Blab Music
Daniel Ostersjo Releases Everybodys Joining It as First Glimpse of New Joe Hill Songs Double Album
On September 2, 2026, Swedish singer‑songwriter Daniel Östersjö released the single “Everybody’s Joining It,” the first track from his forthcoming double album New Joe Hill Songs. The song is already streaming on all major platforms.
The single is a homage to Joe Hill (born Joel Hägglund), the early‑20th‑century Swedish‑American labor activist and songwriter. Östersjö’s project re‑interprets Hill’s previously unrecorded lyrics with fresh musical settings, aiming to bring the activist’s themes of solidarity and social critique to contemporary listeners.
A standout moment in the single is its chorus, recorded on the streets of Gävle with the voices of about one hundred local residents. Captured in a single take, the spontaneous city‑wide choir underscores the album’s focus on inclusion and community—values that were central to Hill’s own work.
New Joe Hill Songs is slated for a November release. The double album will feature a guest spot from blues artist Rolf Wikström and is described as drawing from Swedish folk traditions while incorporating contemporary musical elements. A full tracklist has yet to be announced.
In addition to the Joe Hill project, Östersjö is preparing a September release with the trio Hommage till Fred Åkerström. The album, Spegelbilder, will be issued in collaboration with the newly established Fred Åkerström Society and publisher COMEDIA, setting new music to previously uncomposed poems by the legendary troubadour Fred Åkerström.
Östersjö’s career is marked by extensive collaboration. Recent years have seen him work with artists such as Elin Lyth, William Bülow O’Nils, Le Lac Long 814, Maria L Hallengren, Elsie Johansson, and Puch Magnus Olsson. He has also arranged music for poetry by Kristina Lugn, Stig Dagerman, Beppe Wolgers, Dan Andersson, Bengt Söderhäll, and Chinese poet Yu Xiu Hua, and has partnered with Jan Hammarlund, Tomas Andersson Wij, Eva Hillered, Somewhere, Peter Asplund, and Mårten Lärka.
Last year’s project Porträtten, created with Anneli Åhlén Östersjö, transformed interviews with residents of Tierp into musical narratives, highlighting Östersjö’s commitment to turning everyday stories into song.
The release of “Everybody’s Joining It” continues Östersjö’s focus on collective storytelling and the revival of culturally significant texts. The single has already sparked interest among folk‑music circles and labor‑history enthusiasts, and the upcoming albums are expected to broaden his audience.
At present, New Joe Hill Songs remains in production with a confirmed November release, while Spegelbilder will arrive in September. Östersjö’s touring schedule for the next year has not yet been announced, but fans can follow his official channels for updates on release dates, tour dates, and additional collaborations.
These projects illustrate how contemporary Swedish musicians are engaging with historical figures and social themes, using music as a platform for community dialogue and cultural preservation.
The single is a homage to Joe Hill (born Joel Hägglund), the early‑20th‑century Swedish‑American labor activist and songwriter. Östersjö’s project re‑interprets Hill’s previously unrecorded lyrics with fresh musical settings, aiming to bring the activist’s themes of solidarity and social critique to contemporary listeners.
A standout moment in the single is its chorus, recorded on the streets of Gävle with the voices of about one hundred local residents. Captured in a single take, the spontaneous city‑wide choir underscores the album’s focus on inclusion and community—values that were central to Hill’s own work.
New Joe Hill Songs is slated for a November release. The double album will feature a guest spot from blues artist Rolf Wikström and is described as drawing from Swedish folk traditions while incorporating contemporary musical elements. A full tracklist has yet to be announced.
In addition to the Joe Hill project, Östersjö is preparing a September release with the trio Hommage till Fred Åkerström. The album, Spegelbilder, will be issued in collaboration with the newly established Fred Åkerström Society and publisher COMEDIA, setting new music to previously uncomposed poems by the legendary troubadour Fred Åkerström.
Östersjö’s career is marked by extensive collaboration. Recent years have seen him work with artists such as Elin Lyth, William Bülow O’Nils, Le Lac Long 814, Maria L Hallengren, Elsie Johansson, and Puch Magnus Olsson. He has also arranged music for poetry by Kristina Lugn, Stig Dagerman, Beppe Wolgers, Dan Andersson, Bengt Söderhäll, and Chinese poet Yu Xiu Hua, and has partnered with Jan Hammarlund, Tomas Andersson Wij, Eva Hillered, Somewhere, Peter Asplund, and Mårten Lärka.
Last year’s project Porträtten, created with Anneli Åhlén Östersjö, transformed interviews with residents of Tierp into musical narratives, highlighting Östersjö’s commitment to turning everyday stories into song.
The release of “Everybody’s Joining It” continues Östersjö’s focus on collective storytelling and the revival of culturally significant texts. The single has already sparked interest among folk‑music circles and labor‑history enthusiasts, and the upcoming albums are expected to broaden his audience.
At present, New Joe Hill Songs remains in production with a confirmed November release, while Spegelbilder will arrive in September. Östersjö’s touring schedule for the next year has not yet been announced, but fans can follow his official channels for updates on release dates, tour dates, and additional collaborations.
These projects illustrate how contemporary Swedish musicians are engaging with historical figures and social themes, using music as a platform for community dialogue and cultural preservation.
