Export Music Swedens’s CEO Jesper Thorsson moderates this discussion about artist development together with three interesting individuals that has spent a long time doing exactly that. Karin Inde (manager of Musikcentrum Väst and chair of KLYS), Tuva Härdelin (manager of RFOD) and singer-songwriter Svavar Knútur Kristinsson, from the Westfjords of Iceland.

In the panel:

• Svavar Knútur

  Artist (IS)

  Icelandic singer/songwriter Svavar Knútur is the son of a school teacher and a fisherman from the rural parts of Iceland. He has in the recent years developed a closer relationship with his native language and culture, the stories of his family and ancestors and the emotional landscape of northern folk. He's also a passionate storyteller.

  Svavar Knútur’s performances have been widely praised, in both the Icelandic and the international press. Influenced by such songwriters as Nick Drake, Kris Kristofferson and Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Svavar has developed his own style, a meeting of folk and indie rock. Svavar’s live performances are a mixture of songs and stories. He invites the audience along with him on a journey of discovery through misery and redemption, with humour and hope as his constant companions. All the while, he maintains his creative goal of emotional healing and catharsis.

  Svavar Knútur is also the founding chairman of IsFolk, the Icelandic folk association

• Karin Inde

  CEO, Musikcentrum Väst (SE)
  Chairwoman, KLYS

  KLYS is the Swedish Joint Committee for Artistic and Literary Professionals, an umbrella organization for collaboration between professional artists from all art disciplines in matters of common interest such as authors´ rights, labor market, freedom of expression, cultural diversity, social security and tax schemes. KLYS main objective is to protect the interests of the individual members in terms of cultural politics and union concerns and to improve the social and economic situation for artistic professionals.

• Thuva Härdelin

  Managing Director, RFOD (SE)

• Jesper Thorsson (Moderator)

  CEO, Export Music Sweden (SE)

  Export Music Sweden is owned by Swedish industry bodies Ifpi, Sami and Stim, with the mission to improve and broaden the operation working with all genres and all Swedish music industry.

  Jesper started the independent department ADA Nordic at Warner Music and later becoming the Director of International Labels. Before that he was responsible for the Nordic market at the venerable label Roadrunner Records at Bonnier Amigo Music Group and was also a part of the European A&R Team at Roadrunner.