First Aid Kit

The success story of Johanna and Klara Söderberg, the Swedish sisters of First Aid Kit, can be summed up as “slowly at first, then all at once.” 

They were first recognized with a video of Fleet Foxes’ “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song” in 2008, back when they were 15 and 17 years old.  By 2012 they were singing “America” to Paul Simon at the Polar Music Prize Award Ceremony.

Their North American and U.K. agents – Tom Windish and The Agency Group’s Natasha Bent, respectively – had a lot to say so we want to give them the space to do so.

Photo: Kelsey Heng

Bent met First Aid Kit at Eurosonic in 2009. She signed them proclaiming they’d sell out Royal Albert Hall in five years’ time. They did, last year and just sold out the Hammersmith Eventim show along with a sold-out European tour.

“The words that keep coming up include ‘Amazing, awesome and sublime,’” Bent told Pollstar. “It feels like there’s not one person that doesn’t like the band. They have far-reaching appeal from young to old, male and female.  Everyone loves them.”

Windish – the head of the Windish Agency, which just won Pollstar’s Independent Agency of the Year Award – has been the North American agent since First Aid Kit made its first venture to the U.S.

“In that time, I have seen them naturally grow, step by step, fan by fan, into a substantial artist,” he told Pollstar. “In my mind, they’ve always been two steps ahead of where the industry perceived them to be, which I think makes them quite genuine.  Every step of the way has been special and now it’s really starting to pay off.”

Photo: Kelsey Heng

Bent was asked what would be the one thing she’d like buyers to know about the duo.

“That First Aid Kit can rock out,” she said. “Their cover of Jack White’s “Love Interruption” is huge. On the flipside they do an a cappella version of their song ‘Ghost Town’ which is so beautifully arresting.

The duo plays Australia in March. Summer festivals including Isle of Wight, Roskilde, Bergenfest, Hurricane/Southside, Best Kept Secret and Ilosaarirock.