^BIOGRAPHY

^{Both Joakim’s father and grandfather are avid music lovers. From an early age on, grandfather Kjelland his record collection was always present with him listening to Americana like Hank Williams, Carter Family, Dolly Parton, or Johnny Cash. Experiencing his grandfather singing and playing along on the accordion or electric organ, looking like he was somewhere else, laid the foundation for the love of music that has been a major driver in Joakim’s life ever since. Growing up with a somewhat dysfunctional family in a small town in southern Sweden, music has always been a tool for him to put things into perspective, both in good and negative ways. Listening to storytellers like Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Christian Kjellvander, Ryan Adams, Johnny Cash, Cornelis Vreeswijk, Joakim Thåström, and Norah Jones among others certainly influenced the sound of Joakim’s first upcoming album. With over 120 gigs played so far, mostly as a drummer but also as a singer, guitar, and bass player, the music he created over the past two years living in Berlin is the outcome of his first solo project. Some lyrics are made‐up stories, for others, Joakim found direct inspiration in his own life. How to move on from hard times, get up again and survive. How sadness and sorrow make life beautiful. How it is essential to learn to appreciate and not take life for granted. And lastly, not wait until it is too late.}