Lina Tullgren

Lina Tullgren, an introspective indie rock artist whose work features a minimal lo-fi aesthetic, attracted a loyal following after their independently issued 2015 EP led to a recording agreement with Captured Tracks. During the four years that followed, Tullgren developed their approach across two well-regarded full-length projects: the 2017 release Won and its successor, Free Cell.

Raised in the coastal stretch of New England where southern Maine borders New Hampshire, Tullgren spent their formative years absorbing fiddle traditions and classical training before turning to electric guitar and original songwriting. Alongside bandmate and friend Ty Ueda, they produced the five-track Wishlist EP, whose austere arrangements revealed a contemplative, melancholic style of songcraft paired with atmospheric production values. The self-released 2015 recording drew the interest of Captured Tracks, which reissued it to widespread critical praise the following year.

Embracing a more ensemble-oriented direction, Tullgren issued their debut LP, Won, in late 2017. A 2018 single found them working with producer and multi-instrumentalist NTHNL on the synth-driven track “I Am Fine.” While living with their parents in New England, Tullgren assembled material for the next album, centering on themes of isolation that grew more pronounced after Ueda sustained injuries in a car accident immediately before recording began. Managing production duties alone, Tullgren completed their sophomore album, Free Cell, in 2019.