About Sehnsucht
Sehnsucht is German for Nostalgia, longing, or yearning. More specifically, a deep unsettled longing for something ‘else’
An unapologetically melancholic indie-folk album born straight from the heartfelt reflections of Singer- Songwriter Teo Saefkow’s experiences with the concept of Sehnsucht, and influenced by the folky- atmospheric confessional style of artists like Lucy Dacus and Gregory Alan Isakov. Scalawag’s sophomore album Sehnsucht deals with the multi- disciplinary artist’s attempt at finding meaning within relation. From the opening track’s examination of a doomed relationship, to obsession with the thought of a loved one deciding never to return home in the album’s fourth track.
Teo Saefkow (aka Scalawag) self produced and recorded the entire album during the winter and spring of 2021. “Growing up, I was always most inspired by musicians who were able to hop from instrument to instrument” says Saefkow, “I endeavoured to do the same, and now, whenever I record, I’m always looking for new techniques or instruments that I can add to the sound. Everything you hear on the album came from me, with a few cameos by some close friends.” Teo crafted the album in the basement of an old house in East Vancouver. “When I made my first album, I wrote most of it in my home town, and I recorded it all there. This album feels like it came from a different place. It feels very East Van, I wrote it here, I produced it here, and now it feels like I can finally call this place my home.”
Sehnsucht is Scalawag’s Sophomore album, following the artist’s self-produced, self-titled debut album in 2019, and the more recent “Runaway EP.” (Reviewed “From bone-deep sadness to floating happiness and body moving rockabilly realizations, he has you hooked to his varying sounds and scrambling to add each track to your favourite playlists.” By The Other Side Reviews, and “Scalawag manages to tie it all together with his nostalgic crooning, to create a smooth and cohesive soundscape.” by Music Crowns)
‘Sehnsucht' released on June 1st, 2023.
Teo Saefkow (aka Scalawag) is a Bi, multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who brings his Northern BC music festival roots to Vancouver. His sound Harkens to the folky multi-instrumentalism of Sufjan Stevens and the broody intricate lyrics of Hozier. With the goal of disregarding genre constraints, and simply creating whatever may come.
Scalawag Brief
Scalawag Bio
Scalawag is a Vancouver-based, queer Singer- songwriter/producer. They strive to capture hyper- specific emotions by blending seemingly abstract lyrics with the northern Canadian folk festival sounds of their childhood. Teo Saefkow (aka Scalawag) is a multi-instrumentalist, playing Trumpet, Saxophone, Percussion, Bass, Piano, Ukulele and Guitar. Their sound has been described as a mix between the brooding lyricism of Hozier, the quiet confessional-folk styles of Lucy Dacus and Sufjan Stevens, and the timely poeticism of a young Leonard Cohen.
Teo Saefkow grew up in the small town of Smithers, B.C. From an early age, they were exposed to live music, attending concerts and music festivals around northern B.C. They started playing music when they received their first guitar at age 7 and continued throughout elementary and high school where they played tenor saxophone and trumpet in several school bands, and sang in the jazz and choral choirs.
Their career in music began the year after they graduated high school when they and long time friend, Zak Windle, started writing music together under the name Ranger Smash. They co-produced and released their first 10-track album together in June, 2016. Teo then went on to write, record and self-produce their first solo album under the name Scalawag, released in March, 2019, during his Album release tour.
More recently, Scalawag released a 5-track EP ‘Runaway’ in July, 2021 (“The silky smooth articulation...We are in love!” -Tonemill, "There’s a kind of intimacy to this recording that you rarely find in music today. It feels... for lack of a better word, “organic.” I am definitely glad to have found the charming, endearing style of Scalawag.” -Ear to the Ground music)
Teo, AKA Scalawag, is sure to both make you nostalgic for things you've never experienced, and keep your head bopping and your torso grooving.