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Being lucky to grow up in a home full of music, Niklas Sandin was always exposed to vinyl records spinning on the turntable. With a father who plays jazz guitar, it’s easy to determine where he got his inspiration to start playing himself. Picking up the saxophone at the age of 10 and playing with various ensembles cemented his passion for playing. A few years later, he decided to pick up the electric guitar, influenced by Iron Maiden and Metallica. Wanting to lock in with the groove, he finally found bass to be the instrument of choice, and he studied this at Kulturama music school in Stockholm until he graduated and became a professional musician.
Most known for handling the low-end duties for dark rock/metal act Katatonia for the last 15 years, and also being part of the death metal group LIK, he’s been fortunate to play more than 700 shows in 42+ countries doing what he loves. To be on stage performing music that carries weight and meaning for both bands' audiences worldwide. Performing the fan favourite album “The Great Cold Distance” with Katatonia in Bulgaria, at the ancient amphitheatre in Plovdiv, proved to be an extra memorable evening. A concert that can be relived through the live vinyl release. In the third quarter of 2020, he got hired as a live session musician for Stockholm-based Mass Worship, supporting Polish death metal legends Vader, in a world-unique COVID-appropriate tour spanning across Europe.
It was back in 2005 that Niklas would record his first album together with an established group. It was the Swedish black metal band Siebenbürgen, who picked him up on bass duties for their fifth studio album “Darker Designs and Images”. Since then, he’s been on countless albums between Katatonia, LIK, and the post-rock trio Aoria. Katatonia’s 2012 release “Dead End Kings” got extra spotlight by being Grammy nominated in the rock/metal category in Sweden, and LIK´s “Misanthropic Breed” got awarded the prestigious P3 GULD award in 2021, aired on national TV and radio.
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“I was instantly floored by the craftsmanship and playability that make the Boden bass such a standout instrument. You can really feel how much thought has gone into sculpting it. The ergonomic features of the lightweight body, fanned frets, and the EndurNeck™ partners with a tone that isn’t just versatile, but also warm and pleasant. I couldn’t be happier to play .strandberg* basses on and off stage.” - Niklas Sandin, on his Boden Bass Standard 5
“Niklas is one of those players that’s a joy to work with. Well rehearsed, focused, fun to be around, and he always delivers stellar basslines with a great groove. A fantastic bass player and musician.” - Lawrence Mackrory (Producer/Mixer, Paradise Lost/Meshuggah/Katatonia/Bloodbath)
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