Livet’s Orkester (The Orchestra Of Life) presents a dynamic, playful, and captivating sound world with a wide spectrum of emotional expressions and a creative mix of influences. Melancholy Swedish “Polska”, solemn funeral march, sparkling Balkan groove, and dreamy circus waltz are some examples from the ensemble's colorful sound palette.

With the acclaimed solo debut Paperbird as a springboard, and nearly three decades of international touring with various projects under her belt, violinist Livet Nord assembled her own orchestra, Livets Orkester. A collective sextet with a wide musical breadth that gladly invites guest musicians and guest artists to various projects. All participants are multifaceted musicians, composers, and songwriters from different parts of Sweden, with backgrounds in folk music, tango, klezmer, jazz, classical, and singer/songwriter. Their repertoire is based on Livet’s music from the album Paperbird but mixed with compositions and songs from all the fellow musicians, which contributes to concerts with great dynamism and variety. Music to cry, laugh, let go, and dance to. 

Livet Nord - violin quintet, vocals
Sara Luule Fridholm - accordion, vocals
Lisa Grotherus - bass clarinet, clarinet, vocals
Petra Haraldson - piano, percussion, vocals
Johanna Dahl - cello, vocals
Anna Holm Ek - double bass, vocals

 

More live videos HERE!

Livet Nord is an esteemed violinist, composer and performer who transcends boundaries between musical genres and cultures. Her first solo project Paperbird demonstrates an impressive range of emotional expression and a creative mix of influences. Following on the critical and public success of her latest album, tours are planned for 2024-25.

Livet Nord has a unique musical identity and an unmistakable sound. For a quarter-century now she has toured around the world with a diverse range of ensembles, appeared in a sizable number of projects, and is featured on at least sixty albums. On top of it all, Livet also helms the quality label Kakafon Records.

In 2015, she had the distinction of being named Artist of the Year at Sweden’s Folk and World Music Gala. 
In 2023, her composing was awarded by SKAP, Sweden’s association for music creators, with the motivation: "Her burning passion for her craft injects the folk genre with energy, creativity, and joy.” 

The album Paperbird is Livet Nord’s first solo project, her debut album. A project that showcased Livet’s eclectic musical background, her inquiring mind, and her penchant for accommodating different styles and expressions. In addition to Livet Nord, eighteen of Sweden’s top musicians brought their expertise and flavor to the album. Following rave reviews, Livet put together a sextet Livets Orkester, with a lineup of prominent musicians and composers from the folk, jazz & world music scene to perform Paperbird and other music live.
 

A visual master piece by Johannes Ferm Winkler | Artwork by Susanna Haverinen
Poetry by Stig Dagerman | Music by Livet Nord
Livet Nord - Vocal and Violin | Johanna Dahl - Cello | Lisa Långbacka - Grand piano
Recording and mix by Johannes Lundberg, Studio Epidemin in Gothenburg 2015-2023
Mastering by Hans Olsson, Svenska Grammofonstudion in Gothenburg 2023

More live videos  HERE!

Album release May 19 2023!
(KAKACD058)

Livet Nord has toured the world with a wide range of ensembles, appeared in a sizable number of dance and theater productions in addition to being featured on at least sixty albums. In 2015, she had the distinction of being “Artist of the Year” at Sweden’s Folk and World Music Gala. And now Livet Nord is dropping her first solo album, Paperbird, brimming with musical influences from all over the globe and backed up by prominent musicians. 

It all started with a poetic and playful circus performance about a little girl grieving her dead pet bird. Livet Nord composed music and took part in the performance alongside Signe Veinholt, an acrobat and the author of the story creator of the performance, and the clown Karin Svensson. In one of the scenes, Livet makes a paper bird to comfort the grieving girl. Through the albumpropcess the paper bird has joined Livet but transformed into a Blackbird. Like the Blackbird that is said to come with a message of renewal, this album is about finding meaning in life in even the face of grief and anger. To embrace your feelings, but also to let go and move on.

The compositions certainly reflect aspects from Livet’s eclectic musical background, her inquiring mind and penchant for accommodating various styles and expressions. The melancholy polska ”Solace” is shoulder to shoulder with energetic minimalism, a lush landscape of strings, buoyant party music in, and a sparkling circus waltz with all the trimmings.

The final track is Livet’s own setting of the Stig Dagerman poem Nu slår en blomma ut (”A Flower is Blooming”) that was recorded in 2015.

In addition to Livet Nord, nineteen of Sweden’s most prominent musicians, all with distinctive modes of expression, bring their expertise and flavor to this production. 

Livet Nord - Violin quinton, kalimba, vocals, midi instruments
Daniel Wejdin - Double bass 
Camilla Åström - Accordion (1, 7, 8, 10)
Ruhi Erdogan - Trumpet (3, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Jonatan Ahlbom - Tuba (2, 7, 9, 10)
Nils Berg - Flute, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet (3, 10)
Jonas Knutsson - Soprano saxophone (9, 10)
Lisa Långbacka - Accordion, piano (4, 11)
Johanna Dahl - Cello (6, 11)
Johan Olsson - Accordion (9)
Henrik Cederblom - Banjo (3), electric guitar (5)
Sofia Sandén - Vocals (5)
Johan Testad - Vocals (5)
Ebba Westerberg - Drums, percussion (10)
Klas-Henrik Hörngren - Synthesizer (5)
Robert Svärd - Cajón (3)
Moa Danielsson - Bulgarian Tapas, Cymbals (9)
Mikael Broström Eric - Church Organ (8)
Klara Goliger - Wurlitzer (1)

All music (except for track 3) was written by Livet Nord.
Track 1-10 was composed in 2021 for the Swedish play Ska det vara såhär??!
Hide and Seek (track 3) is originally a trad. Yugoslavian children’s song, U Budimu Gradu. Arrangement by L. Nord.

Nu slår en blomma ut / A Flower is Blooming (track 11) was composed in 2011 and recorded in 2015. The lyrics are by Stig Dagerman.

Recorded in Siljansnäs, Rimbo, Stockholm, Malmö, Gothenburg, Leksand, Järna, Sundsvall and Oslo in 2021-2023 by Livet Nord and most of the musicians involved in this production. Joakim Fritzner recorded the accordion on tracks 1, 7, 8 and 10 at Sonya Studios, Gothenburg. Per Brehmer recorded the tuba on tracks 2, 7 and 9. John Runefelt recorded the Bulgarian tapas and cymbals on track 9. Johannes Lundberg recorded and mixed track 11 at Studio Epidemin, Gothenburg, in 2015.

Producer: Livet Nord.
Editing: Livet Nord and Klara Goliger.
Mixing: Klara Goliger (1-10), Music-A-Matic Studios in Gothenburg, Sept. 2022 to Feb. 2023.
               Johannes Lundberg (11), Studio Epidemin in Gothenburg, 2015 and 2023.
Mastering: Hans Olsson, Svenska Grammofonstudion, Gothenburg, Sept. 2022 to Feb. 2023.
Cover art and graphic design: Susanna Haverinen
Photographer: Daniel Björneke Wirgård
Origami art: Mio Nakamura / Japonica Origami
Styling: Nonno Nordqvist
Translation to English: Ingrid Eng
Video Art: Johannes Winkler


The album is produced with support from Musik i Dalarna and The Swedish Arts Council.