Carbon Based Lifeforms (CBL) are Johannes Hedberg and Daniel Vadestrid, both born in 1976 and based in southwest Sweden. They met when both 15 and are still, amazingly, working happily together, over 25 years later. CBL itself was formed in 1996, as an offshoot from other projects, but it soon became their focal point, culminating in their first release on ‘mp3.com’ in 1998.
The duo signed with the celebrated Lyon based Ultimae Records in 2002 and have since released six official, full length albums: ‘Hydroponic Garden’ in 2003 ‘World of Sleepers’ in 2006 ‘Interloper’ in 2009 ‘Twentythree’ in 2012
In 2014 they went independent and have released under their own label Leftfield Records: ‘Derelicts’ in 2018 ‘Stochastic’ in 2021 ‘Seeker’ in 2024
Derelicts made it to #12 on Billboards Dance/Electronic albums chart, #11 on UK Official Charts Top 40 Dance Albums and #59 on UK Official Charts Top 100 Independent Albums. Their music has been extraordinarily well received by connoisseurs within the ambient scene and clearly beyond, since in 2012 they were also commissioned to write the soundtrack to the independently produced movie ‘The Mansion’ and the theme to ‘ Green Land’ by Wanderword in 2018.
Johannes and Daniel aim to combine earth and space in their music. Using the combination of nature and technology as the main inspiration for their work, they like to represent both the positive and negative effects that this collaboration can lead to, including the negative impact that incorrect technology can have on the environment. Johannes often creates the building blocks of sounds and harmonies and could happily tweak sounds forever, whereas Daniel develops the rhythms and sculpts the ideas into tracks. It remains unclear which of them derives the greatest pleasure from manipulating the distinctive, squelching sounds of the Roland TB-303.
Since their much talked about show during a thunderstorm at Ozora 2007 they have been frequently present among the headliners of the biggest Psytrance festivals across Europe and have done many shows in Russia and even USA and Australia. Since their multiple sold out shows at ‘Cosmonova’, the Planetarium within Stockholm’s Museum of Natural History,in 2009 and again 2014 they have explored all types of exciting venues. Including planetariums, cinemas, cathedrals and in 2024 a spectacular show 80 meters below ground, set in an old iron mine.