Kristian Matsson is a Swedish singer-songwriter who performs under the stage name The Tallest Man on Earth. Matsson grew up in Leksand, and began his solo career in 2006, having previously been the lead singer of the indie band Montezumas.
His music has often drawn comparisons to the music of Bob Dylan.
real name: Saras Per Kristian Matsson
labels: Dead Oceans, Mexican Summer, Anti-
genres: folk music, indie folk, indie rock
influenced by: Bob Dylan, Nick Drake
plays: steel-string acoustic guitar, voice, Gretsch 6128, guitar, piano, electric guitar, banjo
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Before Matsson began his solo career, he was the lead singer of the indie band Montezumas.
Critics have compared The Tallest Man on Earth to Bob Dylan both in terms of songwriting ability and vocal style. When asked about his lyrical style, Matsson explains that he began listening to Bob Dylan at fifteen, and upon hearing Dylan's cover material, he "tried to figure out where those songs came from" and became slowly exposed to early American folk, such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. But he is careful to qualify this, saying "I don't consider my work to be a part of any tradition. This is how I play. This is how I write songs."