On February 2, the debut album Mary Rose & the Purple Quintet of pianist Maria Arnqvist will be released and performed in its entirety with a full ensemble (violin, kora, cello, lapsteel, drums and more) at Fasching.
The musician and composer Maria Arnqvist is best known for the saxophone from the experimental folk duo Siri Karlsson, who with their seven critically acclaimed albums received the Manifest Prize, scholarships and SKAP’s avant-garde prize for their wayward and wild music. Classically schooled in piano and clarinet during her growing up years, she learned to play the saxophone during a stay in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The album is a result of her resuming piano practice and a desire to compose for chamber ensemble.
During the autumn of 2023, we have heard samples from the vinyl, which is released via the record label Sing a Song Fighter. The music is adventurous, sincere and bold. Rich atmospheric arrangements wind around Maria Arnqvist’s voice and piano playing and are broken by raucous beats. The musicians are handpicked, among the best in their genre. The music reflects journeys and experiences and carries stories where Mary Rose is one of the characters we meet. Influences include the Penguin Café Orchestra, Moondog, PJ Harvey, Philip Glass and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.
Maria Arnqvist has also been heard with many artists in the Swedish pop, rock, psychedelic milieu such as Iiris Viljanen, Sibille Attar, WauWau Collectif, Viktor Brobacke & Trasiga Familjen, Erik Malmberg, Vårt Solsystem and more.
The music was premiered at Fylkingen last spring and is now celebrating its release. This is the second time the music is performed with its full set and with video art. Take the chance!
Maria Arnqvist – piano, vocals
Karin Hellqvist – violin
Emma Augustsson – cello
Sousou Cissoko – kora, recorder
Simon Svärd – lapsteel, guitars
Vilhelm Bromander – double bass
Dennis Egberth – drums percussion
Mira Eklund – synth
Mio Dal – video art
