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Interview with Swedish songwriter, Jens Lekman, who the Pop Matters website has described as sounding like a cross between ‘Magnetic Fields mastermind Stephen Merritt, Morrissey in both his voice and his dryly humorous lyrics, Donovan and Nick Drake in his acoustic arrangements, and Ron Sexsmith in his classy melodies’. I asked him how hard it is to write a happy song: ‘It is really hard. Sometimes I find it almost impossible. There are maybe a few more upbeat songs on my next record which I am currently working on. Are you a fan of the ‘classic’ songwriters like Bacharach and Carole King? Lekman: Yes and no. I sometimes cover ‘They should’ve given you the Oscar’ though. That’s a Carole King song, right? Is there one song you’ve written that still makes your hair stand on end? Lekman: ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ by Simon and Garfunkel totally makes my hair stand on end. But I can’t say I wrote that one. I wish Simon and Garfunkel would reform and come to Sweden’.
2 comments
Fernanda Thursday 13 July 2006
I came across Jens Lekman’s music for the first time not too long and was instantly touched by his sweet, melodic voice. Constantly coming across so much information, updates, e-newsletters, etc, sometimes it’s hard to actually recognize what you like, unless you simply like it. Does it make sense?
Jake Tuesday 15 August 2006
If I am not mistaken, Jens is the dude who was on rotation fairly regularly on Triple J a couple of months back. It was a cool little ditty which began with the words “I was slicing up an avocado”….after which he proceeds to explain the dilemma that unfolds when his finger gets in on the slicin’ action.
No every time I have an avo for lunch I can’t stop singing this song!