Music Style Britpop, Swedish pop

Musical Influences Beatles, Bowie,T-Rex, Shades of Orange, Mazzy Star

Similar Artists Pulp plays T-Rex-covers

Artist History Coming from the same neighborhood in Sundsvall, The Confusions started in the early nineties more for the fun of it than some burning passion to become popstars. But it didn’t take to long time until they realized that something was happening. They had something special, something that lifted the band above the average garagepopbands. As soon as this occurred to them, things started to happen. Their first CD-EP ”Split” was released in 1993 on Massproduktion. In 1994 they released ”Forever” which contained ”All dressed up”, their first video. This laid-back tune got some attention from Swedish radio and TV and this steamed up the energy in the band.The group developed very fast both as a group and songwriters. They released their first CD album ”Being Young” in early 1995, produced by Arvid Lind of Popsicle, and it got great reviews in the Swedish press, ”A Swedish superdebut”, ”Smart and glimmering popmelodies”, ”A band with great potential”, ”Tasty popcandys”. The cold winter of 1996 the band spent in the studio together with their new producer Peter Svensson, the guitarist and songwriter of The Cardigans. The first result of these recordings was the single ”Steroid Hearts”. A pretty rough, bluesy tune with a refrain sweet as honey. The full-length CD which got the title ”Everyone’s Invited” was released in May 1996 and was a big step forward from their debut. Now the band had the courage to broaden their musical horizon and experiment to a much greater extent. On top of this Tore Johanssons mix at Tambourine Studios added a third dimension to the band and Peters effort by his special touch. The result was charming, a fact that was recognized in almost every review the band got. The Confusions started early to receive attention outside the Swedish borders. The Japanese were the first to capitulate. They released ”Being Young” in a special edition in 1995. The interest for the group have increased even more since ”Everyone’s Invited” which also got a very nice reception on the European continent. In fact The Confusions is one of the few Swedish popbands selling more records in Europe than in Japan. Everyone’s Invited - was something of a breakthrough for the band. The large Scandinavian eveningpaper Expressen called it ”the poprecord of the year”. After a lot of attention from Swedish media they received quite a bit of attention through the European release of the album through German Clearspot label, topped with good reviews in Record Collector and Melody Maker and MTV rotation of the single Steroid Hearts. The album Everyone’s Invited was released in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Japan etc.. in late September 1996 and was received very well with brilliant reviews in Rolling Stone Magazine, Intro, Zillo and many other influential German papers. The vinylsingle Steroid Hearts was released in the UK in September. Melody Maker wrote:”Stratospheres above Ocean Colour Scene, Northern Uproar..” In February 1997 the band headlined a European tour as a follow up for the release of the EP - Cornflake King, a record which featured three new tracks. Along with them they had their new guitarist Lars Bygdén, who added a slightly heavier touch to the popsongs. Bygdén is also the singer and songwriter of the countryrockgroup The $1000 Playboys who have been widely acclaimed in Swedish press. The tour was mainly concentrated to Germany but also included successful shows in Vienna and London. The rest of 1997 was spend writing songs, rehearsing and recording the new album - Six-O-Seven. Once again produced by Peter Svensson and this time recorded in Tambourine studios. Other nice events was the European release of their first album "Being Young" in October and that the video "Cornflake King" suddenly got rotation early 1998 on the French equivalent to MTV – MCM International.Late 1997 Massproduktion and The Confusions signed a deal with Stockholm Records that released Six-O-Seven in May 1998. The single from the album - Raining Cigarettes showed that the band developed a lot both lyrically and musically.During the summer Lars Bygdén left the band to concentrate on The $1000 Playboys. After trying several other guitarplayer they just realized they must try Henrik - their guitar-technician. And it worked great. So in July they did their first gig with Henrik Svensson. Coming from the metalband Unholy he have put a rougher edge to The Confusions.In September 1998 their hometown Sundsvall was giving the honor of being "Popstad 1999" by the national radio P3 and The Confusions definitively have part in that nomination. The successful gig at Popstad 99 in February 99 was followed up by a two weeks tour of Sweden. At the moment the band is rehearsing and writing material for their forth album to be recorded during 2000

Group Members Mikael Andersson-Knut, Zarah Edström, Mattias Löfström, Magnus Thorsell, Henrik Svensson

Instruments vocals, guitar, keyboard, bass, drums

Albums BEING YOUNG, Massproduktion, Mass CD-65 (1995), EVERYONE'S INVITED, Massproduktion Mass CD-72 (1996), SIX-O-SEVEN, Stockholm Records (1998)

Press Reviews RECORD COLLECTOR STAFF PICK THEIR TOP 5 FROM THE YEARS NEW RELEASES, Spring -97The Confusions Everyone's Invited Is it the reindeer or Volvos which result in songs with more sublime hooks than Jack Charlton's fishing kit? That's the great Swedepop poser, which only a night out in Stockholm with the Wannadies, Cardigans, Popsicle, et al could never answer. Scandalously overlooked in the scramble for super-Scandos though, has been this wondrous debut by The Confusions, who manage to combine the melodious psych-pop of the Beatles "Revolver" with a refreshingly lo-fi jazz weirdness. "Cornflake King" is the catchiest song you'll hear this year.Melody Maker, Sept 21th 96,The Confusions "Steroid Hearts" Svensson's worked magic here, taking a straightforward number about a "silicone face" who's always kissing boys with "steroid hearts", and stripping it naked until all that's left is the ghost of a song: the reverb, the backing vox, the tremolo the handclaps, the mouth organ, the tambourine. Stratosphere above Ocean Scene, Northern Uproar or anyone else who's forgotten what "Mod" is short for.Buzz Factory, autumn 1996 The Confusions Everyone's InvitedThe hail from Sweden (What the hell are they drinking over there?!) but piss all over the too twee by half Cardigans and the rather bland Wannadies, with some of the catchiest 3 minute ditties I've ever heard. Hardly revolutionary but highly entertaining.

Additional Info The Confusions will attend the South By South West festival 2000. The Band will play a gig att Coppertank Main at the 16th of Mars, 12 am. This will be a cool and interesting gig... be there.

Location Sundsvall - Sweden

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