Band

“The group is one of the most interesting Swedish bands in their genre” (Stefan Warnqvist, UNT 20/01/2011)

The concept of Mad Artwork was born out of my idea to create a musical sanctuary with no limits. I wanted to, along with uncompromised, dedicated musicians, create music that was playful, irreverent and tongue-in-cheek, but at the same time could turn into monumental heavy metal or become brittle and esoteric in the space of just a few bars and which, despite its playful approach, would never give way to gravity. After spending a few years leading various bands, all of which were moving in a similar direction, finding our own sounds through a free creative process that transcends the boundaries of genre, I founded Mad Artwork in 2006.

In 2007, I entered the band into Sweden’s biggest competition for young musicians, Musik Direkt, where it become clear that Mad Artwork was a winning concept. We received a great audience response, got through both the first and second rounds, and then went on to win first prize at the national final. Following this success, we toured Sweden.

2009 was an exciting year for Mad Artwork, when more of the musical pieces started falling into place. We took part in Musik Direkt again, this time with a broadly new set-up. Again, we won first prize in the national final, followed by a Belgium tour. When the new members of Mad Artwork choosed to leave the band shortly afterwards, I said to my brother Daniel, “Mad Artwork is ready for you, it’s time to prepare your axe and join the band”.

The two of us set out in search of other musicians who had enough crazy ideas to fit in with Mad Artwork. At dawn after a long summer’s night at Bingsjö spelmansstämma (a festival where people meet and play), we met Simon Forsberg as he sat on a rock in the fog playing the most magnificent tones on his cittern. This cittern was later to be renamed the “10-string mandolin of Doom” by our sound engineer when Simon had already become a part of Mad Artwork’s future.

The first time we heard Andreas Berglund play was in a symphony orchestra, where he had such a great attitude to playing percussion that we were immediately enthusiastic about him. When he showed us his crazy musical ideas, and it appeared that he´s also a drummer, it became clear that Andreas was just the musician we were looking for.

In spring 2011, we did another tour of Sweden during which we had a fantastically warm and positive welcome in every city we visited. A newspaper review said, “Mad Artwork is now one of the most interesting Swedish bands in progressive rock today.” Later that year we were awarded the Musikens Hus Friend´s scholarship.

During autumn 2012 we made a shorter but very intense tour in Sweden, starting with a show in Stockholm and then visiting most of the bigger cities along the north coast of Sweden. As usual we got heart warming feedback from the audience in every city we played in. We also got several good reviews in larger newpapers as Sweden Rock Magazine and Svenska Dagbladet.

We are four creative musicians with completely different musical backgrounds. Together we try to create music in which our different references can be expressed in the great bubbling cauldron that is Mad Artwork´s heart and soul.

Andreas Berglund – drums & percussion
Daniel Dluzewski – bass, recorder & backing vocals
Gabbi Dluzewski – guitars, recorder, whistles & backing vocals
Simon Forsberg – irish bouzouki, acoustic guitar & backing vocals

During 2010-2011, we also worked for a time with the talented singer Therés Enström.

//Gabbi Dluzewski