A Camp is the solo side project of Nina Persson, vocalist for the Swedish indie pop band The Cardigans, her husband, composer Nathan Larson, and former Atomic Swing guitarist Niclas Frisk. Persson formed A Camp when The Cardigans took a break after several years of touring and the recording of their 1998 album Gran Turismo. A Camp recorded and released two albums, in 2001 and 2009, after which the project has been inactive. [1]
A Camp | |
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![]() A Camp at Stockholm Pride Festival, July 2009 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Sweden |
Genres | Alternative rock, indie pop |
Years active | 2001–present |
Labels | Universal/Polydor Stockholm Records |
Members | Nina Persson Niclas Frisk Nathan Larson |
Albums
editA Camp
editA Camp's debut album, also called A Camp, was originally recorded with Niclas Frisk of Atomic Swing, before Persson teamed up with Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse to re-record it. In doing so, he also contributed some new songs to the album. Persson had been a long-time fan of Sparklehorse and has referred to them as "the best I've ever heard". After a gig in Lund, Sweden, Persson gave Linkous a cassette of all the demo A Camp songs. When they met again during the recording of his new album, Persson invited him to produce her project. Linkous listened, liked the songs, and agreed.
The album met with critical acclaim, and reasonable commercial success, topping the charts in Persson's native Sweden. [2]
In 2004, "Charlie Charlie" (the "I Can Buy You" single B-side) was covered (with new lyrics in Polish) by the Polish singer Ania and released as a single from her debut album Samotność po zmierzchu. A French version of "Charlie Charlie" was recorded by Vanessa and the O's for inclusion on their debut album La Ballade d'O in 2004 which retained the same title. Vanessa & The O's featured Niclas Frisk, Andreas Mattsson, James Iha and French singer songwriter Vanessa Quinones.
The debut album released the singles "I Can Buy You" and "Song for the Leftovers". The country-inspired influence was also apparent in The Cardigans' following album, Long Gone Before Daylight, which was released in the UK in 2003 and the US in 2004.
Colonia
editThe recording of a second A Camp album was confirmed by Persson in an interview with Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter in May 2007.[3] "Girl-pop from the 60s, 80's punk, and David Bowie" were said to be the main influences. The album, produced by Persson with husband and film composer Nathan Larson and Atomic Swing's Niclas Frisk, features appearances from ex-Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, Joan As Policewoman and Guided By Voices drummer Kevin March.[4]
The first single from Colonia, "Stronger Than Jesus", was released on the Swedish iTunes on 17 November 2008. The full album was released in Europe in February 2009, via Universal, and in the US via Nettwerk.[5]
Covers EP
editA three-track EP named Covers, featuring interpretations of Pink Floyd's "Us And Them", David Bowie's "Boys Keep Swinging" and Grace Jones' "I've Done it Again", was released digitally in the United States on 9 June 2009[6] and in Europe on 16 June 2009.
Post 2009
editPersson has continued to record and perform as a solo artist, and reunite with The Cardigans for occasional tours. There are not known to be any plans for further A Camp recordings. [7]
Discography
editStudio albums
editTitle | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SWE [8] |
AUT [9] |
DEN [10] |
FIN [11] |
GER [12] |
IRL [13] |
NOR [14] |
UK [15] |
US Heat [16] | |||
A Camp |
|
1 | 35 | 40 | 21 | 91 | 64 | 11 | 87 | — | |
Colonia |
|
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 114 | 22 |
|
EPs
editTitle | Album details |
---|---|
Covers |
|
Singles
editTitle | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SWE [8] |
NLD [19] |
UK [15] | |||
"I Can Buy You" | 2001 | 17 | 85 | 46 | A Camp |
"Song for the Leftovers" | —[A] | — | — | ||
"Stronger Than Jesus" | 2008 | 8 | — | — | Colonia |
"Love Has Left the Room" | 2009 | —[B] | — | — | |
"My America" | —[C] | — | — |
Notes
edit- ^ "Song for the Leftovers" did not enter the Sverigetopplistan singles chart, but peaked at number 14 on the Trackslistan chart.[20]
- ^ "Love Has Left the Room" did not enter the Sverigetopplistan singles chart, but peaked at number 15 on the Trackslistan chart.[21]
- ^ "My America" did not enter the Sverigetopplistan singles chart, but peaked at number 19 on the Trackslistan chart.[22]
References
edit- ^ "Nina Persson of The Cardigans and A Camp on Her Solo Album and Balancing Motherhood with Artistry". 13 May 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ Guardian Staff (31 August 2001). "Other pop CD releases". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ The Cardigans - Nina Persson breathes new life into A Camp
- ^ Biography section, A CAMP Official Website
- ^ "New A Camp – "Stronger Than Jesus" & Colonia Album Art". Stereogum. 1 December 2008. Archived from the original on 15 March 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
- ^ A Camp To Release Covers EP On Nettwerk In North America Archived 15 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Plug in Music. 28 May 2009
- ^ Wyatt, Malcolm (23 November 2018). "The Cardigans: from indie roots to Gran Turismo and beyond – the Nina Persson interview". writewyattuk.com. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ a b Hung, Steffen. "swedishcharts.com - Discography A Camp" (in Swedish). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie A Camp - austriancharts.at" (in German). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "danishcharts.dk - Discography A Camp" (in Danish). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "finnishcharts.com - Discography A Camp" (in Finnish). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ "Chartverfolgung / A Camp / Longplay" (in German). PhonoNet. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "irishcharts.com - Discography A Camp". Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "norwegiancharts.com - Discography A Camp" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ a b "Chart Log UK: A - Azzido Da Bass". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ "A Camp - Chart History | Billboard - Heatseekers". Billboard. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ "Sverigetopplistan > Sök for 'A Camp' > Visa". Swedish Recording Industry Association (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ "IFPI 2009 certifications" (PDF). IFPI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "dutchcharts.nl - Discographie A Camp" (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ "Tracks – Lördag 17 november 2001" (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Tracks – Lördag 19 september 2009" (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Tracks – Lördag 13 juni 2009" (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 30 June 2023.