"Music is my primary way of asking really loud questions. Most of my songs are big life questions, how to live and function in this world".
The Swedish singer-songwriter troubadour Kristian Matsson, better known as The Tallest Man on Earth has a rare talent for captivating an audience with just his raw, grainy voice and a guitar. He plays various string instruments, ranging from acoustic guitar, banjo and he recently picked up and started exploring the realm of the violin as well. The coming year will see him on the road again through Europe and North-America.
The project of Kristian Matsson - who has spent much of the last 19 years touring around the world as The Tallest Man On Earth - has captivated audiences using “every inch of his long guitar cord to roam the stage: darting around, crouching, stretching, hip-twitching, perching briefly and jittering away…” (The New York Times). In 2020, Matsson left New York City and returned to his farm in Sweden where he drowned out his thoughts by manically growing vegetables in his garden. It was only near the end of 2021, as he began to tour again, that the inspiration returned. “When I’m in motion, I can focus on my instinct, have my daydreams again. When I was finally able to tour again, I started writing like a madman.” He eventually had a collection of songs, revealing what would become Henry St, an album that sees Matsson exploring his own stubborn optimism and “how to be a person in this world”.
After 2015's Dark Bird Is Home, described by Pitchfork as his "most personal record... surreal and dreamlike," and his self-released I Love You, It’s a Fever Dream in 2019, Kristian Matsson returned in 2022 with the intricate cover album Too Late for Edelweiss. In 2023, he unveiled his sixth album, Henry St., marking the first time he recorded with a full band. “For most of my career, I’ve been a DIY artist, driven by the feeling that I didn’t know what I was doing, so I just handled everything myself,” Matsson explained. But with Henry St., he craved the creative spark that comes from collaboration and invited his friends to join him in the studio.
Henry St. was produced by Nick Sanborn of Sylvan Esso and features contributions from an impressive roster, including Ryan Gustafson (guitar, lap steel, ukulele), TJ Maiani (drums), CJ Camerieri of Bon Iver (trumpet, French horn), Phil Cook (piano, organ), Rob Moose of Bon Iver and yMusic (strings), and Adam Schatz (saxophone). Together, they brought Matsson’s songs to life. “They understood exactly what my songs needed—sounds I could never have imagined or created on my own. Many tracks were recorded live in the studio, with everyone playing together, having fun, and staying open to the moment”.
Critics often draw comparisons between The Tallest Man on Earth and Bob Dylan, citing similarities in both songwriting and vocal style. Matsson himself has acknowledged Dylan's influence, revealing that he started listening to him at the age of fifteen. Fascinated by Dylan's covers, he delved into their origins, which gradually introduced him to early American folk artists like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. However, Matsson is quick to distance himself from being part of any specific tradition, stating, “I don’t want to be part of a tradition. I just want to do what feels natural to me. This is how I play, and this is how I write songs".
In 2024 Matteson performed together with the string orchestra Amsterdam Sinfonietta. He presented a program featuring Swedish folk music, works by classical Scandinavian composers, a selection of the singer’s own growing repertoire of beautiful songs, and covers of artists such as Bob Dylan and Adele. Special guests included the New York-based string quartet Brooklyn Rider, led by Colin Jacobsen. He also performed three sold out shows with the Swedish Gävle Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Karl-Johan Ankarblom. Because of the success and warm reception of those performances 2025 will see more of a The Tallest Man on Earth collaboration with Gävle Symphony Orchestra in Sweden and with a chamber ensemble across North-America. But first he’s lining up for this spring’s solo tour in America and a festival run during the summer.
