Garmarna Winners of The John Lennon Songwriting Contest
Posted on September 9, 2025
More information about Förbundet
Today, Garmarna are proud to announce that “Ramunder” was selected by The John Lennon Songwriting Contest as the Session I Grand Prize Winner of the World category. The prize package for this award includes a Taylor acoustic-electric guitar and more than $4,000 in recording equipment.
“It’s a great honor to receive this award”, says Garmarna, who were selected as a finalist by the same contest in 2021 for their song “Dagen Flyr”. “John Lennon and The Beatles pushed the envelope on what you can do in just about every field of the music business. Throughout our 35 year career, we’ve always aimed to do the same by mixing traditional Swedish ballads with contemporary influences. We always try to stay curious and bend the rules, with feet firmly planted in the ballad tradition”.
Watch the video for “Ramunder”.
Förbundet is out now on Season of Mist
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While they’ve always pulled from the darker chapters of Swedish folklore, “Ramunder” claims the crown as Garmarna’s most chilling tale. Reimagined by razor-sharp acoustics, distorted grooves and a stomping drum beat, the opening of Förbundet sets a rather bloody scene with the tale of a warrior that destroys his enemies purely for the sake of his own enjoyment.
However, “Ramunder” isn’t all doom and gloom. Anders Norudde saws his moraharpa with devilish delight. The Swedish multi-instrumentalist, composer, carpenter and violin-maker is a member of Hedningarna, the fellow groundbreaking Swedish folk band who were an early inspiration for Garmarna.
Next year, Garmarna will face the Session II Grand Prize Winner in a public vote to determine the overall winner for the World category.
More praise for Garmarna
“If you could locate a midpoint between Björk, Nick Cave and Firewater, that’s where you’d find Garmarna” – Tinnitist
“This album is rich…these guys are not afraid to go into the past and bring out old elements and new elements” – A&P Reacts
“captivating and mesmerizing” – Grimm Gent
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