Nixon

Nixon is a project associated with Roger Gunnarsson, who also works with Free Loan Investments, The Garlands and Cloetta Paris. It begins as a recording project in Halmstad, Sweden, and Gunnarsson starts making songs under the Nixon name with his cousin in the mid-1980s, when he is still a child.

Early recordings and first releases

In the mid-1990s, Gunnarsson and his friend Henrik Påhle record a Nixon demo that attracts interest from labels in Sweden and North America. After a run of EPs, Nixon releases its first full-length album, Only Ugly People Smoke, in 2000. That record also includes vocal and songwriting contributions from Anna Issakson.

Later activity

Gunnarsson continues recording Nixon material mostly on his own into the 21st century. The second full-length album, November 1985, follows in 2002. After the Snow Day EP the following year, the project goes into an unofficial hiatus while Gunnarsson works with his other bands.

Compilations and later releases

In 2011, Anorak Records of France issues Anorak Christmas, a compilation of previously released Nixon material. The release notes also point to a new 7-inch EP of fresh recordings for Cloudberry Records, which later appears in 2012 as This Town.

Style and context

Nixon is linked with indie pop and twee, with the project also appearing in listings under harder-edged style tags. The material centres on Gunnarsson’s songwriting, alongside occasional collaboration with other musicians, rather than a fixed band line-up.