Music Style Soft, melodic and relaxing

Musical Influences Red House Painters, Neil Young, Cranes, Patti Smith, Sparks, Led Zeppelin, Cure

Similar Artists Red House Painters, Spain, Neil Young, Stina Nordenstam, Belle & Sebastian, Mazzy Star

Artist History Unobtrusive, lyrical and sensitive are words that describe the best music currently being produced in the tradition of "rock". And no other band in Sweden - or perhaps neither in any other country - makes music that is softer, more low-key and heartfelt as Granada. Their much appreciated debut EP "Everyone Wants To" was released in November 1999 by Look Left Recordings. The Swedish publication Bibel described it as conveying: "an exquisite, unworldly atmosphere." Stefan Malmqvist, a journalist at the Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet, said that it felt: "so intimate that it sometimes sounds as if they are your best friends whispering a secret to you." Since their debut, Granada have been busy touring Sweden and building up their reputation of being a strong live act. One year later followed followed their debut album "Granada". It has been produced by Björn Olsson, a leading guitarist who has played with Union Carbide Products, Soundtrack of Our Lives, Bear Quartet and Spain, and by Mattias Glavå. The album was recorded in two weeks at Rommarö outside Stockholm and mixed at Music-a-matic in Gothenburg. This is the first producer assignment Björn has taken on for a band he is not a member of, and Granada considered this to be an advantage. "We didn't want a producer who would just come in and give us a sound, but an experienced musician who could help us strengthen the sound we already have." To create the right feeling, almost all the music and lyrics were recorded live in the studio so that nothing of the group magic would be lost. The band consists of six headstrong individuals who together form a creative unity. The group was formed when Jonas Ohlson, keyboard player, Petter Lorentzon, drummer and baseball fanatic, and Christoffer Gunrup, guitarist and songwriter and, as a matter of fact, the son of the trumpeter Gunnar Gunrup, met Magnus Vikström, a singer and songwriter from Luleå. The name of the group was taken from Christoffer's worn-out TV-set of the brand Granada. But it was Anna Järvinen's clear voice, harmonica and stage charisma that brought everything together. Anna was born in Finland but grew up in Sweden. She became a member of the band following a visit to Granada's rehearsal space during which she joined in on a couple of songs and discovered that her and Magnus' voices were so well suited that they just had to start singing together. Colin Greig, a Scottish bassplayer and friend of Belle & Sebastian, as well as a former member of the band Long Fin Killie, completed the puzzle. The band's three songwriters, Anna, Christoffer and Magnus, supply Granada with timeless songs that never sound the same from one evening to another. The band improvises and allows the songs to change in accordance with the atmosphere. With the help of Björn Olsson's unconventional methods of creating the right feeling in the studio, Granada have managed to capture the best of their songs on the debut album so that they sound as fragile as newly formed ice and as soft as silk. These pearls of tenderness include the opening and immediate song "Amazing It Seems", the suggestive "Helene" and the closing epic "Starting Over". For more information, contact Roger Adolfsson, Sprinkler Records. Tel: 08-671 10 01, 070-269 20 01 Mail: adolfsson@sprinkler.nu * The album has been released in Sweden, Norway and France. *

Group Members Anna Järvinen-vocals,harmonica Magnus Vikström-vocals,guitars,keyboards Christoffer Gunrup-guitars,keyboards Jonas Ohlson-keyboards Colin Greig-bass guitar Petter Lorentzon-drums

Instruments Harmonious singing, organ, harmonica, guitars, drums, bass, Wurlitzer, synthesizer

Location Stockholm, Sweden - Sweden

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