubi (klubi's birthday bash)

Lost in Music & something from Berlin

2009-09-22T14:59:00.000+03:00

The annual Lost in Music festival in Tampere has announced its line-up for this year and I am happy to be on the bill on October 22nd @YO-talo, Tampere with Regina and Cats on Fire.

here are all the upcoming shows:

30.9. Klubi, Tampere
1.10. Klubi, Turku
14.10. Tavastia, Helsinki
22.10. Yo-talo, Tampere
30.10. Bar 15, Seinäjoki
19.11. Suisto-Klubi, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa

We played in Berlin@Frannz Club last Thursday at the Helsinki in Berlin event. Here are a couple pics.
The whole gang on the first night at Wiener Blut

I had a mission: find perfect boots for stage outfit. After being in Kreuzberg for less than two hours we had had the 'world's best' Thai food and I was the owner of black boots with crazy heels...Later Niko (who did the whole trip with zero budget) found these male-high heels and convinced Jukka to lend the cash. (The shoe behind is Jukka's jealous bookie boot – he crashed the picture)

This is how bands travel: leave a touch later to the airport from the hotel. Cab takes you to the wrong terminal. One of the band goes looking for his I-pod. Another member is coughing his brains out in puke-smelling terminal C with all our gear. In the queue one more member believes we are standing next to a suitcase bomb. By the time we actually make it through the security check the bus to the plane has gone. The above is a picture of two bands making their way from the airport to the plane – the private airport vehicle of Astrid & TDL and Rubik (imagine the dirty looks we got when we marched to our seats in row 24).

Video for 2000-2010

2009-09-20T17:55:00.000+03:00

Astrid Swan & The Drunk Lovers: 2000 - 2010 (I'm Not Even 30) from JohannaKustannus on Vimeo.

Misfit video and lyrics

2009-09-15T12:34:00.000+03:00

Here is the lyric for Misfit and there is also a video from last Saturday's Korjaamo gig in Helsinki of us playing the song.

Misfit

There's a general expectation
hovering without face
'sing lines that will blast your image
excavate a sin'
'contradict the face with the voice'
prove you shall find a goddess within

The company of cowboys
or the love of wooden men
cannot save the hibernating
beauty queen again
sailing on the right side of the left
your worst crime isn't the theft
of some small heart

Marilyn is dead
beyond resurrection
Marilyn is dead in me
beyond resurrection

I've been trying to find a cure for vanity so long
Clint Eastwood is 79
and he's holding that gun again
to contradict himself once more
to prove you still have
Dirty Harry within

Marilyn is dead
beyond resurrection
Marilyn is dead in me
beyond resurrection

Helsinki in Berlin this week

2009-09-14T15:47:00.000+03:00

This Wednesday the Drunk Lovers will join me on a journey to Berlin where we are to play a show on Thursday the 17th of September.
The event is called Helsinki in Berlin and it features many Finnish bands.
We will be playing at Frannz Club on September 17th (event begins at 8PM) with Murmansk and Rubik.

To continue with posting the lyrics for Better Than Wages, here is

Goodbye/Goodnight

seeing that look on your face
I know we’re finally here
it’s a goodbye a goodbye
it’s a goodbye a goodbye

to the one who went too far by mistake
and can’t crawl back to the start

I’m losing myself to this night
I’m losing your love in the darkness
it’s a goodnight a goodnight
it’s a goodnight a goodnight

to the one who went to sleep alone
and the tears on his cheeks
shine like stars

So when it finally ends

We all wish it could be beautiful
but what if I can’t say
what if I can’t say it so

it's a
goodbye
goodnight
goodbye
goodnight

Finland in November

2009-09-12T10:35:00.001+03:00

Since the Nyt-liite review of Better Than Wages mentioned this song specifically, it has become popular! Here is the lyric for scrutiny and for singing along:

Finland in November

In Sweden they were good to me
they liked my style
In Stockholm you can speak English
they don’t care

In Berlin I felt safe
they thought I was cool
the old signs of atrocities
stood in place with new graffiti

home, can we move home
anywhere
but here

you scare me you bore me
you threaten me with violence
I never know what day it is in here
why all the faces are void of expression
there’s no happiness in small things
on November mornings

In New York I’m breathless
sometimes voiceless
but never out of place
they comment on my accent
when they pass their business cards
I’m the Blonde
and they invented democracy

home, can we move home
anywhere
but here

In France I could eat breakfast all day
and be a smoker all my life
and I don’t even mind
the strip-me-naked eye
that lingers on my thigh

home, can we make home
anywhere
but here

you scare me you bore me
you threaten me with violence
I never know what day it is in here
why all the faces are void of expression
there’s no happiness in small things
on November mornings

Finland in November
Finland in November
Finland in November
Finland in November

Nyt-liite review, Levykauppa Äx show, another song lyric

2009-09-10T18:38:00.000+03:00

The ragged rock chick is home (the Drunk Lovers stayed at our still relatively new rehearsal place to work on sound proofing)! Tampere was great last night, I could never sleep before midnight there...

Tomorrow, September 11th, we will play a free show at Levykauppa Äx in Helsinki. Show time is 18:00 sharp. All ages welcome.

Nyt-liite reviews my album in their new issue giving Better Than Wages 4/5 stars. The review says that this is my best and most energetic album where I have found a sound that suits my songs!

Today's lyric is for the 2000–2010 (I'm Not Even Thirty) (Check out the music video)

where are our flat bellies
where are those jeans that used to look perfect
where are those girls’ nights out
where are the mornings & 8o’clock cigarettes

where are those phone calls
accounting for the bad dates
where are those guys who
used to think we were fun

where are my high heels
that made me a good dancer
the pity of the ladies
who thought they knew better
cause they were so much older
born in the 70s

where are those boys who
used to think we were cool
where are those guys who
used to think we were too young

I’m not 30
and I sleep before 10
I’m not even 30
and I sleep before midnight

where are those club nights
seeing all the new bands The Rollstons, the White Stripes
and eating nothing
putting all our change towards coffee &cigarettes

where are those boys who
used to treat us like shit
where are those guys who
used to think we were too dumb

I’m not 30
and I sleep before 10
I’m not even 30
and I sleep before midnight

Unrelated

2009-09-09T10:10:00.000+03:00

Today's song lyric is for Unrelated, the fourth track on Better Than Wages. You can download the entire song from the link on the right hand side.

My brother is a gourmet microwave cook
I’m a credit card trickster
we never shared the same room
or even home
and the blood in our veins
is unrelated

My brother speaks the language
of machines and crooks
I have lesbian hands
that like to touch each other
we never shared the same bed
or even a table
we have rules for the bathroom
cause we’re so unrelated

unrelated
unrelated
unrelated

On our first date he speaks of only himself
and I don’t even mind
I’m so mesmerized by the way he says
his name like he was

in love with himself

unrelated
unrelated
unrelated

My brother shakes the hands of important men
while the look on his face
is so 1951
makes you wanna trust him
makes me wanna love him
but what can I do when we’re so
unrelated

Status Update

2009-09-08T09:37:00.000+03:00

Kuusilehti reviewed Better Than Wages yesterday. The review contains some interesting perspectives on the album and its relationship to my previous recordings. My comment:
I'm listening to Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde wondering who we are...

Today's lyric is for

Status Update

what we share is nostalgia
for bad habits
together we begin smoking again
for the love of Us
knowing this much is lost
with the other one gone
I can’t take a second more
of your loyalty

These should be the last drags of our old love
but it’s hard to let go
when nothing’s wrong enough

I don’t recall ever being this close to the edge
of deleting you out of my profile
and changing my status
knowing this makes it public
then we probably can’t go back
for fear of looking like two losers
who can’t break up

These should be the last drags of our old love
but it’s hard to let go
when nothing’s wrong enough

what we share is older than our virtual reality

Where certain darkness stays away
until it’s a fact
maybe the best part of quitting is
the chance of starting all over
we’re the only ones who care where we first met

These should be the last drags of our old love
but it’s hard to let go
when nothing’s wrong enough

The Tour Begins/Information/Lyrics

2009-09-07T10:14:00.000+03:00

It's Monday and Better Than Wages has been in stores for a few days now. I hope you have found it! We played a mini-show at Stupido Shop in Helsinki on Friday (without Jukka and his guitars) and now look forward to full blast shows this week starting in Tampere on Wednesday (September 9th).

Today and tomorrow are dedicated to bike riding and the search for performance outfits...I have to look the part – hanging with the Drunk Lovers.

From today onwards I will be posting the song lyrics for Better Than Wages here: a new day will bring one new song lyric for the next 11 days. Your Bitches lyric has already appeared here, so look for it from the older posts.

Important: if you already own a CD of Better Than Wages you have probably noticed that it doesn't inform you on who designed the covers, photographed everything and put it all together.
A horrible mistake! The artist is Varpu Eronen and she deserves our love as she is the greatest.

If you haven't seen the new music video much yet, watch it again!

Here is today's lyric:

Blooms

I wanna hurt you now
to be sure that I can still
bring about a feeling
crack your walls
and hurt you now

cause I can’t kiss you now
my lips no longer wander
they’ve forgotten you
yet, I wanna move you
or pin you down

Oh, darling
I’m mad
red blooms flower
and I hate you

What would hurt you then
would you let me know that
if I broke your every bone
or beat your soul
would you feel the pain

Oh, darling
I’m mad
red blooms flower
and I hate you

Video for 2000-2010

2009-09-02T18:55:00.000+03:00

Astrid Swan & The Drunk Lovers: 2000 - 2010 (I'm Not Even 30) from Sami Sänpäkkilä on Vimeo.

The Drunk Lovers introduces a new member + video news

2009-09-01T22:33:00.000+03:00

I'm pleased to tell you that Jukka Tapes Salminen has joined The Drunk Lovers for the fall tour starting this Friday! His sympathetic blog celebrates this fact, so check it out.

Tomorrow is the official release date of Better Than Wages. Coinsidently, we shot a music video today with Sami Sänpäkkilä & crew at my home and it will premier online tomorrow – so I'm told!

Good Morning

2009-08-31T09:28:00.000+03:00

Only two more days to go to album release in Finland. The first gig is also nearing fast (next Friday)!
This week Radio Helsinki will have Better Than Wages as their morning record, which means that besides hearing it listeners have a chance to win their own copies of the album. So tune in between 6 and 9 every morning!

Suomenkieliset bloginlukijat ohoi!

2009-08-28T21:18:00.000+03:00

Hyvät ihmiset, Paras aika vuodesta -blogi laittoi tänään koko ensi viikolla ilmestyvän Better Than Wages -levyn ennakkokuunteluun! Ihanaa että Stella diggailee!
Menkää siis sinne ja kuunnelkaa, sekä ihmetelkää. Nähdään pian keikoilla, tässä vielä kertaukseksi niistä lista:

4.9. Stupido Shop, Helsinki (IN-STORE)
9.9. YO-talo, Tampere
11.9. Levykauppa Äx, Helsinki (IN-STORE)
12.9. Image-klubi @ Korjaamo, Helsinki
17.9. Frannz Club, Berlin
30.9. Klubi, Tampere
1.10. Klubi, Turku
14.10 Tavastia, Helsinki
30.10. Bar 15, Seinäjoki
19.11. Suisto-Klubi, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa

Publicity Stunts

2009-08-27T13:36:00.000+03:00

The brand new issue of Six Degrees (free paper in English) has a lengthy interview with me. You can pick up copies of the paper, or go here on-line to read it. The interview is in English and we discuss Better Than Wages as well as things from past and present.

The new issue of Soundi (a Finnish music monthly) also features an interview with me as well as a review of the new album.

And I am still proud of being in the latest issue of Finnish Elle magazine – fall fashion is the best and I'm happy to pop out among the knee-high boots, capes and handbags.

Remember: you can stream the whole of Better Than Wages for nearly a week still from the front page of All Scandinavian
And YleX is still playing a new track from the new album every day!

The Whole New Album Streaming

2009-08-26T10:36:00.000+03:00

Go to All Scandinavian -blog to stream the entire Better Than Wages -album from today until Wednesday the 2nd of September, when it comes into stores.

I hope you enjoy this pre-listening opportunity and send me your comments, please!

Album of the Week on YleX

2009-08-24T10:23:00.000+03:00

From Tuesday to Friday at 10:25 in the morning a new song from Better Than Wages will be played and also introduced by me on YleX.
X-Ryhmä show (between 18-21 in the evening) will rerun the song and introduction every evening.
On Saturday one new track and my introduction will be played at 16:10 in the afternoon.
The introductory videos for each song will be posted everyday on-line here.

Go to YleX -page to read what they say about Better Than Wages and to watch my radio interview.

Better Than Wages is the Album of the Week on YLE X

2009-08-23T18:24:00.000+03:00

Starting from tomorrow Monday 24th, Better Than Wages will be featured on YLE X radio station everyday of the week as it is the album of the week.

On Monday at 11:20 in morning an interview with me will be aired. A rerun of the interview will run on Monday's X-Ryhmä program in the evening.

On all the other days of the week one new track from Better Than Wages will be played with my comments at 10:25 in the morning. A rerun of the day's song and comments airs at 16:10 every afternoon in X-Ryhmä.

My interview and comments will also be on-line as video. I'll post links here ASAP tomorrow.

Tavastia added to live shows

2009-08-21T13:03:00.000+03:00

There will be a show on 14.10 at Tavastia, Helsinki.
And unfortunately, Pori for the 2.10 has been cancelled.
Here is the gig listing as it appears now:

4.9. Stupido Shop, Helsinki (IN-STORE)
9.9. YO-talo, Tampere
11.9. Levykauppa Äx, Helsinki (IN-STORE)
12.9. Image-klubi @ Korjaamo, Helsinki
17.9. Frannz Club, Berlin
30.9. Klubi, Tampere
1.10. Klubi, Turku
14.10 Tavastia, Helsinki
30.10. Bar 15, Seinäjoki
19.11. Suisto-Klubi, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa

More Fun Things Found On-line

2009-08-20T10:59:00.000+03:00

Last night I found out that Dave Allen from Gang of Four played Unrelated (the free download linked on this blog) on his weekly radio show for new music on WOXY. You can listen to the whole
show here. I'm happy to be in good company!

Also, another French language review has appeared. This time Rockomondo, who have been very supportive of my music over the last years, have posted a very positive write-up about Better Than Wages. In fact the whole album becomes more sophisticated when written about in French!

An Album Review for Better Than Wages

2009-08-18T20:03:00.000+03:00

Another Finnish blog called Vertigo has reviewed Better Than Wages. Even though it gets 3/5 in ticks, the review is super positive and calls the album 'ultra-cool' as well as throwing in some brand new comparisons, which always makes me happy!

Music Alliance Pact features my song

2009-08-15T17:11:00.000+03:00

Today 30 different international blogs posted 30 mp3s for download from each partnering country. My song Unrelated was chosen to be the Finnish song of the month.
Go to Glue (the Finnish blog) to find the tracks.

Get MP3s of Better Than Wages Now

2009-08-13T17:50:00.000+03:00

Go to Levykauppa Äx to pre-order the new album and you will get the whole record as MP3 right away. The CD will then arrive to you on the release date, the 2nd of September.

New live-show additions: in-stores and Berlin

2009-08-13T17:41:00.000+03:00

4.9. Stupido Shop, Helsinki (IN-STORE)
9.9. YO-talo, Tampere
11.9. Levykauppa Äx, Helsinki (IN-STORE)
12.9. Image-klubi @ Korjaamo, Helsinki
17.9. Frannz Club, Berlin
30.9. Klubi, Tampere
1.10. Klubi, Turku
2.10. Monttu, Pori
30.10. Bar 15, Seinäjoki
19.11. Suisto-Klubi, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa

Do You Speak French?

2009-08-11T18:15:00.001+03:00

While waiting for the new album to appear you can read about last year's Spartan Picnic – in French. A blog called With music in my mind has posted about Spartan Picnic.
If you know what it says and it's nice, please let me know!

Fall Shows Again (with a few changes)

2009-08-10T16:58:00.000+03:00

9.9. YO-talo, Tampere
12.9. Image-klubi, Korjaamo Helsinki
30.9. Klubi, Tampere
1.10. Klubi, Turku
2.10. Monttu, Pori
30.10. Bar 15, Seinäjoki
19.11. Suisto-Klubi, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa

There will also be a couple in-store shows announced soon!

Desibeli.net Interview

2009-08-08T17:44:00.000+03:00

Go to Desibeli.net to read a fresh interview with me about the upcoming album.
I answered the questions last night in NYC. This afternoon in Finland it's already on-line!

Pre-order Better Than Wages Now and Buy Your Bitches from I-Tunes

2009-08-05T17:14:00.000+03:00

Go to Stupido Records and order your copy of Better Than Wages already!
You can order in Finnish as well.
I'll be posting all the lyrics for the songs here later.
And while waiting for the whole album, you can go to I-Tunes and get Your Bitches (first single)

The First List of Live Shows for the Fall 2009

2009-07-30T20:24:00.000+03:00

Here are confirmed fall dates for Astrid Swan & the Drunk Lovers for our Finnish fall tour.

9.9. YO-talo, Tampere
11.9. Image-klubi, Korjaamo Helsinki
30.9. Klubi, Tampere
1.10. Klubi, Turku
2.10. Monttu, Pori
30.10. Bar 15, Seinäjoki
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa

I will update the list soon as more gigs are confirmed!

A song available for free download & new songs on Myspace

2009-07-29T18:19:00.000+03:00

From the link here and on the right of this column you can download a new song called Unrelated.

There are three new songs up on Myspace from the upcoming album Better Than Wages, which is out September 2nd in Finland (and later hopefully in many different places).

Astrid Swan

Soliti zip

Video for Here

Burning Hearts Remix

Follow Me...

Jori Hulkkonen Remix

More to read and hear!

Press Reactions and Shop Links

Album Out Today

Surprise Attention from the Other Side of the Atlantic

Pre-listen To Hits (Pavement For Girls) Now

A nice write-up on Cover Me

Shady Lane – another taster from my upcoming album

Pre-order Hits (Pavement For Girls) Now

First Song from Hits (Pavement for Girls) available for listening and download

Hits (Pavement for girls) Cover Art

New Album and New Record Label

Setbacks and New Beginnings for A. S.

Top Ten of 2010 and Some Gossip

Thanks to the Norman Palm Gang

Berlin

Mystery Jets support shows announced

Rakkaudesta -interview online

One More Show

September Tour in Germany and Austria

rabbit, loon and a black bear

Summer shows

Solo Shows

Tomorrow in Turku

On The Road Again

Coffee Break/Social Media Time

Live Dates

Blow-Up

More Shows & Radio

I'm on Air

Jyrock and Other Rock Shows

TV online

I'm on TV Today

My Controversial Music in Intro Maganize

More Pics

Hair colors and Merch thoughts

Live Review from Haldern

Feature in Rolling Stone & more

Back from Tour

Tour&Tour Blog will begin soon

German Tour Dates

Buy Better Than Wages on-line in Germany and the Netherlands

My Lawyer Will Call You Lawyer

'Frau Swan' is getting ready

First Gig of 2010

Happy New Year Everyone

Good Wishes

Coma, the guitarist's TOP10 of 2000–2009

TOP10 of this decade by The Drunk Lovers

ON THE ROAD -single available from online stores

Last show of the decade

News

Group Portraits

Hämeenlinna, Turku, Forssa

Tour continues

Bowler Hats and All

Some more shows to come in 2009

Band picture

Chapter II: Album Reviews

On Reading My Own Album Reviews chapter 1.

Stranded in Stereo & Lost in Music

Cocktail parties

Today at Tavastia (meet the sober and the drunk)

Live Review and more lyrics

Waitress' Song

When I Was Taken and I didn't Care

New Interviews

Lost in Music & something from Berlin

Video for 2000-2010

Misfit video and lyrics

Helsinki in Berlin this week

Finland in November

Nyt-liite review, Levykauppa Äx show, another song lyric

Unrelated

Status Update