William Bülow O'Nils - En bättre värld: William Bülow O'Nils sjunger Ruben Nilson

Facts William Bülow O'Nils, normally the guitarist in the internationally acclaimed trio ro.t, makes his solo debut with his own interpretations of Swedish folk poet Ruben Nilson's songs. With his personal takes on these timeless songs, he joins the ranks of Ruben Nilson interpreters that already include Olle Adolphson, Harry Brandelius, and both Cajsa Stina and Fred Åkerström.

The album En bättre värld: William Bülow O'Nils sjunger Ruben Nilson opens with William Bülow O'Nils' critically acclaimed single “Amerikabrev” and closes with “Bästa Kalle (Svaret på Amerikabrevet)”, a composition by fellow musician and co-producer Daniel Östersjö, in which the true recipient of the America letter gets to speak through the voice of singer Rebecka O'Nils.

Beyond the songs about the letter correspondence, the album features eight more tracks, each given a sensitive musical treatment that blends americana and Swedish folk music. Among the titles are “Fimpen och tändstickan”, “Rallarevisa”, “Den okände soldaten”, and Ruben Nilson's perhaps most famous song, “De odödliga hästen”. William Bülow O'Nils has also set the poem “Full tid” to music, a text Ruben Nilson never gave a melody of his own.

Alongside William Bülow O'Nils (vocals, guitar) and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Östersjö, the album also features singer Rebecka O'Nils from the trio ro.t, Bengt Söderhäll from Le Lac Long 814, Puch Magnus Olsson, Per-Olof Swing (accordion), and Pelle Westin (choir).

The beloved folk poet, author, artist, and sheet metal worker Ruben Nilson was born February 7, 1893, on Södermalm in Stockholm and died in Sundbyberg in 1971. His first songbook, “Vanvördiga visor”, was published in 1935, followed by “Vår vackra värld” (1937) and “Balladen om Eken” (1947). As an artist, he is best known for the large painting “Arbetarrörelsens historia”, which hangs in the basement level of the ABF building on Sveavägen in Stockholm.