Symbio stands tall among the vanguard of emerging talents in the vibrant Swedish folk and world music scene. With an electrifying stage presence, captivating original compositions, and a captivating interplay of hurdy gurdy and accordion, this dynamic duo has swiftly ascended to become a leading act in the realm of progressive folk & world music.
The musical tapestry woven by Symbio includes virtuoso folk, pulsating electronic dance music, and evocative minimalist artistry that converge to create an immersive cinematic experience for listeners.
Formed in 2011, Symbio wasted no time in making an indelible mark on the musical landscape. In 2016, they received the prestigious accolade of Best Newcomer of the Year at the Swedish Folk and World Music Awards, cementing their position as rising stars. Since then, they have embarked on an ardent touring schedule that has taken them across Sweden, Europe, the United States, and Canada.
Their extraordinary talent has garnered recognition and support, including the coveted grant for young music ensembles from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Moreover, the Swedish National Radio selected Symbio to proudly represent Sweden at the EBU Radio Folk Festival held at Rudolstadt Festival, Germany, in 2019.
The duo’s prominence continued to soar as they were chosen as official showcase artists at the acclaimed Folk Alliance International USA 2020, a grand gathering of the Folk & Roots music industry. Furthermore, Symbio represented Sweden as official showcase artists at the Nordic Folk Alliance showcase in 2022 and graced the stage at the Mundial Montréal conference in Canada the same year.
In 2023, Symbio was selected to perform at the influential WOMEX world music showcase in Spain.
Symbio consists of LarsEmil Öjeberget on accordion & kickbox; and Johannes Geworkian Hellman on hurdy gurdy.
(headline image: Symbio live – Photo Christoffer Paavilainen)
Discography:
Phoresy (Gammalthea, 2016)
Rising (Gammalthea, 2018)
Endeavour (Gammalthea, 2022)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.