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Biography

Stephen Carlson (Brotthogg, Peter Carlsohn’s The Rise, Christian Liljegren) & Jonatan Samuelsson (Narnia, Starmen) joined forces to record the common album Selah in Adora Records‘ instrumental hymn-series Viva. Stephen Carlson, born in Sweden, now living in Norway is a guitarist, playing everything from death metal to hymns. With his unique, bluesy tone, inspired from the 70s and 80s, he puts his signature on every project he is involved in. From Brotthogg‘s death metal to rock’n’roll with Peter Carlsohn’s The Rise, via hymns in the instrumental Adora-series Viva. Jonatan Samuelsson, mainly bass-player for Swedish metal band Narnia, and glam-rockers Starmen, but also multi-instrumentalist in the musical collective Grand Trunk Travellers.

The albums Divina featuring Anders Mossberg (Jerusalem, Larm, freelance musician) and Tell Me the Story featuring Danne Tibell (Jerusalem, XT, Larm), are now joined by a third album in Adora‘s instrumental hymn-series Viva. This time it is Stephen Carlson (Brotthogg, Peter Carlsohn’s The Rise, Christian Liljegren) who together with Jonatan Samuelsson (Narnia, Starmen) has recorded Selah, an album of instrumental hymns.

– This project is close to my heart. To be able to freely express myself on my instrument, is a fantastic thing and something I am happy to do with Jonatan. says Stephen Carlson about the album.

Viva is an album-series with focus on the songs rather than a certain artist. This means that the participating musicians on the albums will vary.

This time, guitarist Stephen Carlson (Brotthogg, Peter Carlsohn’s The Rise, Christian Liljegren) plays guitar, bass and keyboards, Jonatan Samuelsson (Narnia, Starmen) bass, bass pedals, guitars, keyboards, zither and percussion, along with the drummers Johannes Karlsson (Safemode) and Magnus Forsberg (Mildrid & JamtGroovet, MamboCompaneros, freelance musician for artists like Jon Lord, Joe Lynn Turner, etc). The album is produced by the duo Stephen and Jonatan.

Well-known songs such as the Norwegian Folk hymn My Heart Always Wanders (Mitt hjerte altid vanker), I Need You More and High and Exalted are mixed with lesser known songs, and some self-written songs.

This is first class instrumental music, that works just as well in the background as being actively listened to. 

Together the duo puts their own personal stamp on the production and the performances in this album.

Line-up on “Selah”: Stephen Carlsson: Electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, programming Jonatan Samuelsson: Electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass, bass pedals, synth bass, electric upright bass, keyboards, kalimba, zither, grater, percussion, programming Johannes Karlsson: Drums, percussion Magnus Forsberg: Drums Lorens Palmgren: Programming/loops

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Press photos Download

CD-cover “Selah” (2020) Download