Swedish west coast cows…
Umeå, the home town of Daniel Andersson and Stefan Olofsson, the brains behind the State Cows, is a city near the coast in the north of Sweden. It’s one of the biggest and most renowned university cities of the country and it’s widely knownfor its outstanding cultural life and the lively music scene.
Umeå is home to many Westcoast devotees who have been fortunate to see live performances of Bill Champiln, Marc Jordan and the Jay Graydon All Star band in their town. In this creative environment Daniel and Stefan started out playing in different bands until their paths crossed during their studies at the Piteå School of Music. The first band they played in together was called “The Posers”, a Beatles tribute band. The first step towards Westcoast music was made by Daniel when he recorded the mini-album “DP”, together with bass player Peter Starefeldt.
Through a student exchange with the Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles and with the help of their friends Ian and Marylou EalesDaniel and Stefan eventually became acquainted with L.A. and its music scene. Long lasting impressions were also left by meeting some of their musical idols like David Foster, Jay Graydon, Jason Scheff (Chicago), Jay Gruska (Maxus) and Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets, Gino Vannelli, Bruce Hornsby).
Back in Umeå they continued to play gigs with “The Posers” while they also started working on Daniel’s solo album, whichwas subsequently released under the surprising title “Days in L.A.”. The CD was well received and the positive reactionsto the slightly modern Westcoast approach on “Days in L.A.” intensified the ambition to record a full-fledged, no-compromise Westcoast / AOR record like they did them in the early 80s. Meanwhile they had also founded a Steely Dan tribute band called “2nd Arrangement”. The formation was short lived, nevertheless it was the origin of what became the State Cows.
The song writing and the recordings of the new songs for the State Cows debut lasted for about two years. Daniel and Stefan worked meticulously on the song lyrics and the musical arrangements. The musicians that were chosen to record the tracks are hand picked artists from the Swedish and Finnish music scene having played on an international level before. The big exception is Jay Graydon,whose guest appearance with a guitar solo on “New York Town” is a great coup and also an accolade by one of the real Greats of the Westcoast genre.
All songs of the album are among the musically best efforts when it comes to Westcoast music to be recorded and released in the past two decades plus. Overwhelming evidence for this are the more than perfect arrangements, precisely played solos, skillfully used percussions and a real horn section. Everybody waiting for a second Airplay album or a follow-up to the third Pages record, loving the classic David Foster and Jay Graydon productions and regularly revisiting Steely Dan and the first Marc Jordan albums is most definitely in for a treat with the State Cows.
See more about State Cows at their official website.
Discography
The Second One Redux
SC 2024
Tracks: This Time, In The City, Mister White, Hard Goodbye, Scofflaws, I Got Myself Together, Finally Fair And Balanced, Center Of The Sun, California Gold, Nineteen Eighty-One, Careful With The Chainsaw, Dear, Into Something Good, Tinseltown & Calf Stoutness Two.
Musicians on the Second One Redux album: Daniel Andersson, Stefan Olofsson, Peter Olofsson, Michael Landau, Christian Thomsen, Mikael Emsing, Jay Graydon, Per Bejstam, Peter Friestedt, Pär Wretling, Sven Larsson, Peter Holmqvist, Ian Bairnson, Bill Champlin, Lars-Erik Dahle, Göran Turborn, Marcuz Granberg, Samuel Muntlin & Johan Viksten.
High And Dry
State Cows 2022
Tracks: Dawn On Me, If We Could Be Together, Caught In A Landslide, Emily, Two Kindred Spirits, Turnaround, Drops Of Rain, Tears Of Isolation, Hold On, When You Smile, Bridgework & Blues To The Beat Of Your Heart.
Musicians on the High And Dry album: Daniel Andersson, Stefan Olofsson, Peter 'Peppe' Olofsson, Christian Thomsen, Göran Turborn, Fredrik Lundgren, Johan Viksten & Sven Larsson.
Challenges
State Cows 2019
Tracks: Borrowed Time, Darwin Awards, All Over, Deportee, Waiting For Love, I Got The Message, Human Ladders, Cease To Ever Have Been & Wildfire.
Musicians on the Challenges album: Daniel Andersson, Stefan Olofsson, Samuel Muntlin, Peter Olofsson, Kai Jokiaho, Mikael Emsing, Christian Thomsen, Fredrik Lundgren, Göran Turborn, Colm Lindsay & Michael Landau.
Stealing The Show
State Cows 2017
Tracks: Stuck On A Train, Holly Mole, Stealing The Show & Scofflaws (Demo).
Musicians on the Stealing The Show EP: Daniel Andersson, Stefan Olofsson, Peter Olofsson, Mikael Emsing & Samuel Muntlin.
The Second Seconds
State Cows 2014
Tracks: Calf Stoutness Two, Into Something Good, Careful With The Chainsaw Dear & Tinseltown.
Musicians on the Second Seconds EP: Daniel Andersson, Stefan Olofsson and others.
The Second One
Avenue Of Allies Music 2013
Tracks: This Time, In The City, Mister White, Hard Goodbye, Scofflaws, I Got Myself Together, Finally Fair And Balanced, Center Of The Sun, California Gold & Nineteen Eighty One.
Musicians on the The Second One album: Daniel Andersson, Stefan Olofsson, Jay Graydon, Michael Landau, Bill Champlin, Ian Bairnson, Peter Olofsson, Par Wretling, Samuel Muntlin, Lars-Erik Dahle, Christian Thomsen, Goran Turborn, Mikael Emsing, Marcuz Granberg, Sven Larsson, Peter Holmqvist, Per Bejstam & Peter Friestedt.
State Cows
Avenue Of Allies Music 2010
Tracks: I´ve Changed, New York Town, Come To The Point, Stella By The Barlight, Mystery Jane, Painting A Picture, Tunisian Nights, Looney Gunman, Riding This Highway, No Man´s Land & Lost In A Mind Game.
Musicians on the State Cows album: Daniel Andersson, Stefan Olofsson, Jay Graydon, Peter Holmqvist, Mikael Sandström, Petro Kivimäki, Göran Turborn, Fredrik Lundgren, Peter Olofsson, Stefan Lindblom, Mikael Emsing, Pär Wretling, Olle Lindgren, Markus Asplund, Marcuz Granberg & Christian Thomsen.