- published: 24 Apr 2016
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Garmarna is a Swedish folk rock band. Their songs are mainly old Scandinavian ballads.
Garmarna was founded in 1990. Stefan Brisland-Ferner, Gotte Ringqvist and Rickard Westman were inspired by old Swedish music, which they had heard in a theatre. They began searching for old tunes and instruments. After a year of playing together, Jens Höglin joined the band on drums.
In 1992 the band recorded their first EP. They thought that female vocals would provide a contrast to the dark mood of their music and invited Emma Härdelin, a long-time friend of the band, as the guest vocalist on the EP. She officially joined the band in 1993. The debut EP sold well in Sweden, and helped the band tour in Scandinavia.
On the album Vittrad, the band decided to add samples and sequencers to the mix. In 1994, Omnium released Vittrad in the USA, with English translations of the old songs.
Garmarna started a long German tour and released the album Guds spelemän in 1996. The album sold well in Sweden and was reviewed favourably internationally.
She walked a foot above the ground Seldom stuck her head out of the clouds Dreaming life while awake
She'd drift away and talk to stars Give answers after count to five And dance her longing away
She played a princess when nobody saw But nobody knew that she was Truly one
Her heart was like a little bee Fragile, full of joy and honeysweet Yet still ready to fight
Her shadow was her only foe As she worried it might grow some more When she turnes down the light
She played a princess when nobody saw Wearing diamond tiara with sneaker of gold And nobody knew that when she didn't play Still she was a princess A pearl of the king