Söderqvist, Svante - Like in the Movies LP

Like In the Movies is a cinematic journey carved from the sounds of our time: searching, courageous, and profoundly human. On this album, listeners are taken deeper into Söderqvist’s world of musical storytelling, one that resonates with the anxieties, tensions, and uncertainties of today’s global reality. The compositions reflect a sense of unease about the challenges facing humanity, yet they also carry an undercurrent of hope. Shaped in close collaboration with the band members, equally internationally respected musicians Adam Forkelid, Calle Rasmusson, and Tuulikki Bartosik, the arrangements reveal a shared musical vision that adds depth and vibrancy to the narrative. In these pieces, music becomes a form of resilience, a reminder that creativity and imagination still hold power, even against all odds. Since founding the band in 2020 and releasing the debut album Arrival, Söderqvist has pursued a musical language built around melody, imagination, and emotional clarity. Though the music is instrumental, his writing has always aimed to tell stories, drawing listeners into vivid inner landscapes shaped by classical composition, Nordic and global folk traditions, and the craft of great popular songwriters. The result is music that often begins and ends in distant emotional places, yet remains unmistakably unified by Söderqvist’s melodic voice. The group’s breakthrough came with the second album, The Rocket (2023), which marked a bold evolution of its sound. Söderqvist’s compositional ideas grew more conceptually focused, and the addition of Tuulikki Bartosik’s accordion brought a luminous new color, expanding the ensemble’s dynamic range and sharply enhancing its expressive possibilities. With four musicians onboard, the band found the freedom to explore unexpected contrasts, from delicate textures to cinematic crescendos. Critics and audiences alike have frequently described THE ROCKET’s sound as “filmic.” This comes as no surprise: the music thrives on striking melodic arcs, surprising harmonic shifts, evolving tempos, and rhythmic turns that feel almost narrative, like scenes unfolding on screen. Now, under the updated name Svante Söderqvist THE ROCKET, the ensemble presents its most ambitious work to date: Like In the Movies. Svante Söderqvist – bass, cello & vocals Tuulikki Bartosik – accordion & electronics Adam Forkelid – piano & keyboard Calle Rasmusson – drums & percussion