Yttling Jazz Drops New Single “Illegal Hit”
Yttling Jazz—the project of Swedish producer, songwriter, and artist Björn Yttling (Peter Bjorn & John) — announced their new album with the title track earlier this month and today they return with a remake of the track from indie folk artist and fellow Swede The Tallest Man on Earth. Kristian Matsson notes “To receive such a wonderful recording right into my lap at home and try to add something to it — that doesn’t happen every day. What incredible playing and musicianship, I thought. I let my imagination run wild and pretended I was there in the room when they recorded it. Played it loud on the speakers for a while and started shouting along. A true joy.”
Yttling adds: “Can’t be easy to get a jazz tune sent to you and be asked to write a lyric and a melody on top. But if anyone could make it, it would definitely be a huge talent like Kristian. I really love his The Tallest Man On Earth records. And to be honest – no one could ever even dream this result up… So cool, energetic and beautiful at the same time! “
Two decades after the release of his 2005 debut Oh Lord Why Can’t I Keep My Big Mouth Shut?, Yttling is back with a new group of Swedish jazz heavyweights. The result is a rich, cinematic collection of instrumental pieces drawing influence from Brian Eno, Jean-Michel Jarre, Nino Rota, Charles Mingus, and Thelonious Monk—a vibrant love letter to the sultry jazz that shaped his early musical life. Raised on jazz, Yttling attended one of the EU’s top conservatories and spent his formative years taking weekly train rides to Stockholm for private lessons with the late legendary Esbjörn Svensson. Illegal Hit marks a return to those roots along with his upbringing in rural north Sweden and its mysticism proving a unique perspective from a jazz band leader who is also an indie hitmaker.
It’s serious music performed by serious musicians—but it’s also playful, sincere, and full of the eccentric charm that’s defined Yttling’s career. That spirit has led to collaborations with a wide-ranging list of artists, including Lykke Li—whom Yttling has worked with since her debut—as well as Robyn, Franz Ferdinand, Primal Scream, First Aid Kit, Tom Odell, Weezer, The Pretenders, The Hives, the late David Lynch along with other projects Peter Bjorn and John, Abstract Crimewave, liv with Lykke Li, Jeff Bhasker, Miike Snow.
Recently, Björn released a Yttling Jazz remix of Bonny Light Horseman’s “I Know You Know,” alongside “The Gambler,” a new Abstract Crimewave track featuring Lykke Li. Throughout the summer and fall, select tracks from Illegal Hit will be revisited in alternate vocal versions, further expanding the project’s creative world. The band will be performing live in Europe throughout the rest of the year, with more international dates to be announced soon. They recently performed at the Pelago rooftop terrace in Stockholm. Watch the live rendition of “Illegal Hit” from that performance here.
Photo Credit: Fredrik Bengtsson