STATE COWS is one of very few modern yacht rock / westcoast / AOR bands that creates new original music. The band consists of Daniel Andersson on vocals and guitars and Stefan Olofsson on keyboards and bass. Many guest musicians have contributed to their recordings and live gigs, most notably Jay Graydon (two-time Grammy winner, twelve-time Grammy nominee, STEELY DAN, EARTH, WIND & FIRE), Bill Champlin (CHICAGO), Jason Scheff (CHICAGO), Michael Landau (MICHAEL JACKSON, PINK FLOYD) and Ian Bairnson (KATE BUSH, ALAN PARSONS PROJECT).
After releasing the album "Days in L.A." to rave reviews, Daniel Andersson and collaborator Stefan Olofsson decided to embark on a full-fledged, no-compromise yacht rock project. This project started out as a Steely Dan tribute called THE SECOND ARRANGEMENT. They soon transformed the Steely Dan tribute into the band STATE COWS and started writing an album of brand new yacht rock songs.
Daniel Andersson is a singer/guitarist from Umeå / Sweden. Together with bass player Peter Starefeldt, he released the Westcoast EP "Strange Ways" under the acronym DP. In 2008, he released his solo debut album "Days in L.A." based on his experiences in Hollywood. It was very well received by critics and the listening community.
Stefan Olofsson is a keyboardist/bass player from Umeå / Sweden. He was a session player on "Strange Ways" and "Days in L.A." and released a solo album in 2003 entitled "Story of a Woman" combining elements of jazz, classical, progressive and Swedish folk music. He's also a member of crossover prog band DYNAMO BLISS.
Daniel and Stefan met while studying at the Piteå School of Music. While being exchange students in Los Angeles they got the chance to meet with David Foster, Jay Graydon, Jay Gruska (MAXUS) and other heroes of the yacht rock genre, as well as witnessing a surprise concert by Stevie Wonder at the school auditorium. They also did recordings with, among others, Jason Scheff (CHICAGO), Jeff Richman and Jimmy Haslip (YELLOWJACKETS, GINO VANNELLI, DONALD FAGEN).
Smooth guitar lines, half-time shuffles, funky bass lines, slick harmonies, real Fender Rhodes, tight horn sections and some California sunshine ... it's all in there!
