02/05/2021
Should be said, I hold Tina rather close and it’s true, she’s one of the finest artists I know, exceptional. But I always tell her, as good as she is, she lights up the room. Now, what that is we just don’t know. It’s an outer worldly thing and it attracts. What’s wondrous begins surrounding such qualities. Tina is a fire starter. I love her dearly.
I’m a great believer in alchemy in that where there’s great intent and belief, should you gather the right pieces and drop ego’s, magic will appear. I know, I’ve lived it. There, creation is not so much a matter of opinion but rather identifying emotional truth as it reveals itself. Knowing when. It’s not a voting matter but a clear choice of what matters most.
The rules were very simple and from the moment I got the call. Some kind of amazing space revealing itself to be a church I found next door. One grand piano, 4 chairs. No demo recording or computer, free solo style. Pure composition, conversation and alchemy. Tina had an urgency about her and on the very first day we conjured Church. Higher, it came to us in purest form, a song. Souped up and tuned in. A fine constellation, our small congregation. Tina, me, Tania Doko and Michael Zlanabitnig, so very special. Beautiful friends.
The lyrics and music is the result of real conversations. They flow out of you in waves when truthful. I like to speak but see, I love listening to Tina. Oh it’s emotionally rich and inspiring. Under the arched roof we found our words to be confessional, the music redemptive.
Tina asked me to produce the songs and I did not take that lightly but with great passion and a very clear vision and method in mind. Most importantly, total trust from Tina. When you care, trust is unbreakable.
I began with Michael in Hamburg and Tony Levin in the US. Michael has a life to his playing I’ve found nowhere else and Tony? Well, it’s Tony Levin for goodness sake. I then recorded André Ferrari 's drums here in Stockholm, Sweden’s finest. I’ve worked with brilliant Andy Taylor for a good while and he sent me some outer worldly guitars from the UK. Vacuum's Anders Wollbeck provided beautiful strings and when all that was solid and in place, I spent an unhealthy amount of magical nights Zoom’d into recording studios in Australia where Tina sang her precious heart out. Mind you, the only way she knows how, like no one else and always brings me to tears. Dear friend Tania sang brilliant BV’s and all eventually fell into place.
I’ve worked with Stefan Glaumann for a good while now. Mixing with him is the wonderful and adventurous, curious pursuit of organic perfection. I’m probably quite annoying when it comes to the mix process so thank goodness we’ve become good friends. Could not do without him.
Tina and I share a strong belief in doing things right and everyone involved did. It began with the four of us, in a church. Tina, me, Tania and Michi. Now, Tina's Church is a constellation complete. What’s magic now is for the listener to carry forward. Music saves.
When something compares to nothing it is everything,
Mattias Lindblom
Thanks also Svante Forsbäck, Mats Landberg, Dorian West, James Roche, Courtney Day, Titus Day
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