Marcus Friman, alias ‘Land of Trees‘, describes himself as the romantic simplicity of a modern Earth wanderer – In a country like Sweden, where more than half the territory is covered by forests, it’s hard not to come into contact with nature at some point. Such an inviting environment spontaneously gives birth to wanderers, explorers of Earth who embrace a sort of nomadic lifestyle that fosters artistic inspiration.
Marcus Friman, singer/songwriter behind Land of Trees, has understood and cultivated this way of living as a defining trait of his indie-folk solo project. Just like sitting in the middle of the forest and letting its active stillness wrap around you, Friman’s music proposes a natural simplicity devoid of bombastic instrumental arrangements where acoustic sounds support the poetry of the vocals as the center of the listening experience.
We absolutely just loved the single ‘Just Imagine’ so we decided to have a little interview…
Hi there, how are you and what are you up to today?
I’m wonderful, thank you for asking! Right now I’m in the studio working on the upcoming album, where “Just Imagine” will appear.
To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?
Very down to earth, organic and honest. After all, the name “Land Of Trees“ is kind of a hint towards organic music in itself.
What are the 5 albums and artists that have influenced you the most?
1.“All The Little Lights” by Passenger
2.”Every Kingdom” by Ben Howard
3.” Vagabond” by Stu Larsen
4.”Babel” by Mumford & Sons
5.”Whispers 2” by Passenger
What other artists do you really like at the moment and why?
Ben Howard, Stu Larsen, Passenger, First Aid Kit, Christopher Paul Stelling to name a small portion of amazing songwriters first and foremost. I can’t listen to a song without hearing the lyrics and every single one of the names above baffle me daily with their lyrics! When you add a sound that gives goosebumps to these lyrics you have my attention.
What are some of the key pieces of gear you use to write your tracks in the studio? Or do you prefer to use software and plug ins?
I usually just lean on my voice and the guitar. Cajun & banjo has also played a big part in my music and violin/viola will finally be a part of my upcoming music which is super-exciting.
Has your arsenal of equipment changed much since you first started?
I bought a banjo and a violin but for now I’m sticking to the guitar, practicing these instruments does not make one popular..
If we gave you the budget to put a line-up together for a mini fest, who would you book and where would you play?
I have no idea if I would be able to book these acts to a “mini-fest” but here’s a shout out to artist that deserve some love:
Jed Appleton
Holly Arrowsmith
Luca Fogale
Alexander Asp
Marcus Alexander
If you weren’t a musician what would you be?
My girlfriend yelled out “actor” when I read this question but I have only tricked her to believe such non-sense over the last few years. It’s just an act.
Thank you very much to Land of Trees having a talk with us
For more information, visit Land of Trees on:
Facebook // Twitter // iTunes // Spotify // Soundcloud
