DECEMBER 1993: The idea to GRAVE FLOWERS appeared in my head. I recorded the first GRAVE FLOWERS song "Snow is falling" on my friend's porta studio. Time went by and not much happened until
JUNE 1995: I recorded my debut demo simply entitled "DEMO-95" contains 3 tracks.
1.SILENT ONE 2.SNOW IS FALLING 3.EMOTIONALLY PARALYSED
Recorded in a studio called "SMALL TIME" located in my hometown Karlstad. I sent out the demo to labels around the world no one signed me. I appeared on some compilations and received quite good reviews from mags around the world.
NOVEMBER 1995:11/11 I did my debut gig with GRAVE FLOWERS in my hometown Karlstad at a place called "Café Cinema. Other bands that also played there were MEMORY GARDEN, LEFT HAND SOLUTION & NEZGAROTH. Since GRAVE FLOWERS is my one man project I had to get some session musicians. I found them in a town called Kristinehamn, we rehearsed a couple of times and then we did a very good show for being our debut. The ones who played with me where the following
FREDRIK RHEINEDAHL (GUITAR) JOCKE PERSSON (GUITAR) THOMAS HILDING (BASS) JOHN EDGREN (DRUMS)
We played all three songs from the demo + that we did a cover of DEPECHE MODE's "I feel you"
I started to write new material and was thinking about which studio I was going to use next time, sure as hell not Small Time. I thought about my friend Jason who had a 8-channel porta studio. I asked him if he were interested to help me to record a demo. He accepted to help me.
MARCH 1997:Me, Jason & Erik started to build a temporary studio in Erik parents basement. I baptized it to "Studio Sadness". On our first session the 15:th of March-97 we recorded Drums & Rhytm guitar. The next session 22:th of March-97 we recorded the remaining things like Bass, Keyboards, Acoustic guitars & Vocals. This time I also recorded 3 tracks.
1.RECURRENT DREAM 2.TO MY LOVED ONE 3.BETWEEN THE WALLS OF SORROW
I also sent out this tape to labels world wide, but no luck this time either. Once again I appeared on some compilations.
I took a break from GRAVE FLOWERS for a while, I had to focus on what I was going to do cause I felt not so satisfied with the situation as it was. I listened to the demo's I had recorded and felt there is something missing. One thing after the other occured to me. I really need someone who can handles the instrument since I've had played everything by myself on the demo's.
I talked to Jason again and asked him if he were interested to help me and play the instruments for me on my recordings. Jason said no problem, he also told me that he and his band had bought good studio equipment, so we can record in our studio he said. These things were exactly what I needed to hear, it lifted my spirit and I started to compose music again for GRAVE FLOWERS.
SEPTEMBER 1999:It was a great time in GRAVE FLOWERS history both me and Jason were unemployed so we could concentrate all of our time on GRAVE FLOWERS. We started to program the drums in my appartment to 4 songs, then we went to the studio and tracked them down. After that we went home to my place and did the rest of the programming. We spent basically night and day in the studio Hairy Bones recording. We also had much help from Tobben. This time the only thing I handled were the vocals, the rest I left to Jason & Tobben. After 2 weeks, working 24 hours a day we were finally finished with all the 7 tracks.
1.INSOMNIA 2.MENTALLY EXPOSED 3.NO MORE WINTERS 4.WISTFUL WHISPERING 5.VOLUNTARY SILENCE 6.DAYEXCHANGE 7.DIFFERENT MOODS
Like always before I sent out the finished CD to labels around the world, it looked pretty dead this time also. I sent away a CD to my friend Tom Wahl who used to work at Nuclear Blast, we have had some contact with each other over e-mail and he has ordered demo's from me. He was now working at the label "LAST EPISODE" and he said he could play my CD for the boss and see if he were interested to sign me. I got signed to their sub label "SERENADES" for one album. I don't really know how much the CD has sold but the last time I heard from the label it was almost 4000 copies. Things didn't work out exactly like I wanted them with that label, so I thought I have to find another one. I had no new songs so I started to compose and it went pretty slow and nothing seemed to please me. I listened to "Solace Me" to get some inspiration, but the only thing I got was that I didn't like my vocals and I didn't like the sound of the drummachine. Otherwise I like everything on that album the songs are really good and wellplayed. I knew that Jason used to play drums in a band, so I thought next time we record I'm going to force him to play drums for GRAVE FLOWERS. I asked him if it was OK for him to do that and great as he is, he said of course.
2002:Actually I don't remember which months we started to record the promo, I think it was March 2002. It went very slow for us this time cause I worked shifts and Jason too. We had a really hard time to get our schedules to coincide but when it did we recorded the real drums first and then rhytm guitar. We had to do the recording in parts. I felt a little sorry for Jason that he had to play all the instruments so I took and played the bass and the keyboard is played by Elena Pravikova. In late April-2003 the promo was finished and like always it was 3 tracks this time also.
1.SAVE ME OR DESTROY ME 2.LACKROSY 3.YOUR MEMORY LIVES ON
JUNE 2003:I'm very pleased with the promo with everything actually. It's heavier & darker than the songs on "Solace Me" and I think it's perfect material to develop from. Right now I'm sending out promos to labels and writing new songs and they are in the same vein as the songs on the promo, maybe a bit more melancholic but that's no minus.
GRAVE FLOWERS DISCOGRAPHY
DEMO-95
AND THE RAVENS LEFT THE TOWER (comp CD appeared with "Emotionally Paralysed")
ASHEN MUSIC (comp tape appeared with "Snow is falling")
GARMONBOZIA-97
TIME BRINGS ONLY SADNESS VOL.2 (comp tape appeared with "Recurrent Dream")
MORTLAKE 4 (comp tape appeared with "Different Moods") not the same version as on "Solace Me"
SOLACE ME (Serenades Records)
SOLACE ME (picture vinyl limited edition 300 copies PAINKILLER REC´S)
ZILLO SCOPE (11/2000)
