Lena Swanberg - The Art of Staying Young and Unhurt (2012)

A jazz debut with a Nordic elf on the cover raises expectations. With her ten original compositions, however, 29-year-old Lena Swanberg offers much that's unexpected. Supported by a cast of fine musicians, she lightly and soulfully whisks you away to where jazz, pop, and blues sometimes converge. Swanberg's voice oscillates from touching to mysterious, from wanderlust-filled to romantically melancholic, but always relaxed and smooth. Her life's journey has taken her from rural Sweden through Arabia and Africa to Brazil and back again. It sounds fascinating; captured in melodies and words, it probably also helps in learning the "art of staying young and unhurt." The perfect soundtrack for anyone who likes to embark on adventures without a rush. Sabine Meinert (July 3, 2012)