The Search

Sweden

Formed in 1999 as The Silverslut, the Swedish band The Search recorded six EPs under that name before changing to The Search in connection with the release of their 2004 eponymous album. Released to critical acclaim, the band toured the country and went back into the studio to record the bleak “Bloodbath and Bazaar of Lush Loose Limbs”, released two years later and showcased a more introverted side to band. Following its release, shows were played abroad in the UK and Denmark.

The calmer, more organic lo-fi effort “Deranged Minds Unite” came out the following year. “Saturnine Songs”, released in 2008, resulted in tours in Germany and the Netherlands, further expanding the band’s fanbase. Two albums were released in 2011. First, the 35-track album “The Silverslut 2000-2002”, containing all songs recorded prior to the band’s debut album. A few months later “The Search for Connection Contact And Community” hit the shelves. The album found its way to the hearts of many new fans.

The band underwent a major shift in its line-up prior to the 2012 album “Staying Alive In A Country Industrialized”, which explains the radical sonic difference from their previous effort. Whereas the previous album had slower and longer songs, this one focused on the pop side of the band. Shows were played in Germany with set lists covering the band’s whole career. Highly productive, The Search soon went back into the studio again to record “Our Need For Solace”, a sonic amalgam of all the band’s previous efforts combined with their strongest songwriting abilities to date.

As a trio the band went on to release the 2016 indie output "Songs About Losers", an album blending acoustic tracks with melodic pop songs.

The following three years saw The Search becoming a one-man project, with Razmig as the sole remaining member. The intimate demo collection "Echo" was recorded and released in 2017.

Exploring other forms of musical expression, Razmig went on to record two synthesizer-heavy albums in 2018 and 2020 – "A Wave from the Sidelines" and "Some Place Far Away" – respectively. Evidently two albums were needed to scratch that 1980’s itch. The records stemmed from an old urge to let loose and go over the top with the synthesizers, and with no one there to stop him.

In 2019 a new lineup of the band took shape with Erik Nyberg on bass and Johann Bernövall on drums, both former members of the band Light in Your Life. During the pandemic in 2020 Stephen Burt, an English guitarist of Spiral Motion fame, completed the band. Coinciding with the release of 2020’s "Heart’s Racing" – Razmig’s fourth solo effort – the band is currently in the rehearsing studio, exploring the band’s back catalogue as well material from Heart’s Racing, with the purpose of putting together a sort of best-of live repertoire for future gigs.

Recorded during the pandemic, the album “Extras” released in February 2022 offers sticky indie rock songs like "Writing on The Wall" as well as Razmig's perhaps most daring songwriting adventure so far called "Halt". The lyrics tend to look for meaning in midlife relationship struggles and isolation. Introspection versus the will to get out there and smash the world in pieces. "Extras'' is a call to arms to everyone out there who wants to be something more than just extras in their own life.

2024, Razmig Tekeyan, alongside Måns Hartman (bass), Stephen Burt (lead guitar), and Johann Bernövall (drums), present "Indulgence" — a deeply personal and emotionally resonant collection of songs.

In 2025, Frans Ganneby joined on bass, completing the current line-up. The band is currently working on new material.

Current line-up

Frans Ganneby — Bass

Johann Bernövall — Drums

Måns Hartman — Guitars

Razmig Tekeyan — Vocals, Guitars

Stephen Burt — Guitars, Keys, Backing vocals

Discography

Indulgence
The Search Indulgence 4 October 2024 darkwave · indie · post punk
You Just Want Somebody To Hold You
The Search You Just Want Somebody To Hold You 13 September 2024 darkwave · indie · post punk
Pick Me Up
The Search Pick Me Up 16 August 2024 darkwave · indie · post punk
Extras
The Search Extras 25 February 2022 darkwave · indie · post punk
Heart's Racing
The Search Heart's Racing 25 September 2020 darkwave · indie · post punk
Winter
The Search Winter 4 September 2020 darkwave · indie · post punk
Some Place Far Away
The Search Some Place Far Away 6 March 2020 darkwave · indie · post punk
A Wave from the Sidelines
The Search A Wave from the Sidelines 27 April 2018 darkwave · electro rock · electronic
Echo
The Search Echo 22 September 2017 darkwave · indie · post punk
Songs About Losers
The Search Songs About Losers 24 June 2016 darkwave · indie · post punk
Do Your Dreams Involve Me?
The Search Do Your Dreams Involve Me? 15 April 2016 darkwave · indie · post punk
Notes from a Failure
The Search Notes from a Failure 6 December 2015 darkwave · indie · post punk
Our Need for Solace
The Search Our Need for Solace 27 June 2014 darkwave · indie · post punk
Staying Alive in a Country Industrialized
The Search Staying Alive in a Country Industrialized 27 April 2012 darkwave · indie · post punk
The Search For Connection Contact And Community
The Search The Search For Connection Contact And Community 30 September 2011 darkwave · indie · post punk
The Silverslut (2000 - 2002)
The Search The Silverslut (2000 - 2002) 28 June 2011 darkwave · indie · post punk
Saturnine Songs
The Search Saturnine Songs 25 April 2008 darkwave · indie · post punk
Distant
The Search Distant 31 March 2008 darkwave · indie · post punk
Deranged Minds Unite
The Search Deranged Minds Unite 1 January 2007 darkwave · indie · post punk
Bloodbathe & Bazaar Of Lush Loose Limbs
The Search Bloodbathe & Bazaar Of Lush Loose Limbs 1 January 2006 darkwave · indie · post punk
The Search
The Search The Search 1 January 2004 darkwave · indie · post punk