Tryin’ To Live My Life Without You

Tomorrow, March 31st, 2026, Swedish singer songwriter Jesper Lindell will release his cover of Otis Clay’s “Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You” from his forthcoming album "Royal", out on CD, LP and digital platforms on June 26th, 2026, via Yep Roc Records. The song features Canadian singer songwriter and actress Frazey Ford.

In 2024, 30 year old Jesper Lindell took his band The Brunnsvik Sounds on a pilgrimage across the Atlantic to better understand where his favorite music comes from. The destinations were 2 truly classic studios in particular: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama and Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Two days were booked in each studio and they managed to record 2 full albums worth of material in just 4 days. The 1st album was the life affirming and powerful declaration of love, "3614 Jackson Highway", a tasteful collection of songs originally recorded at Muscle Shoals, released in March 2026 via Yep Roc Records and was documented in the film "From Muscle Shoals To Memphis" : Jesper Lindell’s Four Day Soul Pilgrimage Part 1". This 2nd selection of songs, "Royal", celebrates the rich musical history of Memphis.

Of the song, Lindell offers, “Otis Clay’s ‘Trying To Live My Life Without You’ was the 1st track I chose for us to record at Royal. I’ve always had a deep appreciation for that song, as well as for the classic Royal Studio recordings Willie Mitchell produced with the artists at Hi Records. I had watched Frazey Ford’s ‘September Fields’ video many times, the song and film were recorded at Royal Studios during her 'Indian Ocean' sessions. As Frazey rarely releases new music or takes part in collaborations, I initially assumed it would be impossible to involve her. However, when my manager Björn mentioned that he works with and knows Frazey and her team, I decided to take a chance and reach out. After some time, she said yes, and her contribution brings a truly distinctive character and an effortless sense of cool to the track”.

In Memphis, Lindell and his band were welcomed by studio owner and engineer Boo Mitchell, son of the legendary founder and forever musical mayor of the city, Willie Mitchell. Exhaustion and jet lag were countered by a hefty dose of adrenaline, caused by suddenly standing in a studio that remains nearly unchanged since its glory days with Hi Records, when Al Green, Otis Clay, Ann Peebles, and Syl Johnson recorded there. On "Royal", they’ve created their own but respectful versions of songs associated with giants such as Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Staple Singers, Willie Nelson, Box Tops, Rod Stewart, and Dusty Springfield. At the same time, they give just as much love to songs tied to lesser known but equally important artists like Margie Joseph, Dan Penn, Donnie Fritts, Tony Joe White and The Amazing Rhythm Aces.

“I know some might think it’s presumptuous of us to tackle a bunch of immortal songs that already exist in exquisite versions. But to dive deep into the material, to actually play and sing the songs instead of just listening to them, that was an invaluable experience for us, one we learned a lot from. I’m grateful I got to do this and proud of the result”, says Lindell.

Born and raised in the small lakeside town of Ludvika, Sweden, Jesper Lindell 1st came up through the local scene playing soulful rock, roots, and r'n'b in modest bars and rehearsal rooms, developing a reverence for classic American songwriting and the warm, analog textures of the 60's and 70's. His breakout EP, "Little Less Blue", recorded with members of First Aid Kit, revealed a strikingly emotive voice and a natural instinct for blending retro soul with contemporary americana. Lindell’s subsequent albums, including the lush, horn streaked "Twilights" and the expansive "Before The Sun", cemented his reputation as a craftsman capable of turning personal stories into widescreen, roots steeped soundscapes. Now a staple of the Scandinavian soul-rock resurgence, he continues to refine a style that feels both vintage and vividly present, echoing influences from Van Morrison to The Band, while carving out a world unmistakably his own.