The year 2024 has been very busy, creative and non-stop we could say for Filippa Nässil. First and foremost, she became a mother, which by definition of course requires and soaks up a lot time, energy and effort. She has also been preparing for the release of Thundermother’s upcoming album in early 2025 (‘Dirty & Divine’, the successor to the ‘Black and Gold’), where she is the founder, main songwriter and guitarist. Lots of things to do and take care of..
However, all these did not discourage her from working on and releasing her first solo album ‘American Diaries’, a collection of beautiful songs, both in English and Swedish lyrics, the perfect companion for any road-trip I must say. These songs have been the result from the tour, when Thundermother have been opening gigs for Scorpions in North America a couple of years ago. The album has influences from hard rock, blues (check ‘Buddy Guy’s Blues’, a really nice song, tribute to Buddy Guy, whom Filippa actually met in Chicago, on his 86th birthday party! and actually, his son is guesting on the song itself!), and also draws inspiration from the infinite American landscape. The guitar riffs and tricks add up to the bluesy feeling, the tempo is uplifting and there are prominent mellow moments where Sheryl Crow or Alanis Morisette comes to mind, on the overall structure and gloomy character of the album (e.g.: ‘Texas Bar’). Production – wise, there has been a exceptional work done and the songs’ clarity helps a lot to appreciate and ‘digest’ the album the best possible way. The Swedish version of each song might sound a little bit odd to the non-Swedish speaking listeners, however, as Filippa herself has stated ‘I have chosen to make the album in both English and Swedish so that the listener can choose for themselves what language they want to listen to’, to my humble opinion this is a smart way to add more elements on the original and authentic character of ‘American Diaries’.
‘American Diaries’ reveals a bit different artistic side of Filippa Nässil, where she can be more bluesy and more experimental with the music she wishes to write. The album has a unique character – equally enjoyable – either at your living room stereo or while you are travelling in the highway, or wherever your mind and soul wishes to travel!
Special credits must be given to:
Pontus Snibb on drums, choir, percussion and co-writing on some songs as well,
Martin Ekelund on bass, cello, violin, keyboards and providing the studio for the recording (Lemon Recording Studio),
Karin Tingne on the English versions and
Janine Nyman on the Swedish ones.
Personal highlights: ‘Gree Fields of Napa’, ‘San Fransisco’ and ‘Texas Bar’
8/10
Tracklist of “American Diaries”:
1. Richmond, Virginia
2. Mount Shasta
3. Green Fields of Napa
4. San Francisco
5. Buddy Guy’s Blues
6. Texas Bar
7. Richmond, Virginia (Swedish version)
8. Mount Shasta (Swedish version)
9. Fälten i Napa (Swedish version)
10. San Francisco (Swedish version)
11. Buddy Guy’s Blues (Swedish version)
12. Texas Bar (Swedish version)
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