No questions asked…
In the short time I’ve been doing Schlagerfiasko, one of the highlights was the morning I spent with Loreen in Stockholm (you can read that interview here). Her song, My Heart Is Refusing Me, had just been knocked out of Andra Chansen, but she was on amazing form, and warmly receiving congratulations and plaudits from people around us.
At the time, she told me she was trying to decide which of two songs she wants to release as a single, and she’s been fairly quiet of late as a result. So I was thrilled to read the incisive interview that appears in this month’s edition of QX magazine (download the PDF copy here). Questioned by Ronny Larsson (who, conveniently enough, feels the same way as I do about the prospects for what Loreen can achieve), Loreen talks about her music, background and life in much more detail than we had time for before, so it’s a great read. It’s in Swedish, however, so I’ve translated the best quotes.
On her post-Melodifestivalen career…
[quote]I want to have strong songs, so I’m going to release an EP rather than a full album. Each song must be a potential single, and I want them to have something to say. They must have soul and a point of view. There’s all these songs about relationships and relationship problems. I like to have themes and vision. I love to take from different styles and influences, but it’s great to just ignore the rules and be open to possibilities. A bit like being bisexual, but musically![/quote]
On working with Måns Zelmerlöw, who encouraged her to enter the contest…
[quote]Måns is a really great sounding board – he isn’t afraid of anything. I’ll say, ”Let’s take over the world!”, and he’ll reply, ”Great idea!”[/quote]
On other peoples’ reactions to her being in Melodifestivalen…
[quote]I didn’t understand why it would be so wrong if I participated in Melodifestivalen. Could I do a performance? Yes. Could I do whatever I wanted? Yes. Could I wear what I wanted? Yes. Yes, but. I can’t stand ‘social codes’ – what’s hot and what’s not. People need music. So just give it to them and stop thinking about what’s ‘right’. Fuck credibility!
I wasn’t there to win, just to show people what I’m about. And that was the attitude of everyone involved in the song from the start. It was great that I had that attitude, because normally I’m really competitive![/quote]
On what inspires her to write…
[quote]Heartbreak isn’t what drives my work, but it is an important part of my creativity and inspiration. With melancholy, I can go into a trance, and my singing is also better. When someone’s playing a happy tune, my whole being shuts down and I feel nothing. It’s not that I love to drown myself in misery, but melancholy appeals to me. In Sweden, people think sadness is something negative. We’re too controlled here – it’s a shame we daren’t feel pain.[/quote]
On how her background influences her music…
[quote]I speak both Arabic and Moroccan. The phrasing in my songs is quite different, therefore. It’s more Enya-like, with plenty of sweeps. The ”e-e-iyee” loop in My Heart Is Refusing Me is an example of that. If a Berber heard it, she’d say, ”Aye, she’s one of ours!”[/quote]
On her upbringing…
[quote]I was brought up in Åkersberga and Västerås with five brothers and sisters. I had a different perspective from the other kids. Mamma couldn’t adapt to Swedish culture, and I copied her. It clashed with the Swedish way of doing things. I used to question everything all the time.
In the family we’d all help each other – we muddled through. It was like us against the world. I had to grow up quickly to be able to do that.
I’d stand for hours in the bathroom while my little sisters were banging on the door! The acoustics in there were great! I sang sings by Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney – all the big stars. I never thought about whether I could actually sing or not, I just sang. That was my thing.[/quote]
On her attitudes to religion…
[quote]I’ve always questioned everything, ever since I was little. Why is this like this? Why can’t I do that? When I was about 17 or 18, I started to question religion, and realised I’m neither Muslim nor Christian. I moved away from that. These days, I am quite spiritual, just like my mother.
I’ve always had a strong sense of intuition, and I’ve followed that no matter what religion or those around me have said otherwise. One of my closest friends at high school was gay, so I never felt like that was strange or forbidden. For if it was so wrong, why would God place me there, with those people in that situation?
So I challenged that by taking this girl home and saying that she was my friend, she liked girls and she was going to spend the night with me. I questioned and challenged. I’ve always believed that if one doesn’t understand something, they fear it.[/quote]
On her attitudes to sexuality…
[quote]I say this: ”Love is where you find it”. You don’t fall in love with sex, you fall in love with the soul. If that’s with a woman or a man, it doesn’t matter. My sexual orientation… it would be wrong to say that I only like guys. I’m open. I want to find love, and if that’s with a woman and it feels right, then it’s right. There’ll be no doubt on my side. ”No questions asked”. There’ll be no ”rules or regulations”. Have I ever been in love with a woman?[/quote] [Loreen gives a big smile].
On her fans…
[quote]The gay audience loved My Heart… before anyone else. I want to be with people I like – so that’s where my love shall be.
To stand on such a huge stage is a wonderful thing to experience, and I want to give music to people. I don’t care what is ‘in’. It would be strange that I, as a weirdo, should be in a ‘top-notch clique’. I think everyone is top-notch.[/quote]
On her outlook…
[quote]In Sweden, lagom är bäst – everyone wants everything in moderation. I don’t think so. That’s really just about ”I don’t want you to be successful because that will remind me that I’m not, and then I’ll get upset”. It’s so dumb. Do what you want to do, and don’t be constrained by what others may think and believe. Fuck lagom.[/quote]
A big thank you to Ronny Larsson and QX Magazine.
Photos: Peter Knutson, Styling: Sandra Johansson
