Find out more about Stanley Brinks and the...

After releasing a pair of playful records alongside of The Wave Pictures, and two albums of folk shanties and old-time calypso with Norway’s folk troupe The Kaniks, Stanley Brinks’ next release for Fika Recordings is back to being a solo affair, albeit with collaborator and long time muse Clemence Freschard alongside Claire Falzon and Helene Nuland.

Stanley Brinks is renowned for his unique anti-folk style: both playful and suggestive, insightful and entertaining. Brinks was born in Paris, France, in 1973. He studied a bit of biology and worked as a nurse for a while. Half Swedish, half Moroccan, strongly inclined to travel the world, he soon began spending most of his life on the road and developed a strong relationship with New York. By the late 90s he’d become a full time singer-songwriter – André Herman Düne – as part of three piece indie-rock band, Herman Düne. Several albums and Peel sessions later and after a decade of touring Europe, mostly with American songwriters such as Jeffrey Lewis, Calvin Johnson and early Arcade Fire he settled in Berlin. The early carnival music of Trinidad became a passion, and in the early 21st century he became the unquestioned master of European calypso, changing his name to Stanley Brinks. Under this moniker he has recorded more than 100 albums, collaborated with the New York Antifolk scene on several occasions, recorded and toured with traditional Norwegian musicians, and played a lot with The Wave Pictures.

Press

“an absolute joy” Q

“...a set that’s as wistful and charming as it is playful and self-concious” Uncut

“quietly charming” Pitchfork

“You can’t go wrong with this encouraging sense of optimism that pervades the song list, backed by the variety of genres: drinking songs, bluegrass, love songs, polkas, calypso. “And the Violin” is a good example of this positive nature… A worthy addition to any music collection that opines inventive and memorable music.” Americana UK

“immaculately played, unpolished and, for the most, jubilant in spirit and mood, it’s a gem.” Folk Radio

“a cut above, with a wryness, honesty and acerbity to its lyrics, and some old time American grit to the music” Songlines