GAUPA (lynx in Swedish) is a rock band from Falun, Sweden.
With surreal lyrics, a highly energetic singer, and a sound of progressive stoner rock with doom/folk/psychedelic influences, GAUPA released their debut EP in June 2018 and have since then established an international name on the scene. ’GAUPA’ – the self titled EP – was well received and the band did one of their first performances on Scandinavia’s biggest rock festival, Sweden Rock, and have been frequently aired on different radio shows all over the world. GAUPA signed with german label Kozmik Artifactz and released the EP on vinyl in October 2019.
”It’s a fabulous debut by Gaupa from Sweden, perfectly mixing stoner and psychedelic rock with folk and even some doom – which is lingering pretty subversive in a layer underneath.”
– More Fuzz, Jan 2019
GAUPA had a busy 2018/2019 with playing at different festivals and venues. Critics seemed not only impressed by the studio recordings and diverse arrangements but also by the level of intensity displayed live. The talk in between songs are kept to a minimum and the tension are soon to be broken by another screeching guitar feedback delivered together with hair swung in fanatic synchronisation. GAUPA seem to leave their audiences both in astonishment and with a good sense of ache in their necks.
”You can tell they’re experienced musicians and the singer Emma Näslund is a force of nature. Ethereal and fairylike, her voice seems to find its strength from the deepest parts of nature. 8/10.”
– Sweden Rock Magazine, 2018
In April 2020 GAUPA followed up the debut with releasing their first full length album “Feberdröm” gaining even more attention, not only from an international audience but also from the world’s biggest metal label: Nuclear Blast Records. Jens Prueter, Head Of A&R Nuclear Blast Records Europe stated: “While most newcomer bands struggled during the Corona pandemic, GAUPA managed to grow by quality. Their unique sound hasn’t remained unnoticed and word by mouth spread fast. Once we saw their live stream show and had some video conferences, we knew they would sit well in an artist roster of Graveyard, Opeth, Earthless and Meshuggah who appeared to be some of their favorite bands, even if GAUPA isn’t very metal at all. But it’s that attitude to tear down boundaries between genres – just for the sake of art. We are proud to welcome them in good company.”
In 2021 GAUPA re-entered the studio to record the second full length album ‘Myriad’ and is currently in the middle of the process of releasing singles and music videos with the aim set on album release by the end of the year. In addition to new releases, GAUPA is currently focusing on the Swedish festival summer of 2022, though with great excitement – after the long wait of the pandemic – to set their feet on new venues around the world.