F.Y.I
I tend to forget to post news here. If you want to find out what's going on in my life, you can always follow my blog or look me up on Facebook.
Dec 31, 2010
Happy New Year!
Finally...this decade has come to an end. A decade of war and terrorism, climate changes and politicians unable to compromise and solve the problems we and our children are facing in the years to come. I hope this new decade will be a good one. It can't get any worse.....or can it? Anyway, I hope that you all will have a wonderful 2011. Stay close to your dear ones and focus on family, love and positive energy...LOL...that sounded weird :-)
Have fun!
Nov 16, 2009
We have moved...
We recently bought a new house in Umeå. Our new address is:
Stop by for a cup of coffee or something stronger whenever you're in town.
Sep 12, 2009
Enjoy The Silence
I used to hate doing covers...but nowadays I find it kind of fun to play around with other people's songs. I'm trying to alter the songs and make them my own.....my own sound and interpretation. A few days ago I did a stripped down cover/remix of Enjoy The Silence by Depeche Mode. Let me know what you think.
Sep 3, 2009
I Will Rise Again (new song)
A few days ago I posted another song on iComp. It's called I Will Rise Again and I would appreciate your thoughts. I haven't been inspired for months but I now am starting to feel something tingling....could be inspiration....could be !?
Jun 26, 2009
Chinese Whispers 2009
We've played a little game (etgilles and I) during this Spring. It's called Chinese Whispers and this is the game rules provided by the artist Ponkey:
"Artist #1 (Let's call him Bob123) writes and records a song. Bob123 sends this to artist #2, etgilles (hi et!), who does a cover of it. Etgilles sends his version to me - ponkey - and I do a cover version of that. Here's the thing, though - I've never heard the original by Bob123. I pass my own version on to the next person, and so on and so forth until we have ten or more versions, each a little different than the previous round. Eventually we reach the end of the line and then - hey presto! - we all release our songs at the same time, and get to listen and find out how the song progressed and changed and got mangled up in the process."
We provided them with a demo song called "A Place To Call Home" and then it took off into many different flavours and ideas.
A very gifted vocalist - John Dee Fair - asked me if he could add some vocals to my song The Things We do that I released for the first time in 2006 and then made a remix in 2007.
Remixed an old fav of mine, The Sun and The Rainfall by Depeche Mode. This is a song which was released with the album A Broken Frame back in 1982. This is also the very first song that I learned to play on the piano. Have a listen and let me know what you think. It's quite different compared to the original.
Feb 21, 2009
Squeeze Tour - Intro Music
Recently we (etgilles and I) attended a contest called Coverville Idol where the idea is to cover famous songs. This time the theme was "Squeeze", meaning we had to pick a song made by the band Squeeze and make a cover. We won second place. Yesterday etgilles received an e-mail from Brian Ibbott at Coverville.com where he said that he's been in contact with Chris Difford who told him that they are going to play those covers before they enter the stage while on tour. Think about it....thousands of people are going to listen to our cover :-)
Posted a new song on iComp last weekend called Salvation Serenade. Have a listen and let me know what you think.
Jan 11, 2009
Working with Eric and Petra
Eric (a very talented musician from France) and Petra (a very talented songwriter and vocalist from Gothenburg, Sweden) asked me in December '08 if I would be interested in a new project. They've met in a studio in Stockholm and recorded a few songs with the aim to release an album. They now asked me if I could help them out with some arrangements (add some strings, piano or whatever needed). I accepted the invite with great honor and I am now working closely with them. So far, we have finished 4 songs and two of them are uploaded on iComp:
Our cover "Take me (I'm yours)" got second place in the Coverville Idol competition. We will now remaster the track and upload it to iComp as well.
Dec 12, 2008
Vote for etgilles
Coverville has created a virtual cover album/contest highlighting independent artists, featuring two tunes by etgilles... Don't forget to vote!!!!
Head over to Coverville and check out the cool "Coverville Idol" tribute to Squeeze and take a listen to a couple of et tunes! Etgilles actually have two songs on the compilation (yours to have as a free download by the way!) one an acoustic outing of Walk A Straight Line, and one with me (Johan Olofsson), a new spin on the great Take Me (I'm Yours).
Tell all of your friends, put out the word because you have until Dec. 15th to vote for your top three tunes on the compilation! We'd love your support, and hope you take advantage in supporting some independent artists.
Ok...don't know what happened but now my music player seems to be working again. Visit my music page and listen to some of my tunes.
Nov 4, 2008
Distortion problems
I've experienced some problems with the media player after the latest update. The songs are all a bit distorted. I'm working on this and will hopefully come to a conclusion very soon.
Nov 2, 2008
Expanded playlist
I've added a few more tunes to my playlist. I hope you like them.
Time for you to discover a new song that I've uploaded on iComp called Angelus. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.
Sep 15, 2008
New vid (Summer 2008)
Uploaded a video from our vacation this Summer. Go ahead and check it out!. I'm sorry about the bad quality. I guess I compressed the original file too much. Will work on my compression skills...lol :-)
Sep 1, 2008
A lonely man's inquiry
This weekend I posted a new song on iComp called A lonely man's inquiry. I think it's quite good with a fresh modern style as I combined classical instruments with some electro drums. I hope you feel the same :-)
Aug 18, 2008
Hurt & Smile
I'm getting creative again, after a long and warm Summer. This weekend I've posted a new song called Hurt and I've also helped my musical friend Petra Borén to arrange her piece Smile. Please check them out and let me know what you think.
Jun 23, 2008
Walk with me
Posted a new song on iComp called Walk with me. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Jun 11, 2008
Goodbye
Posted a new song on iComp entitled Goodbye. I hope you like it.
Apr 6, 2008
New photos added
I've added new amazing photos taken by my dear friend Jacob Holmquist. Check them out!.
Jan 4, 2008
New media player
I've implemented a new mp3 player on my music site. I've had so much problems with the other one that I decided switch. Check it out!.
Dec 17, 2007
A Christmas Gift
Here's a gift to you all from etgilles and myself. We did a cover/remix of one of my favourite tracks by Erasure called 'She won't be home'. Go ahead and listen to our interpretation.
Dec 3, 2007
Welcome Home
Listen to my new song Welcome Home and let me know what you think.
Nov 23, 2007
Julie
Posted a new song on iComp entitled Julie. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Nov 3, 2007
Baptism / Dop
Wilmer and Alexander got baptized along with their cousin Ronja, October 6th. It was a great day that we will remember for a long time. Thank you all who participated.
Tack för ett underbart dop för Wilmer, Alexander och Ronja den 6 oktober i år! Nedan ser ni lite bilder från händelsen.
Nov 2, 2007
Being quite introspective...
Posted a new song called Father. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Nov 2, 2007
The Meadow (Recycled)
A remix/re-take of my old song Beyond the meadow. Please listen to The Meadow (Recycled).
Oct 26, 2007
Erase You (I Keep Pressing Rewind)
Don't we all have sweet memories that we would like to erase from our minds as it hurts too much to recall them? Listen to my new tune Erase You (I Keep Pressing Rewind).
Oct 13, 2007
Gutter of Despair
I'm so angry these days and I just had to express all those feelings someway...so I wrote a song. Every single day I keep reading articles and watching the news, reporting about another teen-fight that's ended another human beings life. What's wrong with this society. I mean...kids killing kids...just for fun...and above all, they are taping it and uploading it to sites such as youtube.....aaaaaaarrrrghh....this makes me so f***in mad.
Anyway...hope you still can enjoy this tune called Gutter of Despair. Let me know what you think.
Oct 2, 2007
Cut
Posted a new tune on iCompositions entitled Cut. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Aug 16, 2007
Johan - A TV Star (LOL)
Just found out that mine and etgilles' song Revelation (No More Tears Remix) was played on TV4 here in Sweden today. Check it out here!
Aug 15, 2007
I want to believe
I've posted quite a religious song on iComp - called I want to believe. I have a lot on my mind these days and this is my way to deal with it. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Aug 5, 2007
The talented Revive
I've written about this boy before. He's only 13 or 14 years old, but OMG...he's one talented young boy. Now he has remixed one of my oldies (A Broken Leaf) and I hope you all will go and check it out. It's amazing and totally different, compared to the original. One great remix!
I've posted another remix of an old tune of mine called "The things we do". That song was originally uploaded to iComp last summer. This song tells the story of a prostitute and her miserable life....but still...it's hopeful in a way as she tries to cope with everything in her own way. Please listen to The Things We Do [Remix Summer 2007] and let me know what you think.
Jul 25, 2007
New remix
I decided to remix "A Broken Leaf", a song I made in January 2006. Go ahead and check it out! and let me know what you think.
Jul 20, 2007
A lullaby for my kids
I've been singing this lullaby for quite some time and now decided to create some music for it. Check out my new post on iComp - Sov lilla vän (Sleep little friend) and let me know what you think.
May 24, 2007
New song on iComp
Listen to my new song Save My Restless Soul on iCompositions. It's a depressing, yet hopeful, song about insanity.
May 13, 2007
I don't want to grow old
Posted a new song on iComp, dedicated to my two sons - Wilmer and Alexander. It's a song about not wanting to grow old. I guess what I'm trying to say with this tune is that we 'adults' don't have to be that serious and mature all the time. Let's get down on the floor and play with some lego!
I've uploaded a movie with Wilmer and his little brother. Somehow the lip sync doesn't seem to work...but if you can cope with that...check it out here.
Mar 8, 2007
New baby photos
I've uploaded some new baby photos. Check it out here.
Mar 7, 2007
New baby born this morning
This morning at 3AM, Wilmer's little brother was born. A big and healthy kid with lots of dark hair. I will upload some photos as soon as I can find the cable and connect the camera to my computer :-)
Feb 26, 2007
Do you feel loved
Wow…found some time to create another one today…a short, simple and cute little song entitled Do you feel loved.
Feb 26, 2007
Forgive me Sir
Realized that I haven’t posted any new songs in a while on iComp…so I decided to do something. Go ahead and listen to my new track Forgive me Sir. I hope you like it.
Feb 12, 2007
New Photos
I decided to start using a service provided by www.slide.com where you can upload your photos and add nice slide effects. Check it out on my family section. I've also uploaded some new photos.
Feb 8, 2007
Check out my blog
I've added a blog where you can read about stuff that can't be classified as news and showed in this area. I will write about my family, work and things I'm interested in such as music production and tech stuff. You'll be able to navigate to the blog through the menu at the top of this page.
Jan 23, 2007
New web 2.0 features
I've implemented two more web 2.0 features on this site. In the Spotlight Section, on the index page, you will find a RSS feed showing my latest postings on iCompositions.com. I've also created a chatroom where we can interact (see menu at the top right corner).
Jan 17, 2007
Killing The Mother
A new collab with John Kane and Jeff Jones. This one is about the global environmental issues we're facing these days (Climate change and Global warming). We're killing Mother Earth by living the way we do. Please listen to Killing The Mother
Jan 10, 2007
New feature
I've added a new feature to my music section. I've removed the song links and replaced them with a flash media player. This will make the site more seamless and user-friendly as you can get that media player as a floating window and continue to surf my other pages while listening to my songs. I hope you'll enjoy this new feature.
I'm gonna try to upload photos more frequently from now on, so keep an eye on the family section for more updates if you're interested.
Dec 18, 2006
Instrumental tracks
My latest uploads have been instrumental tracks due to my lack of time these days. First I made a tune entitled “Breathe” and asked for a collab. That request turned out really well and so far seven collabs have been done.
Yesterday (12/17/2006) my son Wilmer decided to take a nap so I found some time to record some new stuff and recorded Freestyle.
To summarize, I find it real fun to work with these instrumental tracks. It gives you the opportunity to think out-of-the-box and find new ways to compose.
Dec 18, 2006
Joining Allears.se
I recently joined a Swedish site (much like icompositions.com) that SonyBMG and the Swedish TV-station TV4 are co-running. Will be interesting to see what happens. I know from experience that Swedish people are a lot harder in their criticism than others, but as long as it is constructive criticism I will be fine with it.
Please visit www.allears.se and search for my user- and artistname (Johan Olofsson).
Dec 10, 2006
Do they know it's xmas?
Etgilles asked me to cover this classical piece and I was very honoured to do so although it was very difficult. The chords are quite simple and easy to play, but it's always hard to work with tunes that have had such a great impact on people.
Anyway, I tried and here it is.
Please also consider supporting the organisation Action Against Hunger.
Nov 12, 2006
Stop Dreaming
Again, etgilles and I are working with a track originally made by the talented Revive (a boy only 13 years of age). This time we’ve re-worked his tune Stop Dreaming.
We decided it was time to do another collab. I provided the guitar track and some lyrics, John Kane (jkane) added his vox and Jeff (j0j0) blessed the track with his harmonica. Please listen to Home. Let us know what you think.
Nov 6, 2006
I will not turn around
I've posted a new song on iComp called I will not turn around. It's another sad tune arranged with a guitar, cello and organ. I've disabled the download button because etgilles would like this one for the new album we're working on. If you like this, I am quite sure you will love it when etgilles sings.
Oct 19, 2006
This is how it ends
I've uploaded a new tune on iComp - This is how it ends. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Oct 1, 2006
New Swedish song
Petra and I continue our work together. It's really refreshing to help her with her tunes, especially when it's written in Swedish. A very good exercise for me. Please listen to Annat Land.
Sep 21, 2006
New tune with Petra
Petra Borén sent me tune and asked for help regarding the arrangement and production. I was enchanted and couldn't resist. Check it out - I Skuggan ("In The Shadow" in English).
Sep 18, 2006
Duet with Petra Borén
Recently I discovered a beautiful and very unique voice on iCompositions. Petra Borén (artist name: brnPetra on iComp) has a very fragile but still strong voice, sounds almost like a flute. I asked her if she'd like to do a duet with me and she said yes. Please go ahead and listen to Boy in the tree.
Sep 11, 2006
Amazing vid by Ok Go
I love low-budget productions like this. So much creativity. Check it out!
Aug 27, 2006
And now we don´t care
You fall in love in Spring, you make love during the Summer and you realize that you have nothing in common when Autumn arrives. Haven´t we all been there and done that? Please go ahead and listen to my new song And now we don´t care.
Aug 21, 2006
Play With Fire (Stones Cover)
Ok, so there´s this weird song contest on iComp called "Most Unusual Cover Contest" and the theme is Rolling Stones. Every participant should make a stones cover in an unusual way. I´m not a Stones fan but decided to enter with Play With Fire.
Aug 20, 2006
Stay
A guitar, some strings and a broken heart. Check out my song - Stay.
Aug 13, 2006
Playing the ukelele
Well...Ponkey challenged me to do something with my ukelele...so here we go.
I got this ukelele of mine as a birthday present from my two brothers. To be honest I've never really liked the sound of an ukelele...so I've never tried to play it..until now. Yesterday I did some searches on Google and found out how to tune a ukelele (very strange btw) and then I also found some chord lessons. So I learned 4 chords and created this song. It's a remix of an old tune of mine..the Ukelele Remix...LOL.
It´s been a while since I posted anything new on iComp, so I decided it was time to do so although I find it really hard to be creative when the weather is like this in Sweden. It´s too damn hot for me. I need a few days of pouring rain to get my inspiration back. Anyway, I think the new tune is quite ok, so please go ahead and listen to The things we do. Let me know what you think!
Jun 26, 2006
Requiem for Sweden
There´s this World Cup Song Contest on iCompositions.com. Since Sweden was kicked out by the Germans I decided to write a Requiem For Sweden as our World Cup Anthem. We and the team don´t deserve anything else at the moment :-)
Jun 25, 2006
New collab with Ponkey
Ponkey sent me a base track with a verse and chorus part. I´ve added some drums, bass, guitars, strings, some backing vox and a middle bridge/break. Listen to when do I get my say? (jolo mix)
Jun 15, 2006
New tune with Dylan
Garlic Man - a.k.a Dylan ;-) asked me to add my stuff to this wonderful song - Stuck. Please check it out!
Jun 10, 2006
CD available on iTunes Music Store
Finally, the album "Johan´s Boat" has been released on iTunes Music Store. You need the software iTunes in order to purchase the album in digital format.
I´ve been working on this cover for quite some time and decided it was time to release it on iCompositions. Do you remember the tune "Never Never" by The Assembly?
Watch the original video with Vince Clarke and Feargal Sharkey:
May 30, 2006
Revelation (No More Tears Remix)
We´re currently working on our second album to be released during 2006 (hopefully). Right now I´m waiting for etgilles to set up his brand new computer and learn how to master Logic...he he...how´s it going sweetheart? So...waiting for him I decided to remix a tune which can be found on the album titled Johan´s Boat called Revelation. We hope you like it.
Ponkey´s created a beautiful base track which brought back memories from the early 90s when the Swedish band Popsicle amazed me with their songs. Ponkey asked for some vocals and I just couldn´t help myself. Please listen to Decadence is the New Abstinence (The Swedish Mix)
May 15, 2006
First song using Logic
Last week I decided to move forward and invested in a new program called Logic Express. It´s very different comparing to Garageband, but luckily for me I used to work with Cubase a couple of years ago so I hope the transition won´t be that difficult. I made my first tune using Logic this weekend. Go ahead and listen to A Beautiful Bird. Let me know what you think!
May 8, 2006
If Only...
Listen to my new song If Only… and let me know what you think.
May 2, 2006
New tune on iComp
I´ve posted a very depressing song called Agony. I wrote the lyrics back in 1993 and decided it was time to put some music to it.
Apr 24, 2006
A tribute to Alphaville
This is a very simple piece, but I guess that´s what I really like about it. Anyway, I´ve been playing this piece for so many years on my piano and decided it was time to record something. Please listen to Forever Young.
Apr 24, 2006
New remix with etgilles
We found a beautiful piece on iCompositions.com called "Make Believe". The interesting thing about this tune is that it´s written by a boy who´s only 13 years of age. His nickname on iComp is Revive. Listen to his original track. We decided to make a cover of this song and it all turned out pretty different comparing to the original track. Check it out!
Apr 21, 2006
New feature
Now you can subscribe to a RSS Feed and get notifications when I release new material on iCompositions.com. Please visit my music section and click on the RSS button to start your subscription.
Eat a lot of eggs and be nice to the Easter Bunny.
Apr 12, 2006
Smoldering (Collab)
An artist on iCompositions.com called Illuminator started a challenge and posted an a capella version of a song in order for other artists at iCompositions.com to contribute with their own ideas where to go with the base track. I´ve posted my version. Check it out!
Apr 9, 2006
New design
I didn´t really like the colour theme I started to use for this site, so I´ve changed it. Hope you like the colour green as much as I do :-)
Apr 2, 2006
The Amazing Amanda
In February I posted the tune "I´m a little girl" and asked for vocals. The amazing Amanda Chapman
stepped in and did a beautiful work. Check it out on iCompositions.com
Apr 1, 2006
A tribute to Martin Luther King
Found a sound clip - the famous speech by Martin Luther King - which inspired me to weave a musical soundtrack around those immortal words. Go ahead and listen to my new tune I Have A Dream
Mar 26, 2006
Please Understand…
New tune featuring etgilles
. I decided it was time to make some hardcore synth with a lot of energy that could work on the dancefloor. I recorded the vocals for the verses but just couldn´t hit it in the chorus and therefore asked etgilles if he´d like to try....and so he did. Check it out - Please Understand (Love Me or Hate Me)
Mar 24, 2006
Kiss Me Gently…
New song featuring Wilmer. I was just playing around with some new synth sounds and suddenly I had this strange tune. I´ve used some old lyrics from one of my first tunes on iComp which I wasn´t really pleased with. And when I recorded the vocals my 2 year old son Wilmer joined me and added his part. He´s saying "hej" which means "hello". Listen to Kiss Me Gently And Push Me To The Ground
Mar 20, 2006
Played (Like A Cello)
Listen to our new tune Played (Like A Cello)
. I sent etgilles the base track a couple of months ago and we decided to post it on iCompositions as a teaser for the new CD we´re working on. Etgilles wrote lyric and added vox.
Mar 13, 2006
Cover with Dylan and etgilles
My friend etgilles and Dylan did this beautiful cover of Fistful Of Love
by Antony & The Johnsons. They asked me to add my thing and so I did. I love this song :-)
Mar 13, 2006
Collab with j0j0 and jkane
New collaboration with j0j0 and jkane - The Blood In Your Hands
. It all started when j0j0 sent me a guitar part and asked me to do something with it. I added drums, bass, strings and piano and then sent it off to the incredible jkane (John Kane) who did his magic adding vocals
Mar 10, 2006
Classical piece
It doesn´t happen that often but yesterday I decided to create a classical piece. I think it´s quite good although it may need some more work regarding production. Go ahead and listen to this new piece - Oblivion
Mar 7, 2006
Green Dots From Hell
Together with Jacob Gustavsson a.k.a JacobWasher
(a guy I met on iCompositions) I´ve finished a tune called Green Dots From Hell. It´s a song about three little green dots who just want to play and have a party.
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