Reconnecting with Kristian

Kristian Matsson performs under the name The Tallest Man on Earth. The Swedish singer-songwriter is famous for taking the indie-folk genre by storm with his powerfully poetic lyrics and his unique vocal style. But Matsson’s tour schedule, recording commitments and the pressure to deliver new material make for a fast-paced life. Sometimes he needs to take time out, get out in nature, spend time gathering inspiration and reconnect with himself.

Matsson is out in the Chilean wilderness, talking to Montblanc about how important nature is and was to him. Born in the countryside in Sweden, he grew up playing in the forest surrounded by lakes and rivers. Here, grounded in nature, it was especially the power of the weather that fascinated Kristian the most. “Since I was a kid I’ve always really loved thunder storms, because when they roll in it’s like oh, wait a minute, this is just way more powerful than the little problems I think I have,” he reminisces, as nature puts things in perspective. “That’s exactly what I feel out in nature - I feel small next to these amazing things.”

Matsson compares exploring nature with being on stage. Surrounded by musicians and instruments, he can hyper focus and do things that he couldn’t do while practicing or rehearsing. The noise of the stage seems to drown out his own thoughts. Thoughts that leave him disoriented, sometimes: “yes, I think too much”, he contemplates. “I don’t know if I’m being an artist because I’m lost, or if I am lost because I’m an artist.”

Be it the bustle on stage or the loneliness in nature, Kristian renews his strength through both experiences; however, the regular practice of reconnection with himself acts for him as musical inspiration. “Being out in nature reminds me of a lot of the good things we have to protect and that goes into the songs,” he explains. The birds are especially a recurring motif in his lyrics. “For me they are a symbol for being just so present in the moment, you can do anything”, he says. “But if your doubt yourself you strike back down on the ground.”

The new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere accompanied Kristian on his travels, where he explored nature to help him reconnect with himself. Montblanc also talked to fashion and celebrity photographer, Dennis Leupold, who puts down the lens for a moment to enjoy the raw beauty of Chile. Explore the article and the 1858 Collection here.