Hampus Svard's proto-punk flavored "Cartoonish Villain" is delicious

AP Track Review

Hampus Svard is a multi-genre singer-songwriter, artist who has traveled the world and lived in Norway, Australia, Cuba, Central America, Italy while currently making his home in New York City and while all those locations and cultures have influenced his music, he was raised in the small village of Sundborn in Sweden. I will momentarily push the weird and horrible images of Ari Aster's 2019 folk horror film Midsommar, (no bears, no bears) which I just saw last night and which, of course, is a wild and fanciful distortion of Swedish culture to be sure but I rather like the Swedish accent that Svard posseses on his indie rock track Cartoonish Villain. On it, Svard's vocal aesthetic is front and center and it feels very late 70's proto punkish and art rock forward. I actually flashed on the Talking Heads a bit. And make no mistake, while Talking Heads was cast as "new wave" - a phrase created by publicists to push the proto-punk descriptor out of the mainstream. Those bands and Hampus Svard have a decidely proto punk sway- a wonderful vast retro sound. The double time sort of surf punk beat and lead breaks are cool, as is musical pauses with Svard's engaging croons and, of course, that hooky, infectious chorus.
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Robb Donker







THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM- PRESS NOTES:

Hampus Svard was raised in the quaint and quiet village of Sundborn, Sweden. Here he found inspiration during cold dark winter months making music in his basement.

Largely influenced by strong cultural ties to local folklore music Hampus chose the violin as his first instrument. After years of playing the violin he traded it in for a guitar at the age of 13.

As he aged his sound evolved from his once folk roots to his now broad electro-pop-rock sound. He collaborated with many musicians while living in Sweden and was a member of bands like Nitrovaseline, ManJam, Howlin Team, Big exit and thesureface. 

Hampus spent most of his early-mid 20’s traveling the world, he has lived in Norway, Australia, Cuba, Central America, Italy and currently resides in New York City. Music stayed an important part of his life throughout his travels and has contributed to his unique and eclectic sound.