Mikael Erlandsson

Mikael Erlandsson (born 1963) is a singer, songwriter and keyboardist born in Gothenburg, Sweden. He recorded four solo albums which has also been released in Japan and the Far East. He is also known in Europe since his participation in 2003 Melodifestivalen edition.

Since 2002 he has been fronting Swedish/German band Last Autumn's Dream and he has been chosen for various AOR projects like Tommy Denander's "Radioactive", "Northern Light" and "Heartbreak Radio".

Musician career

1978–93: Early bands

Erlandsson started as a drummer in a punk-rock band "Infektion" They released a single with two tracks "Dimman" and "Hash" in 1978. He also was a member of the hard rock band "Rain" with Bengt Lundh and Mikael Carlsson. He later joined the band "Studs" as a keyboard player. The single called Frågor Och Svar became a local hit in 1982. After a few years he developed his song writing and started the new band N'gang in 1985 as their lead singer.

"N'gang" was 5th in Melodifestivalen 1990 with the song Vi vill ha värme.

In 1993, he was part of a band called "Crash" and with them released their self-titled debut album and a national tour.

1994–2001: Solo and guest vocalist recordings

In 1994, he released his first solo album called The One and in 1995 released his second solo album called Under The Sun.

In 1996 Erlandsson spent most of his time touring in Sweden and performed at "Ullevi" as a warm-up artist for Tina Turner as well as a support tour with Bryan Ferry.

In 1997, he released his 3rd solo album called Unfamiliar meanwhile continued writing songs for Swedish artists.

In 1999, Erlandsson made backing vocals for Sayit, a guitarist who released his self-titled first solo.

In 2001 was guest to made backing vocals on Standing On The Outside, a track from Tommy Denander and Ricky Delin's new project Prisoner.

2002–2007: Between Last Autumn's Dream and guest vocalist

His 4th solo album was released in 2003 and was called The Gift, also he was lead singer of 4 tracks from Tommy Denander's Radioactive - Yeah!. Songs were: Yeah, I Should Have Known Better, Fire Within and Make It Mine.

Erlandsson was on the semifinals for Melodifestivalen 2003 with the song Tills jag mötte dig (Until I met you). Also was in the Polish national selection for the country's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with the song Love In The Air.^[1]

In 2004 he sang 3 tracks on Heartbreak Radio, the debut release of a band formed by the production team Torbjörn Wassenius and Claes Andreasson, who in the past have been known for their work with Last Autumn's Dream and the solo work of Erlandsson. Musicians such as Mikkey Dee (Motörhead) on drums and Magnus Rosén (HammerFall) on bass guitar, Tommy Denander and Sayit on guitars and Pierre Weinsberg on vocals were guests in the recording.

In 2005, Erlandsson sang on 2 tracks on Tommy Denander's Radioactive - Taken This I Promise You and Carry On - and also with the band Last Autumn's Dream released their second album "II".

Also in 2005, he sang The Story Lives On from Northern Light debut album with artist like Fergie Frederiksen (Toto).

In 2006, with the band Last Autumn's Dream released their following-up albums Winter in Paradise and Saturn Skyline in 2007.

Also in 2006, he wrote two of the songs on the album called Varje steg du tar released by the Swedish band "Surround". This one did very well in Japan and had great reviews in Burrn!magazine.

On June 6, 2007, the band Last Autumn's Dream released their first greatest hits album, Impressions: The Very Best of LAD, an exclusive release for the Japanese market.

On September 30, 2007, his main band, Last Autumn's Dream were chosen to be part of the "United Forces Of Rock III Festival", with Joe Lynn Turner, Stan Bush, Danger Danger, White Wolf, Soul Doctor and Human Zoo, at the Rockfabrik in Ludwigsburg (near Stuttgart) in Germany.

2008–2009: Salute - A new Beginning

Again with Last Autumn's Dream, Erlandsson released their fifth studio album, Hunting Shadows in Japan on February 22, 2008 as well as the live album Live in Germany 2007.

The sixth album release with Last Autumn's Dream was called Dreamcatcher and it was released in Japan on December 24, 2008 and was released in Europe on January 26, 2009.

In 2009 Erlandsson wrote the song "Dynamite", which finished third in the Latvian selection for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest entry.

Erlandsson formed a new band called Salute with Martin Kronlund (guitar), Imre Daun (drums) and Henrik Thomsen (bass). They recorded their first album titled Toy Soldier which would be released by Escape Music.

In the middle of 2009 he once again started to work with Mikael Carlsson ( from "Rain" back in 1982 ) with his project "Lover Under Cover".

2010–2011

His main band Last Autumn's Dream lost to the bass player Marcel Jacob - who died in 2009 - and they comeback replacing Jacob with Nalley Pahlsson - bass player from Treat and Therion among others.

They recorded a new release called A Touch Of Heaven (2009–2010) and in January 21, 2011 they edited their latest recording called Yes. Both recording are dedicated to Marcel Jacob.

With the band Salute, Erlandsson was involved in the recording of their second effort called Heart of the Machine (2010).

Discography

with Last Autumn's Dream

• 2002 - s/t
• 2005 - II
• 2006 - Winter In Paradise
• 2007 - Saturn Skyline
• 2007 - Impressions: The Very Best Of LAD (Japanese market)
• 2007 - Hunting Shadows
• 2008 - Live In Germany 2007
• 2008 - Impressions: The Very Best Of LAD (German market)
• 2009 - Dreamcatcher
• 2010 - A Touch Of Heaven
• 2011 - Yes
• 2011 - Nine Lives

as solo artist

• 1994 - The One
• 1995 - Under The Sun
• 1997 - Unfamiliar
• 1999 - The Best of
• 1999 - Tears Of Heart
• 2003 - The Gift

as songwriter

• Hardcore Circus - Wake Up Call 2010

With Crash

• 1993 - Self-titled album

with Lover Under Cover

• 2010 - Who Needs Love (Single)
• 2010 - Flash in The Night (Single)
• 2011 - Set the Night on Fire (Single)
• 2012 - Set the Night on Fire (LP)

With Salute

• 2009 - Toy Soldier
• 2010 - Heart Of The Machine

Collaborations

• 1999 - Sayit - Sayit
• 2001 - Sahara - Sahara
• 2001 - Prisoner - II
• 2003 - Tommy Denander's Radioactive - Yeah!
• 2005 - Heartbreak Radio - Heartbreak Radio
• 2005 - Tommy Denander's Radioactive - Taken
• 2005 - Northern Light - Northern Light
• 2006 - Surround - Varje steg du tar
• 2010 - Shining Line - Shining Line
• 2010 - Tom Galley’s Phenomena - Blind Faith

Various Artist compilations

• 1995 - The Best Disco Music Vol. 6
• 1995 - New Beat Vol. 11
• 2003 - Melodifestivalen 2003
• 2004 - Voices Of Rock
• 2009 - Fireworks #35

CD Singles

• 2003 - Tills jag mötte dig (Until I met you)
• 2008 - Put some love in the world

References