The two sisters from the small town of Svedmyra in Sweden took their band name from an English dictionary when they were 13 and 17 years old respectively. They wanted their music to reflect the meaning of a first aid kit: a consolation to help you get through the day. So, if you ever find yourself in a mental emergency situation – don’t stress, help is on its way.
Johanna and Klara Söderberg are best known internationally, for starting their musical career by posting a cover of Fleet Foxes’ Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, thereby becoming a YouTube phenomenon in 2008. However, they had started making their own music the year before that.
They released their first EP ‘Drunken Trees’ in 2008 through electronic duo The Knife’s record company Rabid Records after Fever Ray recommended them. The year after they signed with London-based label Wichita Records and started producing full-length LPs.
Three albums and several singles later, the pair toured worldwide and performed songs on the Polar Music Prize Awards by artists like Patti Smith and Paul Simon and won several awards themselves.
An obvious place to start with the band might be the newer tunes like My Silver Lining or Emmylou. Then, when you have carried through the first big hits you might go back a bit in time and there you will find their breakthrough hits like Hard Believer or Ghost Town.
If you have reached this point – you’ve probably embraced the fact that this is some good stuff you’re dealing with. And whatever you do – don’t stop there. Hidden diamonds like Brother and Wolf are still remaining to be discovered.
Even though their own production of songs is of substantial volume, their covers of Simon and Garfunkel’s America or Fever Ray’s When I Grow Up are more than worthy of spending some time listening to.
These girls might be of Swedish parentage, but don’t worry – they’re singing the absolute majority of their perfectly tuned harmonies in English. They havr their thanks to give to the English international school they attended, their accents are impeccable – along with the lyrics.
During the year of 2015, the girls toured in the UK, Sweden, Australia and they also performed at several music festivals in Europe, Canada and the US.
Hopefully, if you haven’t already dug into the chamber of musical indulgence, you’ll do it now. You won’t regret it. And for the one out there who just can’t get enough of the sisterly musical bond – check out the British folk rock group The Staves for adding just one more sister to the crowd.
Elsa Anderling
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