Daniel Östersjö Releases New Music: “Everybody’s joining it” Marks the Start of Upcoming Double Album "New Joe Hill Songs"

In recent years, Daniel Östersjö has established himself as one of the leading figures on Sweden’s vibrant singer-songwriter scene—well-known as a vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer. Today, he takes an important step forward by releasing the single “Everybody’s joining it,” the first genuine taste of his upcoming double album "New Joe Hill Songs." With this work, Östersjö breathes new life into the legacy of Joe Hill (Joel Hägglund), the world-famous music activist from Gävle, by setting previously unperformed lyrics to his own original music.

The single “Everybody’s joining it” stands out for its collective expression: around one hundred Gävle residents join with their voices in the song’s final, powerful chorus—recorded directly on the city’s streets. This communal choir reflects Östersjö’s ambition to convey inclusion and solidarity—two core values that always characterized Joe Hill’s work. The union of many voices becomes not only a tribute to Hill’s historical significance but also a contemporary example of the power of collaboration within music.

Joe Hill, born Joel Hägglund, was one of thousands of Swedes who emigrated to America in the early 1900s. He quickly became a central figure in the labor movement thanks to his impactful lyrics, marked by sharp social satire and insights drawn from his own experiences of exclusion and community. According to Östersjö, Joe Hill’s themes are highly relevant even today—they depict the politics of everyday life, the power of language, and the social experiences that arise from encountering challenging life circumstances.

Östersjö describes the album project as inspired by the idea of an imagined meeting where icons like Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and David Bowie gather with Joe Hill in a warehouse in San Pedro. Together, they share songs and stories across generations. Through newly composed musical settings, Östersjö invites listeners to experience these texts as living cultural heritage, filled with social energy and emotional depth.

The double album "New Joe Hill Songs" is scheduled for release in November and features a guest appearance by the acclaimed blues artist Rolf Wikström. Although the full tracklist and additional contributors have yet to be announced, it is clear that the project is deeply rooted in both Swedish folk traditions and contemporary innovative expression.

Beyond the Joe Hill project, Daniel Östersjö is also involved this autumn with the trio "Hommage till Fred Åkerström." There, the album "Spegelbilder" will be released in September—in collaboration with the newly established Fred Åkerström Society and COMEDIA. This album consists of new music for previously uncomposed poems by the legendary troubadour and lyricist Fred Åkerström. Alongside Lars Nylin, author and chairman of the society, Östersjö continues his habit of giving musical voice to underrated poetic texts.

Collaboration is a recurring hallmark of Östersjö’s artistry. In recent years, he has led or participated in countless projects with artists such as Elin Lyth, William Bülow O’Nils, Le Lac Long 814, Maria L Hallengren, Elsie Johansson, and Puch Magnus Olsson, as well as arranging music for poetry by, among others, Kristina Lugn, Stig Dagerman, Beppe Wolgers, Dan Andersson, Bengt Söderhäll, and the Chinese poet Yu Xiu Hua. Other collaborators include Jan Hammarlund, Tomas Andersson Wij, Eva Hillered, Somewhere, Peter Asplund, and Mårten Lärka—where everything from jazz to prog has influenced his artistic diversity.

Östersjö’s commitment to the local and the collective was also evident in last year’s project "Porträtten," which was created together with Anneli Åhlén Östersjö. Here, interviews with residents of Tierp were transformed into musical narratives, where everyday lives and personal stories were brought to light—a fundamental approach that continues to shape his expression as a folk artist and songwriter.

With “Everybody’s joining it,” Daniel Östersjö takes yet another step forward in his artistry—affirming at the same time the power of the Swedish folk tradition to unite, give voice to collective stories, and highlight contemporary issues through music. In the coming months, new albums "New Joe Hill Songs" and "Spegelbilder" await, both adding new layers to Östersjö’s significant contribution to Swedish cultural life.