Rikard From – Wishful

Every December, the world is flooded with Christmas releases: big band productions, glittering pop covers, endless sleigh bells. Beautiful in their own way, sure — but sometimes you just want the noise to stop. You want space, breath, warmth. You want someone to sit down at a piano and simply play.

That’s exactly what Swedish pianist Rikard From offers with his new album Wishful, released on Klangspot Nu Jazzical.

Recorded with an intimacy that makes you feel as if you’re sitting right beside the instrument, Wishful turns familiar holiday classics into quiet, personal reflections. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” sounds less like a nostalgic throwback and more like a conversation late at night — soft, sincere, honest. “Silent Night” becomes almost weightless, the melody floating above delicate voicings and gentle pauses.

Scandinavian winter light in music

Where the album really stands out is in its connection to Rikard’s roots. His interpretations of the beloved Swedish Christmas songs “Nu Tändas Tusen Juleljus” and “Jul Jul Strålande Jul” carry a very particular feeling — that Scandinavian mix of winter darkness and the longing for light. There’s a calmness and emotional clarity in these tracks that feels unmistakably Nordic. You can almost see candlelit windows and hear snow muffling the world outside.

The tracklist moves effortlessly between traditions: “Come All Ye Faithful,” “Silver Bells,” the tender “Christmas Time Is Here,” and the heartbreaking “Get Me Through December.” Nothing feels forced or overly arranged. The selections form a quiet arc — from hope to introspection and back again.

A musician who truly shines live

If you’ve only heard Rikard From on record, you may have missed a remarkable moment this year: his concert at Berlin’s legendary A-Trane jazz club. The performance revealed just how nuanced and emotionally direct his playing becomes in a live setting — every hesitation, every dynamic shift carrying weight.

The evening drew notable attention, even earning an official announcement from the Swedish Embassy in Berlin, highlighting the cultural resonance of his work beyond Sweden’s borders. It’s rare for a solo piano concert to create that kind of buzz, and it speaks volumes about Rikard’s musical voice.

Christmas music for people who don’t usually like Christmas music

What makes Wishful so compelling is that it doesn’t try to overwhelm you with festive spirit. There are no glittery arrangements, no sentimental sugar coating. Instead, the album offers something far more valuable during the holidays: stillness.

It’s the kind of record you put on when the world finally quiets down — when the guests have gone home, the lights are dimmed, and the season feels less like a celebration and more like a moment of reflection.

If you love solo piano, subtle jazz influences, and that unmistakable Scandinavian sense of atmosphere, Wishful may become one of those albums that stays with you long after the Christmas decorations are packed away.

Warm, thoughtful, and deeply genuine — a winter companion worth returning to.