A Camp

Albums

A Camp began as a solo side project for Nina Persson, the lead singer of The Cardigans, alongside her husband Nathan Larson and former Atomic Swing guitarist Niclas Frisk. Persson started the project when The Cardigans took a break after extensive touring and the release of their 1998 album Gran Turismo. Two albums were recorded and released, one in 2001 and another in 2009, after which the project went quiet.

A Camp

The first album, also titled A Camp, was initially recorded with Niclas Frisk. Persson later brought in Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse to re-record it, and he added some new songs. Persson had long admired Sparklehorse, calling them the best she had ever heard. After a show in Lund, Sweden, she gave Linkous a cassette of all the demo tracks.

When they met again while he was recording his own album, she asked him to produce her project. He listened, liked the songs, and agreed. The album received strong critical reviews and did well commercially, reaching number one in Sweden. In 2004, the B-side "Charlie Charlie" was covered by Polish singer Ania, who rewrote the lyrics in Polish for her debut album.

That same year, a French version of the song, keeping the same title, appeared on the debut album of Vanessa and the O's, a group that included Niclas Frisk, Andreas Mattsson, James Iha, and French singer-songwriter Vanessa Quinones. The debut album produced two singles: "I Can Buy You" and "Song for the Leftovers." Its country-influenced sound also showed up on the next Cardigans album, Long Gone Before Daylight, released in the UK in 2003 and the US in 2004.

Colonia

Persson confirmed plans for a second A Camp album in a May 2007 interview with the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, citing influences like 1960s girl-pop, 1980s punk, and David Bowie. Produced by Persson, her husband Nathan Larson, and Niclas Frisk, the album Colonia featured guest appearances from former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, Joan As Policewoman, and Guided By Voices drummer Kevin March. The first single, "Stronger Than Jesus," came out on Swedish iTunes on 17 November 2008.

Covers EP

The full album followed in Europe through Universal in February 2009 and in the US via Nettwerk. A digital EP called Covers was released on 9 June 2009 in the United States and 16 June 2009 in Europe, featuring covers of Pink Floyd's "Us And Them," David Bowie's "Boys Keep Swinging," and Grace Jones' "I've Done it Again." Since then, Persson has continued making music as a solo artist and has reunited with The Cardigans for occasional tours. No further A Camp recordings are known to be planned.

Did You Know?

• The debut album topped the charts in Persson's native Sweden.
• The second album Colonia was influenced by "Girl-pop from the 60s, 80's punk, and David Bowie."