"put the nail in the coffin / I've had enough / oh you're so dumb / we're done talkin'..."
Artful singer songwriters, musicians, creators Tex (originally from Malmö Sweden) and Barbro, both currently in Copenhagen, Denmark, have been collaborating when they feel the artistic / emotional need to do so. How great is that? Pretty great and their latest offering, a split single of "Whyb / Cryo" both co-produced by Agnes Hartvig (Dean Blunt) are lovely examples of the ancient Aristotle adage "the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts".
"Why b" is a unique bird. It feels sort of busker punk, soulful and psychedelic, direct and to the point but existential too. I keep thinking that the questions asked within the song could, obviously, be about a relationship but I am also feeling that it might be questions sung into a mirror though that might not square with Tex's songwriting aesthetic:
“Writing about love comes very naturally to me,” Tex says. “I fully embrace that. Like everyone, I’ve been through relationship problems, and I’m a very nostalgic person, so all my past relationships are constantly with me. I tend to write about lost love and betrayal, even when it’s not happening in my life.”
But the self reflective nature of "Why b" still persists for me but either way, I feel grace notes of melancholia throughout the vocal performances.
From Press notes (about Tex):
Digging Tex and Barbro's collaborative sound. It feels inviting, soulful and artfully sideways.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6k8bzv6Pm9RwlpxZxprqnD
https://www.instagram.com/barbrokuypers/
Tex writes intimate, heart-on-sleeve pop songs that reflect on relationships, heartbreak, uncertainty, and nostalgic yearning. “Writing about love comes very naturally to me,” Tex says. “I fully embrace that. Like everyone, I’ve been through relationship problems, and I’m a very nostalgic person, so all my past relationships are constantly with me. I tend to write about lost love and betrayal, even when it’s not happening in my life.”
Originally from Malmö but now living in Copenhagen (via a stint in London), the singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer developed his lyrical approach during a trip to visit his family in Sri Lanka. His great aunt and uncle – both writers themselves – introduced him to the creative potential of language. “I remember I had a poetry class way back in school and hated it,” Tex says. “But when I went to Sri Lanka, where my grandad is from, I met his brother and sister. They got me into writing poetry and gave me a bunch of books. I spent a month there.”
Tex first started singing aged 18 and writing songs at 19. He developed a unique playing technique driven by his own sense of intuition rather than a formal understanding of theory. “When I started making music, I was thinking I should start learning some theory or go to school, but I thought it might put me in a box,” he says. “I tried to learn everything myself and from friends. I play guitar, but I don’t know what a G chord is. The way I started was I found one note and would try to match it with another, then match that one. Most of my music comes from accidents, but I like that. I compare myself to musicians who are very skilled with their instruments, but I remind myself that the way I do it is pretty cool too.”
Growing up, Tex was a fan of progressive and psychedelic rock artists like Frank Zappa and The Doors, while Afro-soul music from the 1960s and 70s informed his singing, particularly his use of high falsetto voice and lyrics of love and betrayal. Today, he cites the creative and production process of The Microphones as a key touchpoint, drawn to a similarly organic and homemade sound.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6k8bzv6Pm9RwlpxZxprqnD
https://www.instagram.com/barbrokuypers/
Tex writes intimate, heart-on-sleeve pop songs that reflect on relationships, heartbreak, uncertainty, and nostalgic yearning. “Writing about love comes very naturally to me,” Tex says. “I fully embrace that. Like everyone, I’ve been through relationship problems, and I’m a very nostalgic person, so all my past relationships are constantly with me. I tend to write about lost love and betrayal, even when it’s not happening in my life.”
Originally from Malmö but now living in Copenhagen (via a stint in London), the singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer developed his lyrical approach during a trip to visit his family in Sri Lanka. His great aunt and uncle – both writers themselves – introduced him to the creative potential of language. “I remember I had a poetry class way back in school and hated it,” Tex says. “But when I went to Sri Lanka, where my grandad is from, I met his brother and sister. They got me into writing poetry and gave me a bunch of books. I spent a month there.”
Tex first started singing aged 18 and writing songs at 19. He developed a unique playing technique driven by his own sense of intuition rather than a formal understanding of theory. “When I started making music, I was thinking I should start learning some theory or go to school, but I thought it might put me in a box,” he says. “I tried to learn everything myself and from friends. I play guitar, but I don’t know what a G chord is. The way I started was I found one note and would try to match it with another, then match that one. Most of my music comes from accidents, but I like that. I compare myself to musicians who are very skilled with their instruments, but I remind myself that the way I do it is pretty cool too.”
Growing up, Tex was a fan of progressive and psychedelic rock artists like Frank Zappa and The Doors, while Afro-soul music from the 1960s and 70s informed his singing, particularly his use of high falsetto voice and lyrics of love and betrayal. Today, he cites the creative and production process of The Microphones as a key touchpoint, drawn to a similarly organic and homemade sound.
Tex, Barbro, creatives, lo-fi, alt rock, alt pop, avant pop, singer songwriter, musician, Sweden, Denmark, experimenta music, "Why b", heartbreak, love songs,
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