Sturm Café is an electronic body music band from Gävle, Sweden.
Music made by Sturm Café provided the soundtrack of the movie .
History Sturm Café was founded by the two teenage boys Gustav and Jonatan who met at a very young age in Gävle, Sweden. As teens they began playing with various instruments and the equipment in Jansson's father's studio. They released a couple of demo cassette tapes under the name The Xenophobian Alliance which were handed out to close friends. The instrumentation was a cheap digital synth with an Atari for sequencing and an analog 4 channel portable studio.
Later on in 2002 they bought some analogue synthesizers and a digital portable studio and the music started to spread through mp3.com. At this time, the name of the band had been changed to Sturm Café as suggested by Gustav's father who was a fan of EBM bands such as DAF and Front 242. Influenced by Gustav's father's music collection, the duo moved toward an EBM sound with minimalistic analogue basslines, monotonous drum machines and chanting vocals in German. Despite being Swedish, they were inspired to sing in German owing to Löftstedt having learned German in school and the language being understood as a typical aspect of EBM style.
This eventually led to some live gigs in early 2003 and in the summer of 2004 they performed live at Sweden's biggest open air alternative music festival, Arvika Festival. Later that year, they signed a contract with the record label Progress Productions and played several shows in Germany including at Berlin's Bodybeats club.
One year later, the album So Seelisch, So Schön! was released and climbed to position 75 on the Swedish official album sell chart. That autumn, Jonatan moved to Poland for medicine studies. Sturm Café was put on hold. However, Jonatan moved back to Sweden the next year and the work with the band could continue. Even after returning to Sweden, Löftstedt and Jansson lived an 8-hour car ride from each other, making it difficult to work together given their dependence on vintage equipment.
In 2010, the band opened for Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft at BIMFest in Belgium. That year the band also embarked on starting a label, SCR (Sturm Café Releases), with their first release being the 7" single "Koka Kola Freiheit". In considering starting the label, the band balanced demands of their non-music careers with the needs of a third-party label, ultimately deciding that the risks of running their own label were outweighed by control of the release schedule and creative process.
The band played their first non-European shows in Mexico City in 2015 and the following year in Lima, Peru.
Löftstedt also has a side project of dance music that he determined did not fit with Sturm Café called John Steiner Explosion. Some tracks from his side project were released on the band's Rarities 3 compilation in 2020.
Band members Jonatan Löfstedt - vocals, music Gustav Jansson - music, live keyboards & drums
Occasional band members / collaborators Pehr-Anders Stockenberg - live drums (2007–2009) Oskar Gullstrand - videoprojections, art work, music videos (2002–2006)
Joakim Mohlund - guest vocals on "Schweiss Bier und Stahl", live keyboards and drums Slim Vic - credited as remixer on "So Seelisch, So Schön!" 2CD version. Chinese Theatre - credited as remixer on "So Seelisch, So Schön!" 2CD version Patrik Linderstam - visuals, graphic design
Discography So Seelisch, So Schön! CD/2CD (2005) Tot CDM (2008) Koka Kola Freiheit 7" (2010) Rarities 2xCD (2013) Europa! CD & 2x12" (2015) Es Geht CD, 12" & MC (2017) So Seelisch, So Schön! Reissue CD & 12" (2019) Europa! Second press CD (2019) Fernes Land CD, 12" & MC (2021) Der Löwe aus dem Norden CD & MC (2022) Zeitgeist CD, 12" & MC (2023)
Compilations APE Produkt #3 CDR (contributing track: "Regimegegner") (2003) Electronic Compilation CD-R (contributing track: "In Meinem Griff" + "Radiosüchtig") (2004) Interbreeding III: Xenophobic 2CD (contributing track: "In Meinem Griff" + "Mr.T") (2004) ElectriXmas 2004 CD (contributing track: "Ein Mann Und Sein Bart") (2004) Born / Evolve / Progress vol.1 CD (contributing track: "Stiefelfabrik" + "Schweiss Bier und Stahl") (2005) Hymns of Steel CD (contributing track: "Schweiss Bier und Stahl") (2006) Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. 56 2CD (contributing track: "Die Wahrheit") (2006) Infacted vol.3 CD (contributing track: "Radiosüchtig") (2006) Born / Evolve / Progress vol.2 CD (contributing track: "Weltliches Leben") (2007) Mortal Decay 2CD-R (contributing track: "Der Grosse Schwein (Terror Punk Syndicate Remix)") (2007) Infected vol.4 2CD (contributing track: "Tot (Terror Punk Syndicate Remix)") (2008) Machines Against Hunger 2CD (contributing track: "1/15") (2008) Nacht Der Maschinen VolumeTwo CD (contributing track: "Ich Spekuliere") (2008) 5 Years Of Progress - 2004-2009 CD (contributing track: "Der Löwe Ist Zurück") (2009) EBM Collection Vol.1 12" (contributing track: "Der Löwe Ist Zurück") (2009) Swedish EBM - The Collection CD (contributing track: "Scheissnormal") (2010) Nacht Der Maschinen Volume Three (contributing track: "Der Löwe Ist Zurück") (2011) Electronic Body Matrix 1 (contributing track: "Die Wahrheit") (2011) Doppelhertz Vol. 2 (contributing track: "Sicherheit") (2011)
Complete tour history Klubb Volga, Sweden Stockholm, April 23, 2003 Club Absynth, Sweden Gävle, May 30, 2003 Kungen, Sweden Sandviken, July 18, 2003 Valhall, Sweden Falun, July 20, 2003 Musikhuset, Sweden Gävle, December 13, 2003 Electrobash #2, Sweden Uppsala, January 23, 2004 Adrenalinfestival, Sweden Sundsvall, January 31, 2004 Club Spacelab, Sweden Gothenburg, February 6, 2004 Club Absynth, Sweden Gävle, March 11, 2004 Kungen, Sweden Sandviken, April 3, 2004 More Than A Party '04, Sweden Uppsala, April 11, 2004 Vogon Variety, Sweden Malmö, May 8, 2004 Plasticity, Sweden Gothenburg, July 9, 2004 Arvikafestival, Sweden Arvika, July 15, 2004 Electronic Wonders, Sweden Oskarshamn, October 30, 2004 Bodybeats, Germany Berlin, November 13, 2004 Beatclub, Germany Dessau, November 20, 2004 Club Harrow Road, Sweden Örebro, December 3, 2004 ElectriXmas, Sweden Lund, December 11, 2004 Allhuset, Sweden Stockholm, December 17, 2004 Club Spacelab, Sweden Gothenburg, February 4, 2005 Musikhuset, Sweden Gävle, March 18, 2005 Sticky Fingers, Sweden Gothenburg, November 4, 2005 Nuclear Nation, Sweden Linköping, November 5, 2005 Neostalgia, Sweden Malmö, February 4, 2006 Allhuset, Sweden Stockholm, February 11, 2006 SAMA, Sweden Gothenburg, April 14, 2006 Der Bunker, Sweden Gothenburg, July 28, 2006 Beatclub, Germany Dessau, September 9, 2006 Klubb Lakritz, Sweden Norrköping, November 24, 2006 Das Boot, Baltic Sea December 8, 2006 Sus Fel Nap, Hungary Budapest, January 19, 2007 Tech Noir, Sweden Stockholm, January 27, 2007 Musikhuset, Sweden Gävle, February 23, 2007 Die Villa, Germany Leipzig, April 7, 2007 Club Undercut, Sweden Lund, May 3, 2007 Void Spring Festival, Sweden Kalmar, May 5, 2007 Club Hellfire, Norway Trondheim, June 9, 2007 Club Maiden, Norway Oslo, June 10, 2007 Familientreffen III, Germany Sandersleben, August 4, 2007 Club Radium, Sweden Karlstad, November 2, 2007 Beatclub, Germany Dessau, March 23, 2008 Club Arkham, Finland Turku, November 21, 2008 Club Lagerhof, Germany Leipzig, December 6, 2008 Musikens Hus, Sweden Gothenburg, May 16, 2009 Familientreffen V, Germany Sandersleben, July 24, 2009 Bodytåget, Sweden Stockholm, March 6, 2010 Klubb Kalabalik, Sweden Växjö, March 20, 2010 Traffic Club, Italy Rome, April 3, 2010 Salzmanns Factory, Germany Kassel, July 10, 2010 Collapsed City Festival, Poland Szczecin, October 31, 2010 Belgian Independent Music Festival, Belgium Antwerp, December 18, 2010 Holdeplassen, Norway Trondheim, March 19, 2011 Beatclub, Germany Dessau, March 26, 2011 Bodyfest, Sweden Stockholm, October 1, 2011 Neostalgia, Sweden Malmö, March 24, 2012 Kulttempel, Germany Oberhausen, September 7, 2012 EBM Music Club, Germany Cologne, February 23, 2013 Familientreffen IX, Germany Sandersleben, July 5, 2013 Kafka Club, Belgium Antwerp, September 13, 2013 Summer Stomp, Germany Kassel, September 14, 2013 Club Sputnik, Sweden Jönköping, April 26, 2014 Electronic Summer, Sweden Gothenburg, August 29, 2015 EBM Music Club, Germany Cologne, September 19, 2015 Bodyfest, Sweden Stockholm, October 23, 2015 El Baile de Mascaras Episodio XIV, Mexico Mexico City, October 30, 2015 El Real Under, Mexico Mexico City, October 31, 2015 Beatclub, Germany Dessau, December 31, 2015 El Calabozo, Peru Lima, August 6, 2016 VII. E-Only Festival, Germany Leipzig, February 18, 2017 Kalabalik På Tyrolen, Sweden Alvesta, August 26, 2017 12. NCN Festival, Germany Deutzen, September 8, 2017 Soho Stage, Germany Augsburg, September 9, 2017 Stiefel Fest, Germany Oberhausen, November 3, 2017 Blasphemous Beats, Germany Hamburg, November 4, 2017 Progress 13, Sweden Gothenburg, November 18, 2017 Wave Gotik Treffen, Germany Leipzig, May 20, 2018 Sticky Fingers, Sweden Gothenburg, September 14, 2018 Klubb Död, Sweden Stockholm, December 1, 2018 Replugged, Austria Vienna, March 30, 2019 Subkultfestivalen 2019, Sweden Trollhättan, June 15, 2019 Celebrata Hindrheimr 2019, Norway Trondheim, July 6, 2019 Nuclear Nation, Sweden Linköping, October 12, 2019 EBM Night, Switzerland Zürich, November 9, 2019 Bimfest XVII, Belgium Sint-Niklaas, December 14, 2019 Vardagsrumfestival, Sweden Staffanstorp, February 1, 2020 The Place, Russia Saint Petersburg, February 22, 2020 Alibi, Russia Moscow, February 23, 2020 Klubb Berlin, Sweden Umeå, March 12, 2022 Barbros Brygga Sweden Karlstad, March 25, 2022 Musikens Hus, Sweden Gothenburg, March 26, 2022 Musikhuset, Sweden Gävle, April 23, 2022 WGT EBM Warm Up Day 1, Germany Leipzig, July 9, 2022 WGT EBM Warm Up Day 2, Germany Leipzig, July 10, 2022 Subkultfestivalen 2022, Sweden Vänersborg, July 9, 2022 Amphi Festival, Germany Cologne, July 24, 2022 Lygten Station, Denmark Copenhagen, September 9, 2022 Charles Dickens, Sweden Helsingborg, September 10, 2022 Schattenwelt Festival 2022, Austria Vienna, October 8, 2022 Klubb Död, Sweden Stockholm, November 19, 2022 Kulttempel, Germany Oberhausen, January 20, 2023 Der Cult, Germany Nuremberg, March 11, 2023 Darkest Night, Belgium Retie, April 23, 2023 Familientreffen, Germany Sandersleben, July 8, 2023 Summer Stomp, Germany Kassel, September 23, 2023 Musikhuset, Sweden Gävle, October 7, 2023 Alternativfesten, Sweden Sandviken, November 11, 2023 Musikens Hus, Sweden Gothenburg, November 25, 2023 E-Tropolis Festival, Germany Oberhausen, March 2, 2024 WGT EBM Warm Up, Germany Leipzig, May 16, 2024 Subkultfestivalen 2024, Sweden Vänersborg, June 29, 2024 Synth I Molkom, Sweden Molkom, August 10, 2024 Maschinensturm Festival, Germany Fürstenwalde, September 28, 2024 Charles Dickens, Sweden Helsingborg, October 19, 2024 Sturm und Drang vol.2, Germany Zwickau, November 9, 2024 Klubb Död, Sweden Stockholm, March 22, 2025 Wave Gotik Treffen, Germany Leipzig, June 8, 2025 Schwarzer Speicher 2025, Germany Nienhagen, July 26, 2025 Musikhuset, Sweden Gävle, September 20, 2025 Valand, Sweden Gothenburg, October 3, 2025 Gränden Sweden Karlstad, October 4, 2025 Anestesia Bar Mexico Guadalajara, October 24, 2025 Synth Fest VI Mexico Mexico City, October 25, 2025 Amón Solar Costa Rica San José, October 29, 2025 Relevent Music Hall Colombia Bogotá, October 30, 2025 Santiago Gothic Treffen Chile Santiago, November 1, 2025 Madame Brazil São Paulo, November 2, 2025 Cadavra Spain Madrid, November 28, 2025 Sala Slow Spain Barcelona, November 29, 2025 Aces and Eights United Kingdom London, January 24, 2026 Nuclear Nation, Sweden Linköping, June 6, 2026 Subkultfestivalen 2026, Sweden Trollhättan, June 27, 2026 Jon-Fest 2026, Sweden Riddarhyttan, July 18, 2026
References