Caroline Bach5 Comments

South America 2008

I haven’t published most of these photos here before.

It’s from when I had just defended my Bachelor thesis and decided that it was time to pack my bags and leave all forms of comfort, safety and routine behind. I landed in Buenos Aires all by myself, 21 years old, on a January afternoon, equipped with the Lonely Planet and a very curious mind, and started a trip that would always come to influence my priorities, values and perspectives.

All the interesting people I met on the way, the amount of amazement and thrill I experienced, all the time I spent contemplating and the things I learnt about myself became the foundation of my adult personality. I trusted many strangers that became my friends, learnt how to play the charango, jumped from an airplane, celebrated my birthday with an entire hostel, bought strange clothes, enjoyed the little things, worked as a sound technician, burnt my skin in the sun, travelled with clowns, went to the desert, took care of people, swam with dolphins in the amazon river, discussed important matters, climbed a volcano, spent a total of 212 hours in buses, and allowed myself to fall in love. But the three most important things I brought with me from these four months in six different countries in South America, was the ability to trust my instincts, relax my mind and be genuinely happy.

Caroline Bach3 Comments

Bikram Yoga 5/10

“The greatest gift you can give yourself now, after 90 minutes in this room, is a perfect Savasana.”

she said as she faded the lights out and turned off the heating. And I lay there, on my back, after the fifth out of my ten Bikram Yoga days, pearls of sweat running down my waist, thinking about.. nothing.

I feel and see some progress in class. I notice that I can stretch further, I can finally touch my forehead to my stretched out knee, and today I managed to keep balancing in my best effort to do my favourite of the 26 asanas, the standing bow, until the instructor released us. It’s all a process, you go deeper into the poses, you start understanding them, you learn that by sliightly turning your toes inwards, you suddenly manage to almost do the triangle – yay! It’s a beautiful art that challenges your mind in many ways, and the sweating feels absolutely wonderful.


Standing Bow Pose. Photo: Bigstock Photo

And what about later? What happens when I leave the yoga studio? Frankly, not much. I step out of the hot room, there is no tension in my muscles, I take a cold shower and feel relaxed, calm and energized – and that’s pretty much it. I don’t really try bending my spine back into a 90 degree angle at any other point of the day or standing on one leg forming a “Capital T, as in Terrific! Leg up, arms stretched forward, stretch, strech, stretch! Come down. And exhale.” 


Balancing Stick Pose. Photo: Bikram Yoga North Miami Beach

I’m am sure the yoga has a positive effect on my body, especially along with the amounts of water I’m drinking and fruit I’m eating as a part of this little detoxing project. (Except when I find displaced chocolate.) My pores feel flushed out, I get a moment to turn off the mind and my ego skips with joy at any small progress. I am, however, longing for some muscle pain and action. I want to feel that I’ve been working out, I want to feel stronger, lift heavier, jump higher, push that one more time, hit that tennisball really hard with the racket in a more controlled forehand, or something. Explosive energy, dancing, laughter. My cup of tea.

From all the stories I heard about bikram before, I was afraid it would be completely exhausting and painful, and I was actually looking forward to the torture. However, it’s not as much that, as it maybe is quite dehydrating, although I’m not even really noticing that. But then again, those of you who know me well, know that I have a slightly strange body that seldomly asks me for water, food, sleep, or a toilet. “You were made for working in the field!” a former colleage once exclaimed.

And maybe that’s what I should do then. Go somewhere. After my Savasana.


Savasana. Photo: MokshaChallenge

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Found this apple sitting on a lonely shelf in the grocery store. Too bad I’m allergic to it otherwise I would have eaten it today simply for the sake of cheesyness. Now, the irony in that.. haha

Instead of roses and chocolate, I have a Skype date today. Completely unrelated to the date, but very, very exciting. ;)

Happy Valentine’s Day, my darlings!

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Suddenly I’m hit.

Two years after releasing his fantastic self titled debut LP, James Blake has finally announced April 8th as the release date for his upcoming album, Overgrown. The first single, Retrogade, unveiled just a couple of days ago, has today been officially released – along with a stunning video that I haven’t managed to get my mind around yet. You guys try figuring it out and let me know what’s going on..

I can’t wait to listen to the entire album and I’m very much looking forward to an opportunity to hear this genius self-sampling, multitasking, instrument-mixing voice magician live once again. I barely knew him back when I saw him live in 2011, I had just spent an entire afternoon indulging in the sounds of the James Blake LP hanging by myself in a hammock at a friends house on the same day that we were going to the concert.

Then we went to church, and one could say that I was “enlightened”.


James Blake live at the Annedal Church, Gothenburg, Sweden. 2011.
More photos from that day.

Caroline Bach2 Comments

Monday: Camels, rabbits and Savasana.

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This morning I woke up early and signed up for a challenge to my discipline, mind and body. As my whole existence was pouring out through my pores while I was stretching into the camel, rabbit and a couple of Indian gods, the 40 degrees in the room weren’t bothering me at all. On the contrary, I was loving it.

Bikram Yoga in Malmö, 10 days of intense sweating, stretching and detox. I’m giving my hopes that the Savasana breaks will help me survive this, and I might give you a full report of this fantastically relaxing hippie torture if I do.

Caroline Bach2 Comments

Beats from Poland

Just stumbled upon this new tune by the Polish beatmaker Kixnare. Released last week under U Know Me Records, the video is a story as seen from the perspective of a young Polish girl who is tired of her ordinary job and dreams of a modelling career. Directed by the photographer and videographer Miron Chomacki who usually focuses on nude art, it is not a surprise that most of the video is tip-toeing on the verge to soft porn, with peepshow styled shots, fingers on lips and glimpses of nipples. Dominated by red colour, probably referring to the name of the upcoming album, the video is slightly monotone but very nicely filmed and beautiful. Due to all the cuts and teasers, however, it very soon becomes quite distracting if one wants to judge whether the sound actually is good.

Let me tell you now that it is. Filled with the illusion of falling drops, cautiously flat drumbeats, pretty bass and some synth sounds bridging the whole thing, the tune is backed up by a great, very well linked and super catchy sample from the oldschool R&B song Beauty Queen by Next.

“Like you was a super model, had your little Gucci dough.”

All in all, I’m definitely loving it, lingerie included.

Just don’t forget to boost it up to HD before listening, for the sake of the details in both sound and video.

Kixnare – Gucci Dough
U Know Me Records, forthcoming on CD, Vinyl and Digital
Published February 4th 2012

Caroline Bach3 Comments

Naturally monochromatic


Sturup, Sweden. February 2013. Colours not modified.

I’m back in the magnificent country where healthcare, social security and gender equality are things one can take for granted and enjoy in tranquility. Colours, however, are as rare here as the luxury of being woken up by rays of natural sunlight. Details that practically might have much less impact on one’s well being than those formerly mentioned, but still, the fact that I would get all of my belongings reimbursed in case my house would burn down or that doctor’s appointment in a couple of days that I won’t be paying anything for can’t possibly add up to the feeling of euphoria that five minutes of smiling at the sun gives me.

It’s not at all about not being thankful for what I have here, it’s more of a longing for those swirling colours on the skirt of a Bolivian lady, the perfectly organized chaos in an intersection in India, the sunrise dancing of the young Mozambicans, or just a little bit of edge.


Macchu Picchu, Peru. April 2008. Colours not modified.