I've been writing songs for as long as I can recall, but usually, I only come up with a chorus or verse, never a whole song.
Something shifted at Christmas in 2020. Music kept pouring out, and I struggled to find time to capture my ideas. I composed numerous songs with chords and melody, but no lyrics. That's when I approached Tony, a close friend of mine. He writes lyrics for Linger, a band I sometimes perform with, so I inquired if he'd like to complete my songs. Luckily, he agreed!
The first single, titled 'Omit,' was released on November 17, 2021, which coincided with my 45th birthday.
Here is my debut single, 'Omit,' on your preferred music service, written by me and Tony. Mix and master by Oscar Harryson at Soundhabits.
Vocals, bass, and programming by me. Backing vocals by Johanna Tak. Guitars by Magnus Josephson. Keyboards by Henning Iljero-Winnberg. Percussion by Tony Lind and Tomas Juto. Saxophone by Viktor Sand.
The second single, titled "Darkening," was released on August 25, 2023.
This song tells the sad story of Jim Gordon, a skilled drummer who sadly ended up killing his own mother because of the disturbing voices in his head. He was talented in music, but his life took a dark path that led him to prison, where he stayed until he passed away.
In this song, I want to show his inner battles instead of just talking about his music success. The words and tune combine to express how complicated his life was and the pain he went through.
I composed the music for "Darkening" and Tony wrote the heartfelt lyrics. To make sure it sounded great, Oscar Harryson at SoundHabits mixed and mastered the track. His skill brought out the song's full potential, making it a powerful and emotionally moving piece.
Vocals, guitars, and bass guitar by me. Drums by Tony Lind and Henrik Ståhlberg. Keyboards by Henning Iljero-Winnberg. Slide guitar and guitar solo by Oscar Harryson.
The third single is called ‘Shutter’, released on September 15, 2023.
I've always had a passion for photography, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I seriously decided to understand the mechanics behind it, including shutters, apertures, and all the technical aspects. I received a wildlife photography workshop at Nordens Ark as a 40th birthday gift from my wife, Johanna, and it was an inspirational experience beyond compare (thanks to the incredible photographer, Tom Svensson).
Music and photography naturally share some similarities. It's about, at least for me, creating a mood and conveying a specific emotion. It's about inviting the observer – or listener – into something that is personal and meaningful to the creator.
In 'Shutter,' I aim to describe my love for still imagery through my love for music. It might sound pretentious, but I'm embracing it this time. Tony Lind has crafted an incredibly beautiful lyric, as I felt that the music would fit perfectly within this context.
I play bass, guitar, and sing, while Johanna Tak joins me on backing vocals. Henning Iljero-Winnberg handles the organ and würlitzer, Henrik Ståhlberg takes care of drums and percussion, and Oscar Harryson is responsible for mixing, mastering, and the guitar solo at the end.
The cover image is a self-portrait taken at Plan B in Tranås before a Billy Momo concert. This image was also part of my exhibition, 'Dubbelexponerat', at the Magnolia restaurant in Stockholm (as far as I know, it's still hanging there).
The EP titled 'Coup de Grâce' was released on October 6, 2023. It features two new songs and two songs that were previously released as singles.
Tracklist (click on title for lyrics):
All songs were written by me and Tony Lind and were mixed and mastered by Oscar Harryson. Photo and layout by me.
Here are all the contributors:
Coup de Grâce
Vocals: Christopher Broman Tak, Johanna Tak, Tomas Juto, Tony Lind, Emma Moberg, Erika Iljero-Winnberg, Henning Iljero-Winnberg, and Robin Tinglöf.
Drums: Tony Lind
Percussion: Tony Lind and Tomas Juto
Guitars: Robin Tinglöf
Organ: Henning Iljero-Winnberg
Trumpet and flügelhorn: Andreas Kjäll
Bass: Christopher Broman Tak
Darkening
Vocals, bass, and guitars: Christopher Broman Tak
Slide Guitar and Guitar Solo: Oscar Harryson
Drums: Tony Lind and Henrik Ståhlberg
Percussion: Henrik Ståhlberg
Keyboards: Henning Iljero-Winnberg
Shutter
Vocals, bass, and guitars: Christopher Broman Tak
Background vocals: Johanna Tak
Guitar Solo: Oscar Harryson
Drums and Percussion: Henrik Ståhlberg
Keyboards: Henning Iljero-Winnberg
Cain
Vocals, bass, and guitars: Christopher Broman Tak
Background vocals: Johanna Tak
Drums and Percussion: Henrik Ståhlberg
Harmonica: Mårten Forssman
On February 7th, 2024, 'Your Secrets' EP was released, featuring two songs written by myself and Tony Lind.
The inspiration behind 'First Snow' stems from Christmas Eve 2014, the last Christmas we celebrated with my mother. She had been battling cancer for about 1.5 years by then, and it was quite evident that she felt it might be her last Christmas. The first snow of winter fell that day.
The idea for 'Your Secrets' arose when my younger brother managed to obtain the medical records from the hospital in Vadstena where my grandmother lived during her final years. Dad never spoke about his mother, so we actually knew very little. What could be gleaned from the records suggests that Grandma suffered from schizophrenia and likely a host of other mental health issues. Did Dad want to shield us from this, or was it simply too difficult for him to admit that his own mother struggled with mental illness?
Contributors:
I sing and play all electric guitars, upright bass on 'First Snow,' and electric bass on 'Your Secrets.'
Johanna Tak provides backing vocals.
Emanuel Sahlström plays acoustic guitar.
Tomas Juto handles drums.
Henning Iljero-Winnberg takes charge of keyboards.
Henrik Ståhlberg contributes percussion.
Oscar Harryson has mixed and mastered.
Click on title for lyrics: