Stockholm, Sweden's
Axel Boman DJs and produces shimmering, playful house music in addition to running the Studio Barnhus label along with
Kornél Kovács and
Petter Nordkvist. His tracks are generally stripped-down, groove-heavy, and somewhat cheeky, although there are a few moments when he gets introspective and melancholy, such as 2011's "Depression 01." He occasionally collaborates with
John Talabot as
Talaboman, and the duo released their debut album,
The Night Land, in 2017.
Boman's ambitious double album, LUZ/Quest for Fire, appeared in 2022.
He began attending raves during the early '90s, and gradually became a fixture of Stockholm's club scene, first as a partygoer, and eventually as a DJ. Once he made the leap to producing tracks, he released several EPs on Ourvision Recordings starting in 2008. "Arcimboldo" (from 2008's digital-only Jungle Jesus EP) made a splash in the club world, and a 12" of remixes was released in 2010. That same year,
Boman co-founded Studio Barnhus, and his
Holy Love EP was released by
DJ Koze's then-new label Pampa Records. "Purple Drank" became the EP's breakout club hit, and
Boman became an in-demand DJ, producer, and remixer. The next few years brought EPs on labels like Play It Down, Glass Table, and Hypercolour, as well as remixes for
Harald Björk,
DJ Hell,
Wolfram, and others.
His debut full-length,
Family Vacation, arrived on Studio Barnhus in 2013, featuring the single "Fantastic Piano."
Boman and
Nordkvist, as the duo
Man Tear, released "Outside Amore" on DFA.
Boman formed the
Talaboman duo with
John Talabot, and their debut single, "Sideral," was released in 2014, after appearing on
Talabot's DJ-Kicks mix CD in 2013.
Boman's solo single "1979" followed on Pampa in 2015, and the Moon Dancer EP appeared on Third Try Records in 2016.
Talaboman's debut full-length,
The Night Land, appeared on R&S in 2017.
Boman's second solo album, Le New Life, was issued by Mule Musiq in 2019. The same year,
Talaboman released "Discodrums" and
Man Tear returned with "Kill Me." The bittersweet "Eyes of My Mind" appeared in 2020, instantly becoming one of
Boman's most acclaimed tracks. In 2022, he simultaneously released two albums, LUZ/Quest for Fire, with guests including
Bella Boo,
Baba Stiltz, and Kamohelo of Off the Meds. ~ Paul Simpson