Join Magnus Zetterlund as he welcomes Swedish artist Malin Foxdal to discuss her journey with the octave mandolin, from knowing just four chords to performing solo concerts. Malin shares insights on her two new ensembles—one rooted in Swedish and Celtic folk, another exploring improvised poetry and jazz. Discover her philosophy of learning through doing, the liberating power of stage improvisation, and how the octave mandolin became her creative voice. Plus, hear live performances of "Ingens Lilla Flicka" and "I Sing" from her acclaimed music theater work about Swedish immigration, and learn Magnus's secret trait: unstoppable grit.

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Malin Foxdal's website:
https://www.malinfoxdal.com/

Show Notes

Topics Covered:

Discovering the Octave Mandolin

• First encounter with Esbjörn Hazelius's instrument in 2009
• Buying an octave mandolin knowing only four chords—and never regretting it
• Why the octave mandolin creates a perfect "third voice" for singer-songwriters
• How it blends beautifully with violin, guitar, and other string instruments

Learning Philosophy: Be Brave & Curious

• Teaching yourself through performance rather than waiting to be "ready"
• The importance of getting on stage with whatever you know
• Adding songs one by one to build your repertoire
• Learning to fail forward and staying curious to avoid boredom

New Musical Projects

• Trio with Emma Reid (violin) and Dan Knagg (multi-instrumentalist): Swedish and Celtic folk with newly composed music rooted in tradition
• Experimental trio with Anders Hagberg (flute/sax) and Rickard Åström (piano): Improvising poetry live on stage, including audience-contributed words
• The art of trust, presence, and listening in live improvisation

20 Years as an Artist

• Celebrating two decades of building experience and tools
• Recent album receiving fantastic reviews and cultural awards
• The journey from experimental beginnings to confident improvisation

Music Theater & Social Commentary

• "På andra sidan Swede Hollow" (On the Other Side of Swede Hollow): A play about Swedish immigration to America
• Drawing parallels between historical Swedish emigrants and modern immigrants to Sweden
• Using music theater to cultivate sympathy and perspective

Instrument Spotlight: Weber Bridger A

• Custom-made octave mandolin from Weber factory (2009/2010)
• Tuned G-D-A-E with flatwound strings for a mellow tone
• Comparing sounds with Magnus's similar model
• One of only two octave mandolins in their household!

Current Practice Focus

• Developing more rhythmical playing patterns
• Experimenting with picking hand technique
• Playing the same songs with fresh presence each time

Featured Music (Live Performances):

• "Ingens Lilla Flicka Längre" (No One's Little Girl Anymore) - Original composition with lyrics by poet Kristina Lugn
• "I Sing" - From the music theater "På andra sidan Swede Hollow" about Swedish immigration

Magnus's Secret Revealed: Malin shares that Magnus's defining trait is his unstoppable persistence—once he decides to do something, he never gives up. Pure grit!

Connect with Malin Foxdal: Website: malinfoxdal.com Available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all streaming platforms

Recommended Albums:

• Latest album celebrating 20 years as an artist
• "Natt Fjäril" (2010) - Gillian Welch songs interpreted in Swedish with an Americana vibe
• "Jag längtade" - Traditional Swedish folk songs with blues/Americana touch

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Esbjörn Hazelius (Swedish musician)
• Emma Reid (violinist from Newcastle, England)
• Dan Knagg (multi-instrumentalist)
• Anders Hagberg (flutist/soprano saxophonist)
• Rickard Åström (pianist)
• Gillian Welch (American songwriter)
• Kristina Lugn (Swedish poet)

Resources:

• Full video performances available exclusively in Mandolin Secrets Academy
• Previous podcast episodes at mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Join Magnus Zetterlund as he sits down with Swedish mandolin player, bandleader, and composer Karl Tirén to discuss his innovative Atlas project—a unique trio featuring mandolin, trombone, and double bass. Karl shares his compositional process, the journey from injury to inspiration with the tune "At Last," and how he practices through playing rather than drilling scales.

Links:

Visit our website for more episodes:

https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Connect with Karl Tirén: Instagram: @karltiren.music

https://www.instagram.com/karltiren.music

Bandcamp - Karl Tiren

https://karltiren.bandcamp.com/album/atlas

Music available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all streaming platforms Physical CDs available by contacting Karl directly

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1rlnxnGG3xgGMG16lRIh7D?si=VxT_r2iJRQ-OoaEf0x8Ybg

Mandolin Secrets Academy

https://www.mandolinsecrets.com/academy

Topics Covered:

The Atlas Project

• Unique instrumentation: mandolin, trombone (Magnus Grumer), and double bass (Johan Lindblom)
• Released as three EPs, now available as a complete album
• Blending American mandolin traditions with Scandinavian sensibilities
• Modern approach to releasing music in the streaming era

Composition & Creative Process

• Karl's workflow: starting with instrumental phrases that "stick"
• Voice memos and long-form development (some tunes take years)
• Writing specifically for ensemble voices (like "Tromb" for trombone)
• Balancing melody and rhythm on the mandolin

Practice Philosophy

• "Practice listening" as the foundation
• Desire-driven rather than strictly disciplined approach
• Learning through playing tunes instead of isolated exercises
• Influences from David Grisman, Chris Thile, and Brazilian mandolinist Hamilton de Holanda

Overcoming Injury

• Karl's tendonitis story and years away from playing
• How Atlas bandmates share a history of performance injuries
• The importance of listening to your body
• "At Last" as a turning point in regaining inspiration

Band Leadership

• Self-releasing music without a record label
• Building a touring quartet (adding trumpet player Karl Valmyr)
• Balancing music with day jobs
• Planning and sustaining a long-term project

Instruments

• Karl's Bouvier F-style mandolin (refinished from purple!)
• Also plays a Nordic flat-top mandola by Mats Nordvall
• Discussion of American vs. Nordic mandolin traditions

Featured Music:

• Åre Polskan (Swedish traditional, mandolin duo with Magnus)
• "At Last" (original composition that launched the Atlas project)
• "Tromb" (written specifically for trombone)
• Bridal march (Scandinavian-influenced original)
• Bach Menuet in G Major (duo arrangement)

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Johan Lindblom (double bass)
• Magnus Grumer (trombone)
• Karl Valmyr (trumpet)
• Former band: Primus Motor
• Hamilton de Holanda (Brazilian mandolinist)
• Mats Nordvall (Nordic mandolin builder)

Resources:

• Full video version available in Mandolin Secrets Academy
• Bach Menuet and Åre Polskan arrangements available in the Academy

Go behind the scenes as Magnus Zeterlund breaks down his latest release, "Bingsjö Lilla Långdans"—a traditional Swedish tune reimagined on electric octave mandolin and guitar.

Discover how he adapted the melody, layered harmonies across different octaves, and programmed drums in Logic Pro.

Magnus shares his workflow for multitracking, why he chose certain tones, and the three biggest lessons learned: separating instrument sounds, editing drums at the event level, and deciding track length early.

Perfect for musicians curious about the creative and technical process of bringing traditional music into a modern recording.

Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

Please watch video and listen to performance by following the link below.
https://www.mandolinsecrets.com/bingsjo-lilla-langdans

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

In this episode:
Magnus Zetterlund takes a deep dive into his unique mandolin arrangement of the 1940 Disney classic. Using an AI-generated technical overview as a jumping-off point, he explores the intersection of music theory, instrument physics, and emotional delivery.

Technical Key Points Covered:

• The "Spice" of the A7#5: Why Magnus used an augmented dominant chord to create tension and Sophistication in the A-section.
• Harmonic Sophistication: A breakdown of the Dm7(b5) to G7 (ii-V-I) progression and how it adds a jazz flavor to the traditional melody.
• Position & Timbre: Why fretboard geography matters. Comparing the "warm, rounded" tones of the lower frets to the "bright, bell-like" quality of the higher fret voicings.

Resources Mentioned:

• Magnus Zetterlund’s Lead Sheet: The original PDF arrangement of When You Wish Upon a Star.
• AI Technical Overview: A digital analysis of the harmonic complexity within the manuscript.

>> Download free mandolin chord charts at my website:

https://mandolinsecrets.com/wish-upon-a-star

Visit our website for more episodes:

https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Join Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin as they wrap up 2025 and dive into the real work happening in practice rooms across the mandolin community. In this candid conversation, Magnus and Hayes get technical about pick slanting and escape motions—the breakthrough technique that's transforming their playing after decades of double-escaping. They also tackle practical questions from the community about practice routines, gear choices, and how to stay motivated on your musical journey.

Whether you're a beginner finding your way or an experienced player refining your technique, this episode offers honest insights into the practice process and what it takes to keep growing as a musician.

Topics Covered:

Pick Slanting & Single Escape Technique

• Magnus shares his breakthrough moment with pick slanting after 30 years of playing
• Understanding supination vs. pronation and rest strokes vs. escape strokes
• Why this isn't just about speed—it's about efficient, powerful single-note picking
• Practical demonstrations of two-note and four-note per string patterns
• How to build vocabulary from mechanical exercises

Practice Priorities

• Hayes on the importance of tracking your practice (and his 20-month tracking gap)
• Magnus's focus on right-hand technique and melodic adjustments
• Community members share their goals: learning scales, memorizing the fretboard, and diving into Nordic folk tunes

Gear Talk: Cases & Gig Bags

• Finding the right fit for different instruments and situations
• Hard cases vs. soft cases: when to use each
• Magnus's search for the perfect electric octave mandolin case (spoiler: Strandberg guitar bags might be the answer)
• Community recommendations including Colorado Case Company, Blue Heron, TKL, and Northfield cases

Looking Ahead to 2026

• Magnus's new Octave Mandolin Course now available
• Plans for a Nordic Folk Guitar course coming in spring 2026
• Hayes's upcoming European tour in May (details TBA)
• New Guitar Club content and guided courses on the horizon

Community Insights

• How joining Mandolin Secrets Academy increases practice frequency and commitment
• The power of putting "skin in the game" for your musical development

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Mandolin Secrets Academy (mandolinsecrets.com)
• Previous podcast episodes at mandolinsecrets.com/podcast
• Hayes's tour with Beppe Gambetta
• Magnus's collaboration with Johan Eriksson Rapp

Connect With Us: Watch the video version of this episode exclusively inside Mandolin Secrets Academy, or find all previous episodes at mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

Visit our website for more episodes:

https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Beppe Gambetta website:

https://beppegambetta.com/

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are discussing:

• What are the best practice advice or helpful tips you have learned?
• Did you attend any good concerts this summer?
• Magnus biggest take aways from the workshops at Grenna Bluegrass Festival with Tristan Scroggins
• Magnus’s new video lesson for pinky power.
• Hayes’ new video for Northfield Signal Electric Guitar.
• Hayes’ new Bulas two-point mandolin.

Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

Visit our website for more episodes:

https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Bulas Instruments

https://bulas.pl/en-us

Northield Mandolins

https://www.northfieldinstruments.com/

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are discussing:

• When getting started, were you mostly self-taught or did you take lessons?
• What got you to pick up the mandolin the first time?
• Magnus is sharing videos of himself testing out the entire mandolin family: mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, and mandocello.
• Hayes is sharing info and details about his new beginner course “Play Bluegrass Guitar in 30 days”.

Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

Visit our website for more episodes:

https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast