When OurStage caught up with internationally celebrated solo artist José González during his tour last year, he was kind enough to share with us this advice for still emerging independent artists:

“Do most of it yourself.”

These days it’s becoming more and more common to see musicians doing a lot with a little: creating smaller bands with more multi-instrumentalists, or using effect pedals to layer instruments they play entirely by themselves. 

Take Theresa Andersson for example. Andersson, like González, is a native of Sweden and knows a thing or two about taking on a big project with little outside help. In September of 2008 she released her latest full-length album, Hummingbird, Go!, on which she performed all the instruments with the exception of two duet tracks. Andersson, whose primary instrument is the violin, managed to incorporate a wide variety of altered and homemade instruments on the album. Also, it was recorded entirely in her kitchen.

Music isn’t the only thing that puts this artist in a DIY mood.

Earlier in 2008 when she released her teaser EP, I the River, Andersson took on the challenge of personally needle felting 1,500 individual CD jackets. Now that is some serious dedication.

Andersson has joined the ranks of other DIY solo artists who use a combination of instruments and/or looping effect pedals to recreate a full band sound, such as major recording artists Liam Finn and Xavier Rudd, and OurStage artist Eryk Jones. These artists are willing to work extra hard to get the sound they want, even if it means using toes to turn knobs and press buttons. 

You can catch Theresa Andersson on one of her many current tour dates in the US.