Even though, as some of you might have noticed, you have been able to buy and listen to the album The Dearest for some time now, this is the official release date. You can order the album in any record store, if there are any left out there. Just ask for The Dearest, Dear Martin, catalogue number DM012009, label Martin Edvardsson, and you should get a copy in due time. Or buy it on CD.On, iTunes, Bengans, Amazon, Spotify…

The work with The Dearest really started when I brought those tracks to Björn Synneby (see earlier entry). Before that I had been writing songs for several months, indulging myself in not to hurry. I had released the EP This is wrong and have had some, for my standards, success: gigs, airtime on the radio and articles in press. So I figured I could take my time. Big mistake. Never relax if you want to be a pop artist in this life. I decided to stir things up by devoting Christmas just writing music. I have done that before: closing the door on December the 23^rd and then just drink coffee, write, sing, do some laundry, go back to the keyboard, sing, eat and then write some more. I love it. No one is disturbing me and since I don’t believe neither in Santa nor Jesus, it is not a sacrifice. Only this year I somehow had counted so deeply on me being able to switch on my creativity that it just snapped. It did not happen. Only one song came out from that Christmas session. Ideally, it is called. It´s a great song, yes, but just the one.

I booked myself in at a studio with Jonas Ekström. Normally he resides in his own studio, Mastertone, but during this period he worked from the Blacksheep Studio – a very rock´n roll-kind of place for people aged 14 or 41. Nothing in between or so it seemed at least. It is an old abandoned school and has an eerie feeling to it. Ever heard about the band Dundertåget? Death Breath? Well, I hadn’t either but people in general have, it turns out… I guess I am not that into either rock nor roll but those are the type of bands that hold court at Blacksheep. Anyway, there I was in that rock´n roll spirit of Blacksheep, singing harmonies with myself.

We worked slowly on a two-days-a-week schedule. That is not the most efficient way to get going but it had the benefit of letting me think and loosen up. Before I knew it I was in a creative mood and started writing new songs. More than once I began the day presenting a new song to Jonas. Not all of them  became tracks on the album, I have been very selective, but a few did. The Calling for instance, a song I am more than usually pleased with. I cannot really put my finger on why but it has something to do with harmonies and simplicity.

Finally, in June, we had the last day at the Blacksheep Studio. Summer came and I went away for the Riviera and the islands of Greece since I do have a social life beside the music. In August we made the final master.
After choosing carefully among the recorded tracks we had the album.

- Nine is the new twelve, as someone in the business said.
I got hold of that and settled for it. Nine songs that sums up being the Dearest.

RELEASE PARTY 100326
at Klubb Breathless, Bonden Bar, Bondegatan 1, Stockholm.
Door opens at 20.00, Dear Martin on stage 22.00

Welcome!