Swedish rock/pop musician Fredrik Ekblad may have been around for a while and known in his native territory, but his name will still be largely unknown to those outside Scandinavia. Now, with new works in the offing we catch up with Fredrik for a quick chat.
Fredrik, tell us a little about yourself and your background.
Hello! I am a solo artist and play most of the instruments by myself. I'm based here in Sweden, in a university town called Lund. I have lived here and in the surroundings for all my life. My main "occupation" is studying medicine.
Do you work solo?
Yes. I have a kind of 'renaissance man' approach to the whole thing - I do the songwriting, recording, performance and producing all by myself.
Why is that?
Because I find the whole process (all parts) of making an album very creative and I know exactly what I want. There are definitively some sort of need for control involved also.
When you play live do you work with a band?
Yes, I have a drummer and a bass player and I'm searching for a guitarist. Since I play everything
except the drums and harmonica on the album, I can't do this all at once in a live setting. I am
currently working on putting a decent live act together. I sing and play the guitar/keyboard in a live setting.
You've been playing for a few years now, but how did you start out on this path?
I started playing the violin when I was four years old. When I was 12 I started playing the guitar
and wrote my first songs when I was 15. I have released two albums in my native language - Swedish - one in 2005, the other in 2007. However they were never a success. I wanted to do something else after that and started working on my english project. The songwriting and first recordings began in 2007. I wrote tons of songs, was very productive during the process, and picked out the songs that moved me - the ones I thought had the "thing". The album was recorded in its full 2009 and was mixed in 2010. After that I had kind of a financial and motivational dip and decided to lay low with the music for a while and start to study instead. Now I am studying to become a M.D. at the University here in my hometown, Lund. But I felt something was missing and I felt I just had to release my precious work, I've been working on for so long and in which I have put so much love, passion and time. Therefor I decided to master the album this spring. At the same time I got a record deal with the Swedish label Sousafon. Sousafon is a division of the well known studio Tambourine studios in Malmö, Sweden, where the Cardigans have recorded all their albums.
Have you aired the new work live yet?
No, I haven't played live yet with this new setting (the English project). But I am really working
on this - and hopefully will very soon! I have played live when I was doing my Swedish songs a couple of years ago.
You haven't toured abroad?
No, I have never toured abroad - but would love to do so...
You have now put out 'Diss Me'. Tell us something about that.
'Diss Me' is one of the songs I recorded for 'Confused Confessions'. The song is about being an egocentric douche. You don't give a damn about much except yourself. It is exaggerated, but I sure can relate to it sometimes when I would rather spend time sitting in my studio than being with my girl. In the song I admit that I've been a douche and that I deserve to be held responsible for that! Haha...!
Is there a release date set for the album?
Yes, 'Confused Confessions' is released the 13th of December this year.
WEBSITE
Watch the video to 'Diss Me' below.
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