Mats Skimmelå takes an interesting musical direction with “Spikmyren,” bringing together the sounds of jazz and traditional Swedish folk music. These two styles may seem different at first, but they share a musical quality that helps them work well together: the use of minor harmonies that can create a deep, thoughtful, and sometimes emotional feeling.
The connection between jazz and Swedish folk music has a history of its own. Jazz legend Miles Davis famously recorded “Dear Old Stockholm,” a jazz arrangement of the Swedish folk song “Ack Värmeland du sköna.” This shows how traditional Swedish melodies can find a natural home in jazz, creating something that respects the past while allowing room for new ideas. “Spikmyren” follows a similar musical path, bringing these influences together in its own way.
Mats Skimmelå’s musical background helps explain his interest in exploring different sounds. Born in 1965 in Butorp, Deje, Sweden, he started out playing piano before switching to guitar. Discovering how to play chords became an important moment in his musical journey. He later returned to piano studies at 18 and attended two Swedish folk high schools to continue developing his skills.
In 1991, Mats moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music, graduating in 1994 before returning to Sweden and moving to Stockholm in 1995.
With “Spikmyren,” Skimmelå brings together musical traditions that share a strong sense of harmony and feeling. The result is an interesting meeting of jazz and Swedish folk music that highlights the beauty of blending different styles while giving each its own space to shine.
