Folke Nikanor - Synth enligt Folke Nikanor (Black Vinyl LP)

Facts Folke Nikanor returns with a new instrumental album. This time, the synthesizer takes centre stage, driving the entire sound. Although he has never had a particularly close relationship with this instrument or genre, he takes us on a musical journey spanning the melodic synth-kraut of the 70s, the synthpop of the 80s and the techno and dance music of the 90s. All of it seasoned with Folke's beautifully melancholic melodies. A distinctive sound of its own, which we have chosen to call "folkhemssynth".

"Synth according to Folke Nikanor. I wasn't sure whether the world really needed another instrumental synth album. There's already so much of everything out there. But this is an album I've written primarily for myself. A little selfish gift. That's why it needs to exist. Because I love synth, even though I'm not entirely sure how to define it or what the term actually encompasses.

It also needs to exist because I discovered synth so late (too late!?) in life, and because when I was younger, I didn't dare to openly embrace my musical preferences, given the musical conventions that prevailed on the Norrbotten music scene in the 90s.

And of course, I want people other than myself to listen to it. Because there's something beautiful and honest about it. A bit like an ambitious but eclectic, slightly insecure patchwork quilt. I suppose I'd call the result folkhemssynth. Maybe that's exactly why it needs to exist?"

Folke Nikanor

Folke Nikanor is the artist name of Niklas Johansson (born in Piteå), a Swedish musician and composer whose music is primarily instrumental, melancholic and melodic. His sound is deeply influenced by his upbringing in Norrbotten and moves between cinematic minimalism, Scandinavian folk music and shimmering electronic synthesizer landscapes inspired by both Jan Johansson and Kraftwerk. He has released six albums to date and has become known for his atmospheric collaborations with prominent Swedish indie and pop artists such as Annika Norlin, Dolce, Vasas Flora och Fauna, Anna Järvinen and Amanda Bergman, among others. He has also composed music for the TV series "Fejkpatient" and various theatre productions.