Interview: Marit Bergman
Marit Bergman, for the uninformed, just happens to be one of Sweden's greatest popstars. She transcends boundaries and manages to effortlessly bridge the gap between the indie and mainstream crowd. How does she do it? No clue, but she was kind enough to answer a few of my other questions in this all-too-brief email interview.
Her new album "I think it's a rainbow" comes out September 6. The first single "No party" is out now.
- Avi Roig
It's been quite awhile since "Baby dry your eye" was released. What have you been doing since then? Why did it take so long for you to come out with something new?
What I have been doing? Well, mostly working with the album. Writing, recording. I don't think it has taken that long, I think two years is a pretty normal amount of time between albums. Ok, two years and 5 months.
Other than that, I have been traveling, I got some kind of turning 30 crisis, feeling like I never did something fun and spontaneous anymore and that my life was too planned and organized. Also, I have a hard time concentrating when I'm at home, people constantly asking me to do stuff, so it was easier for me to write somewhere else.
What else... we'll, I've been running a monthly club in Stockholm together with some friends. It's called "Lights are changing" and it's mostly just us playing our favourite songs. A cover band ha ha! Also I've been working a little bit with Pop Camp for Girls, which we started in 2003. And I've been singing and playing with friends, like Spånka NKPNG and Sophie Rimheden and some other people. I try to sing and play a litle bit everyday, it makes you a happier person.
Tell me about the new album. How does it differ from your older work?
I tried not to think too much. I tried to sort of fool myself into thinking I did this only for fun and that I didn't need any results. Just sort of pressing the rec button and see what happens. Also I tried to record the songs as soon as possible after writing it to keep the initial feeling. So we ended up recording the album during quite a long period, almost a year, and in I think 8 different places altogether.
There are some songs on it that are pretty basic Marit Bergman hits, you know the sort of updated Motown pop in the shape of three minute anthems. But a lot of the songs are slower and sadder than they used to be. I guess is more fun for me to try and write those kind of songs, it's more exciting because it feels new to me.
This album has lots more strings and backing vocals on it. Big choirs.
It's more fun to do slow/sad songs? How do you reconcile that? Do you think that you're a sadder person nowadays than you've been in the past?
Doing new stuff that I haven't done before is the fun part. I don't think it has anything to do with being a sadder person, I'm not (maybe a bit slower though haha).
Now that you're in your 30s, do you have any big plans or goals? What's been the biggest change for you since reaching that milestone? Any plans to settle down, raise children, etc? Do you ever think about that sort of stuff?
I have this new rule that I'm not answering questions about children until it's customary to ask male artist about that as well.
But, well, I think I'm pretty settled down already. My plans and goals... just continue to do as much good music as is humanly possible. I have like 10 different projects and albums I want to do so I wish I will live until I am at least a 120 years old.
Of those 10, what's the one musical project/aspiration that you think might surprise people the most? Any particular artists/musicians that you'd really like to work with?
I don't know what people expect from me. I think at least people here in Sweden are starting to learn that they can never be sure of what kind of stage they're going to see me on.
I want to make a jazz album with Andreas Gidlund Quartet, I don't know if that surprises anyone.
A lot of people were surprised when Marit Bergman, Sweden's queen of indie, signed to a major label. How has it worked out for you? Was it everything you'd hoped it would be? What would you do differently if you had to start over again?
The way I see it, that was my only choice if I wanted to continue to make music. I was burnt-out and in debt and super depressed, so I needed someone to help me out with money and practical stuff. I love being on a major label, so far. I guess it might be another story if my album fails in their eyes. (Saleswise). I prefer to not think about that for now though.
I would not do anything differently in my career I think. I've mostly done the right choices, considering circumstances.
I understand you've been trying to work out an international release? Anything confirmed yet? What are you hoping to achieve?
Oh I don't know, I just get frustrated talking about this right now. I've learnt that I shouldn't say anything about this until it's really happening. I've had many things "confirmed" that didn't happen after all. My hopes are of course to be able to have an large audience in as many parts of the word as possible.
What's your plan for the immediately future? What should look forward to once the new record comes out?
Touring, touring, touring, interviews, interviews, interviews. It'll be a lot of fun. I can't wait to get my band together. We love playing together so much.
Besides music, what else do you do? Any hobbies? Pets?
Hobbies: I wish! But no, not really. I guess fashion is sort of a hobby, but it sneaks its way into my profession as well. And I like growing stuff and making stuff with my hands. And I read a lot of books.
Pets: No. I want a dog. We'll see what happens.
Lastly, how do you dance when no one's looking? Is it anything like the "Adios amigos" video?
That's pretty much it. Maybe a bit sexier haha.