Editing Sturm Café

{{Multiple issues|
{{Notability|date=March 2024}}
{{RefImprove|date=March 2024}}
}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Sturm Café
| image           = Sturm Café Nocturnal Culture Night 11 2017 14.jpg
| caption         = Sturm Café in 2017
| image_size      =
| background      = group_or_band
| alias           = The Xenophobian Alliance
| origin          = [[Gävle]], [[Sweden]]
| genre           = {{ hlist | [[Electronic body music|EBM]] | [[Synthpop]] }}
| years_active    = 2001–present
| label           = {{ hlist | Progress Productions | SCR }}
| spinoffs        = John Steiner Explosion
| website         =
| current_members = * Jonatan Löftstedt
* Gustav Jansson
| past_members    =
}}

'''Sturm Café''' is an [[electronic body music]] band from [[Gävle]], [[Sweden]].

Music made by Sturm Café provided the soundtrack of the movie {{Interlanguage link|Die Zombiejäger|sv}}.

==History==
Sturm Café was founded by the two teenage boys Gustav and Jonatan who met at a very young age in Gävle, Sweden. As teens they began playing with various instruments and the equipment in Jansson's father's studio. They released a couple of demo cassette tapes under the name '''The Xenophobian Alliance''' which were handed out to close friends. The instrumentation was a cheap digital synth with an Atari for sequencing and an analog 4 channel portable studio.<ref name="ebm_24">{{cite book|last1=Hampejs|first1=Yuma|last2=Schulze|first2=Marcel|title=Electronic Body Music (English Edition)|year=2024|location=Lüdersdorf, Germany|publisher=Mionætti|isbn=9783000785245|pages=305–309}}</ref>

Later on in 2002 they bought some analogue synthesizers and a digital portable studio and the music started to spread through [[MP3.com|mp3.com]]. At this time, the name of the band had been changed to Sturm Café as suggested by Gustav's father who was a fan of EBM bands such as [[Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft|DAF]] and [[Front 242]]. Influenced by Gustav's father's music collection, the duo moved toward an EBM sound with minimalistic analogue basslines, monotonous drum machines and chanting vocals in German. Despite being Swedish, they were inspired to sing in German owing to Löftstedt having learned German in school and the language being understood as a typical aspect of EBM style.<ref name="ebm_24" />

This eventually led to some live gigs in early 2003 and in the summer of 2004 they performed live at Sweden's biggest open air alternative music festival, [[Arvika Festival]]. Later that year, they signed a contract with the record label Progress Productions and played several shows in Germany including at Berlin's Bodybeats club.<ref name="ebm_24" />

One year later, the album ''So Seelisch, So Schön!'' was released and climbed to position 75 on the Swedish official album sell chart.{{cite needed|date=March 2024}} That autumn, Jonatan moved to Poland for medicine studies. Sturm Café was put on hold.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Molin |first1=Gustaf |title=Intervju: Sturm Café |url=http://www.synth.nu/artikel_visa.php?aid=32 |website=Synth.nu |access-date=21 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928085716/http://www.synth.nu/artikel_visa.php?aid=32 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |language=Swedish |date=30 December 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, Jonatan moved back to Sweden the next year and the work with the band could continue.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Larsson |first1=Mattias |title=Sturm Café - Gävles germaner är tillbaka |url=https://synth.nu/artikel_intervju_sturmcafe.html |website=Synth.nu |access-date=21 January 2025 |language=Swedish |date=23 February 2021}}</ref> Even after returning to Sweden, Löftstedt and Jansson lived an 8-hour car ride from each other, making it difficult to work together given their dependence on vintage equipment.<ref name="click_2021">{{cite web |author1=Inferno Sound Diaries |title=‘Click Interview with Sturm Café: ‘I Like The Art And Effort That Artists Put Into An Album’ |url=https://www.side-line.com/click-interview-with-sturm-cafe-i-like-the-art-and-effort-that-artists-put-into-an-album/ |website=Side-Line Music Magazine |access-date=21 January 2025 |date=13 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2010, the band opened for [[Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft]] at BIMFest in Belgium. That year the band also embarked on starting a label, SCR (Sturm Café Releases), with their first release being the 7" single "Koka Kola Freiheit".<ref name="ebm_24" /> In considering starting the label, the band balanced demands of thir non-music careers with the needs of a third-party label, ultimately deciding that the risks of running their own label were outweighed by control of the release schedule and creative process.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Coldheart |first1=Stef |title=STURM CAFE • interview • 2017 |url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/interviews/sturm-cafe-2017/ |website=Peek-A-Boo Music Magazine |access-date=21 January 2025 |date=23 October 2017}}</ref> 

The band played their first non-European shows in Mexico City in 2015 and the following year in Lima, Peru.<ref name="ebm_24" />

Löftstedt also has a side project of dance music that he determined did not fit with Sturm Café called John Steiner Explosion. Some tracks from his side project were released on the band's ''Rarities 3'' compilation in 2020.<ref name="click_2021" />

==Band members==
* Jonatan Löfstedt - vocals, music
* Gustav Jansson - music, live keyboards & drums

===Occasional band members / collaborators===
* Pehr-Anders Stockenberg - live drums (2007–2009)
* Oskar Gullstrand - videoprojections, art work, music videos (2002–2006)
*
* Joakim Mohlund - guest vocals on "Schweiss Bier und Stahl", live keyboards and drums 
* Slim Vic - credited as remixer on "So Seelisch, So Schön!" 2CD version.
* Chinese Theatre - credited as remixer on "So Seelisch, So Schön!" 2CD version
* Patrik Linderstam - visuals, graphic design

==Discography==
* ''So Seelisch, So Schön!'' CD/2CD (2005)<ref>{{cite web |author1=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Sturm Cafe - So Seelisch, So Schön! (cd Progress Productions) |url=https://www.side-line.com/reviews_comments.php?id=13535_0_17_0_C |website=Side-Line Music Magazine |access-date=21 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203110126/https://www.side-line.com/reviews_comments.php?id=13535_0_17_0_C |archive-date=3 February 2013 |date=11 April 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''Tot CDM'' (2008)
* ''Koka Kola Freiheit 7"'' (2010)
* ''Rarities 2xCD'' (2013)
* ''Europa! CD & 2x12"'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web |author=Alex |title=Sturm Café, "Europa!" |url=https://www.idieyoudie.com/2015/03/17/sturm-cafe-europa/ |website=I Die, You Die |access-date=21 January 2025 |date=17 March 2015}}</ref>
* ''Es Geht CD, 12" & MC'' (2017)<ref>{{cite web |author1=Inferno Sound Diaries |title=Sturm Café – Es Geht (CD Mini-Album – SCR) |url=https://www.side-line.com/sturm-cafe-es-geht-cd-mini-album-scr/ |website=Side-Line Music Magazine |access-date=21 January 2025 |date=23 September 2017}}</ref>
* ''So Seelisch, So Schön! Reissue'' CD & 12" (2019)
* ''Europa! Second press CD'' (2019)
* ''Fernes Land CD, 12" & MC'' (2021)<ref>{{cite web |author1=Inferno Sound Diaries |title=Sturm Café – Fernes Land (Album – SCR) |url=https://www.side-line.com/sturm-cafe-fernes-land-album-scr/ |website=Side-Line Music Magazine |access-date=21 January 2025 |date=17 June 2021}}</ref>
* ''Der Löwe aus dem Norden CD & MC'' (2022)
* ''Zeitgeist CD, 12" & MC'' (2023)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mayo |first1=Stitch |title=ReView: Sturm Café – Zeitgeist |url=https://regenmag.com/reviews/review-sturm-cafe-zeitgeist/ |website=ReGen Magazine |access-date=21 January 2025 |date=5 August 2023}}</ref>

===Compilations===
* ''APE Produkt #3 CDR'' (contributing track: "Regimegegner") (2003)
* ''Electronic Compilation CD-R'' (contributing track: "In Meinem Griff" + "Radiosüchtig")'' (2004)
* ''Interbreeding III: Xenophobic 2CD'' (contributing track: "In Meinem Griff" + "Mr.T") (2004)
* ''ElectriXmas 2004 CD'' (contributing track: "Ein Mann Und Sein Bart") (2004)
* ''Born / Evolve / Progress vol.1 CD'' (contributing track: "Stiefelfabrik" + "Schweiss Bier und Stahl") (2005)
* ''Hymns of Steel CD'' (contributing track: "Schweiss Bier und Stahl") (2006)
* ''Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. 56 2CD'' (contributing track: "Die Wahrheit") (2006)
* ''Infacted vol.3 CD'' (contributing track: "Radiosüchtig") (2006)
* ''Born / Evolve / Progress vol.2 CD'' (contributing track: "Weltliches Leben") (2007)
* ''Mortal Decay 2CD-R'' (contributing track: "Der Grosse Schwein (Terror Punk Syndicate Remix)") (2007)
* ''Infected vol.4 2CD'' (contributing track: "Tot (Terror Punk Syndicate Remix)") (2008)
* ''Machines Against Hunger 2CD'' (contributing track: "1/15") (2008)
* ''Nacht Der Maschinen VolumeTwo CD'' (contributing track: "Ich Spekuliere") (2008)
* ''5 Years Of Progress - 2004-2009 CD'' (contributing track: "Der Löwe Ist Zurück") (2009)
* ''EBM Collection Vol.1 12"'' (contributing track: "Der Löwe Ist Zurück") (2009)
* ''Swedish EBM - The Collection CD'' (contributing track: "Scheissnormal") (2010)
* ''Nacht Der Maschinen Volume Three'' (contributing track: "Der Löwe Ist Zurück") (2011)
* ''Electronic Body Matrix 1'' (contributing track: "Die Wahrheit") (2011)
* ''Doppelhertz Vol. 2'' (contributing track: "Sicherheit") (2011)

==Complete tour history==
* Klubb Volga, [[Sweden]] [[Stockholm]], April 23, 2003
* Club Absynth, [[Sweden]] [[Gävle]], May 30, 2003
* Kungen, [[Sweden]] [[Sandviken]], July 18, 2003
* Valhall, [[Sweden]] [[Falun]], July 20, 2003
* Musikhuset, [[Sweden]] [[Gävle]], December 13, 2003
* Electrobash #2, [[Sweden]] [[Uppsala]], January 23, 2004
* Adrenalinfestival, [[Sweden]] [[Sundsvall]], January 31, 2004
* Club Spacelab, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], February 6, 2004
* Club Absynth, [[Sweden]] [[Gävle]], March 11, 2004
* Kungen, [[Sweden]] [[Sandviken]], April 3, 2004
* More Than A Party '04, [[Sweden]] [[Uppsala]], April 11, 2004<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eklind |first1=Robert |title=More than a party - 2004 |url=http://www.movinghands.net/articles/detail.asp?id=53 |website=MovingHands.net |access-date=21 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061011213355/http://www.movinghands.net/articles/detail.asp?id=53 |archive-date=11 Oct 2006 |date=2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Vogon Variety, [[Sweden]] [[Malmö]], May 8, 2004
* Plasticity, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], July 9, 2004
* Arvikafestival, [[Sweden]] [[Arvika]], July 15, 2004
* Electronic Wonders, [[Sweden]] [[Oskarshamn]], October 30, 2004
* Bodybeats, [[Germany]] [[Berlin]], November 13, 2004
* Beatclub, [[Germany]] [[Dessau]], November 20, 2004
* Club Harrow Road, [[Sweden]] [[Örebro]], December 3, 2004
* ElectriXmas, [[Sweden]] [[Lund]], December 11, 2004
* Allhuset, [[Sweden]] [[Stockholm]], December 17, 2004
* Club Spacelab, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], February 4, 2005
* Musikhuset, [[Sweden]] [[Gävle]], March 18, 2005
* Sticky Fingers, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], November 4, 2005
* Nuclear Nation, [[Sweden]] [[Linköping]], November 5, 2005
* Neostalgia, [[Sweden]] [[Malmö]], February 4, 2006
* Allhuset, [[Sweden]] [[Stockholm]], February 11, 2006
* SAMA, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], April 14, 2006<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gustavsson |first1=Mia |title=SAMA 2006 Trädgår'n, Gothenburg 2006-04-14 |url=http://www.bulldozer.nu/avtryck/sama06.html |website=Bulldozer |access-date=21 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181544/http://www.bulldozer.nu/avtryck/sama06.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |language=Swedish |date=6 April 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Der Bunker, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], July 28, 2006
* Beatclub, [[Germany]] [[Dessau]], September 9, 2006
* Klubb Lakritz, [[Sweden]] [[Norrköping]], November 24, 2006
* Das Boot, [[Baltic Sea]] December 8, 2006
* Sus Fel Nap, [[Hungary]] [[Budapest]], January 19, 2007
* Tech Noir, [[Sweden]] [[Stockholm]], January 27, 2007
* Musikhuset, [[Sweden]] [[Gävle]], February 23, 2007
* Die Villa, [[Germany]] [[Leipzig]], April 7, 2007
* Club Undercut, [[Sweden]] [[Lund]], May 3, 2007
* Void Spring Festival, [[Sweden]] [[Kalmar]], May 5, 2007
* Club Hellfire, [[Norway]] [[Trondheim]], June 9, 2007
* Club Maiden, [[Norway]] [[Oslo]], June 10, 2007
* Familientreffen III, [[Germany]] [[Sandersleben]], August 4, 2007
* Club Radium, [[Sweden]] [[Karlstad]], November 2, 2007
* Beatclub, [[Germany]] [[Dessau]], March 23, 2008
* Club Arkham, [[Finland]] [[Turku]], November 21, 2008
* Club Lagerhof, [[Germany]] [[Leipzig]], December 6, 2008
* Musikens Hus, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], May 16, 2009
* Familientreffen V, [[Germany]] [[Sandersleben]], July 24, 2009
* Bodytåget, [[Sweden]] [[Stockholm]], March 6, 2010
* Klubb Kalabalik, [[Sweden]] [[Växjö]], March 20, 2010
* Traffic Club, [[Italy]] [[Rome]], April 3, 2010
* Salzmanns Factory, [[Germany]] [[Kassel]], July 10, 2010
* Collapsed City Festival, [[Poland]] [[Szczecin]], October 31, 2010
* Belgian Independent Music Festival, [[Belgium]] [[Antwerp]], December 18, 2010
* Holdeplassen, [[Norway]] [[Trondheim]], March 19, 2011
* Beatclub, [[Germany]] [[Dessau]], March 26, 2011
* Bodyfest, [[Sweden]] [[Stockholm]], October 1, 2011
* Neostalgia, [[Sweden]] [[Malmö]], March 24, 2012
* Kulttempel, [[Germany]] [[Oberhausen]], September 7, 2012
* EBM Music Club, [[Germany]] [[Cologne]], February 23, 2013
* Familientreffen IX, [[Germany]] [[Sandersleben]], July 5, 2013
* Kafka Club, [[Belgium]] [[Antwerp]], September 13, 2013
* Summer Stomp, [[Germany]] [[Kassel]], September 14, 2013
* Club Sputnik, [[Sweden]] [[Jönköping]], April 26, 2014
* Electronic Summer, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], August 29, 2015
* EBM Music Club, [[Germany]] [[Cologne]], September 19, 2015
* Bodyfest, [[Sweden]] [[Stockholm]], October 23, 2015
* El Baile de Mascaras Episodio XIV, [[Mexico]] [[Mexico City]], October 30, 2015
* El Real Under, [[Mexico]] [[Mexico City]], October 31, 2015
* Beatclub, [[Germany]] [[Dessau]], December 31, 2015
* El Calabozo, [[Peru]] [[Lima]], August 6, 2016
* VII. E-Only Festival, [[Germany]] [[Leipzig]], February 18, 2017
* Kalabalik På Tyrolen, [[Sweden]] [[Alvesta]], August 26, 2017
* 12. NCN Festival, [[Germany]] [[Deutzen]], September 8, 2017
* Soho Stage, [[Germany]] [[Augsburg]], September 9, 2017
* Stiefel Fest, [[Germany]] [[Oberhausen]], November 3, 2017
* Blasphemous Beats, [[Germany]] [[Hamburg]], November 4, 2017
* Progress 13, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], November 18, 2017
* Wave Gotik Treffen, [[Germany]] [[Leipzig]], May 20, 2018
* Sticky Fingers, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], September 14, 2018
* [[:sv:Klubb Död|Klubb Död]], [[Sweden]] [[Stockholm]], December 1, 2018
* Replugged, [[Austria]] [[Vienna]], March 30, 2019
* Subkultfestivalen 2019, [[Sweden]] [[Trollhättan]], June 15, 2019
* Celebrata Hindrheimr 2019, [[Norway]] [[Trondheim]], July 6, 2019
* Nuclear Nation, [[Sweden]] [[Linköping]], October 12, 2019
* EBM Night, [[Switzerland]] [[Zürich]], November 9, 2019
* Bimfest XVII, [[Belgium]] [[Sint-Niklaas]], December 14, 2019<ref>{{cite web |last1=Luyten |first1=Luc |title=STURM CAFE • photos/foto's • bimfest • 14/12/2019 |url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/photos/sturm-cafe-bimfest-2019/ |website=Peek-A-Boo Music Magazine |access-date=21 January 2025 |date=14 December 2019}}</ref>
* Vardagsrumfestival, [[Sweden]] [[Staffanstorp]], February 1, 2020
* The Place, [[Russia]] [[Saint Petersburg]], February 22, 2020
* Alibi, [[Russia]] [[Moscow]], February 23, 2020
* Klubb Berlin, [[Sweden]] [[Umeå]], March 12, 2022
* Barbros Brygga [[Sweden]] [[Karlstad]], March 25, 2022
* Musikens Hus, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], March 26, 2022
* Musikhuset, [[Sweden]] [[Gävle]], April 23, 2022
* WGT EBM Warm Up Day 1, [[Germany]] [[Leipzig]], July 9, 2022
* WGT EBM Warm Up Day 2, [[Germany]] [[Leipzig]], July 10, 2022
* Subkultfestivalen 2022, [[Sweden]] [[Vänersborg]], July 9, 2022
* Amphi Festival, [[Germany]] [[Cologne]], July 24, 2022
* Lygten Station, [[Denmark]] [[Copenhagen]], September 9, 2022
* Charles Dickens, [[Sweden]] [[Helsingborg]], September 10, 2022
* Schattenwelt Festival 2022, [[Austria]] [[Vienna]], October 8, 2022
* [[:sv:Klubb Död|Klubb Död]], [[Sweden]] [[Stockholm]], November 19, 2022
* Kulttempel, [[Germany]] [[Oberhausen]], January 20, 2023
* Der Cult, [[Germany]] [[Nuremberg]], March 11, 2023
* Darkest Night, [[Belgium]] [[Retie]], April 23, 2023
* Familientreffen, [[Germany]] [[Sandersleben]], July 8, 2023
* Summer Stomp, [[Germany]] [[Kassel]], September 23, 2023
* Musikhuset, [[Sweden]] [[Gävle]], October 7, 2023
* Alternativfesten, [[Sweden]] [[Sandviken]], November 11, 2023
* Musikens Hus, [[Sweden]] [[Gothenburg]], November 25, 2023
* E-Tropolis Festival, [[Germany]] [[Oberhausen]], March 2, 2024
* WGT EBM Warm Up, [[Germany]] [[Leipzig]], May 16, 2024<ref>{{cite web |last1=Luyten |first1=Luc |title=STURM CAFE • photos/foto's • WGT Leipzig • 16/05/2024 |url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/photos/sturm-cafe-wgt-leipzig-2024/ |website=Peek-A-Boo Music Magazine |access-date=21 January 2025 |date=16 May 2024}}</ref>
* Subkultfestivalen 2024, [[Sweden]] [[Vänersborg]], June 29, 2024
* Synth I Molkom, [[Sweden]] [[Molkom]], August 10, 2024
* Maschinensturm Festival, [[Germany]] [[Fürstenwalde]], September 28, 2024
* Charles Dickens, [[Sweden]] [[Helsingborg]], October 19, 2024
* Sturm und Drang vol.2, [[Germany]] [[Zwickau]], November 9, 2024

== References ==
{{ reflist }}

==External links==
{{Commons}}

* {{discogs artist |artist=334050-Sturm-Café }}
*[http://www.sturmcafe.se Homepage]
*{{MusicBrainz artist|id=3b6bf2c1-3226-43e8-8c75-2e91e8c05820|name=Sturm Café}}
* [https://www.idieyoudie.com/2021/04/01/we-have-a-technical-355-a-good-point/ We Have A Technical Interview 2021]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sturm Cafe}}
[[Category:Electronic body music groups]]
[[Category:Swedish industrial music groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2001]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Gävleborg County]]
[[Category:Culture in Gävle]]