On the Lovely Side of the Town
On the Lovely Side of the Town captures the summer of 2018 in Falun — from sunlit meadows to the city’s historic mine. The title track carries warmth and joy, while other melodies wander through reflective, cinematic landscapes. It’s an album about places, people, and the small moments that make life richer.
About the Album
On the Lovely Side of the Town was born during the warm summer of 2018, when the sun seemed to settle over Sweden week after week. A delight for holidaymakers, but a challenge for farmers and nature. In the midst of this unusual heat, I travelled to visit my friend Malena in Falun. The days we spent by Lake Runn, in the city’s neighbourhoods, and above the old copper mine — affectionately known as “Old Granny” — would go on to inspire the entire album. Falun is said to have two sides: the “ljuvliga” (lovely) one and the “gruvliga” (literally meaning dreadful, but also a word play referring to “gruva”, the word for mine) one. The album’s title draws inspiration from this local expression.
The music reflects both the bright moments and the more contemplative ones. The playful dance of summer sunlight across meadows — and the butterflies that fluttered through them — inspired Bluebells and Butterflies, a small reflection filled with lightness and quiet joy. The title track, On the Lovely Side of the Town, radiates warmth and optimism. Its cheerful melody mirrors life on the lovely side — the light, the laughter, and the everyday moments that make life rich. At the same time, the album holds more melancholic tones, such as Thinking of Old Granny, where the music carries reverence and reflection on the mine’s history and the workers who lived and laboured there for centuries.
All melodies were composed and recorded by me, and together they form a musical walk through the landscapes, nature, and history of Falun. The album is a tribute to both the city and the people who shape life there — and to the lovely side of existence that inspires dreams and contemplation.
Release Information
Released on 30 October 2018
Music by Freddy Gustavsson
Cover illustration by Rizki Ardia
UPC 192914703075