Weeping Willows

Weeping Willows formed in Norrköping, Sweden in 1995, with Magnus Carlson on vocals and guitar, Johan Looström on bass, Ola Johansson on drums, and Anders Hernestål on guitar. Their early sound leaned toward acoustic folk and country, though the lineup shifted in those first years with Hernestål and Johansson leaving for a time. In 1997 they put out their debut album 'Broken Promised Land,' which included the title track and songs like 'Return To Me' and 'Lost Love.' That record found an audience and gave them some footing.

Carlson kept writing through the 2000s, and the band released albums such as 'Quiet Storm' in 1998 and 'Fear & Love' in 2003. Their music gradually incorporated more rock and pop elements while keeping Carlson's introspective lyrics at the center. Tracks like 'Blue And Alone' and 'By The River' carried that melancholic, melodic quality that became their calling card.

In the mid-2000s, Carlson faced plagiarism accusations and admitted to borrowing melodies from other artists. The band went on hiatus before reforming in 2009 with Carlson, Hernestål, Looström, and Johansson back together. They've since put out records like 'The Forest' in 2011 and 'Slow Down Time' in 2014, continuing to work in that vein of thoughtful, guitar-based songwriting.