Sportsman

Sportsman is the solo project of Swedish musician Per Magnusson, based in Stockholm. Before using the Sportsman name, he plays with The Sonnets, a Malmö-based blue-eyed soul pop quintet that gains support from BBC 6 Music, Dazed & Confused and Vogue Italia and tours widely.

Project and sound

Under the Sportsman guise, Magnusson presents a modern R&B style built around strong melodies, vocal lines and bass-led arrangements. The project centres on an elegant, heartfelt sound, with Magnusson describing it as a way of carrying listeners toward the atmosphere that inspires it. He also calls himself a “pop melody whore”, reflecting the emphasis on hooks in the music.

Origin of the name and early development

The idea for the project takes shape in Kenya, after Magnusson spends time in Mombasa and on the Indian Ocean coast. The name Sportsman is found on a packet of cigarettes in the sand. That experience becomes the starting point for music intended to evoke landscapes and moods rather than simply reference earlier influences.

Collaborators

The project is not entirely solo in practice. Magnusson works with Swedish production duo Montauk, made up of Johan Cederberg and Victor Holmberg, to develop the recordings. He also features Linnea Jönsson of Those Dancing Days on the debut single “Rally”, which is performed as a duet with his girlfriend.

Release highlights

“Rally” is the debut single associated with Sportsman and sets out the project’s romantic and collaborative character. It places Magnusson’s writing and vocal approach alongside Jönsson’s guest appearance, while Montauk help shape the production around that core vision.