Interview: Form One
2008 was the year of the weekly Göteborg Spotlight Series, but it's not over. I've still got a few belated interviews that trickled in at the end of the year, so we'll be spending the next few weeks getting them posted. After that, who knows? I don't think I have the stamina to do another weekly series on my own, but I am open to suggestions.
Anyhow, let's get to this week's featured artist: Form One. I've been seriously remiss in my hip-hop coverage, so it's about time I made up for it.
Gbg isn't exactly known for its hip-hop scene- what's up with that? What's the scene like there? How does it compare with Sthlm and Malmö?
Gothenburg used to be known its hip hop scene back in the day due to this club called Fatmilk that I managed together with some friends of mine. Each month we booked some US artist that we flew in only for this particular night and people from all over Sweden and Norway came to party with us. At the time we also had various freestyle nights for local acts so the culture here was really vibrant and alive back then.
Today it's nothing like that. I mean there's still a hip hop scene but everyone keeps more to themselves I think. It's probably more people active in the culture today but we don't have a natural meetingpoint where everyone hangs out like we used to. But to Gothenburg's defence we have loads of talented DJs that throws clubs almost every night if you like. Probably less going on then in Stockholm but at the same time, probably more so than in Malmö.
So much hip-hop seems wrapped up in regionalism, so do you consider yourself a Swedish rapper or do you think that Gbg has its own style? And why did you decide to rap in English?
I guess I consider myself a Swedish rapper with the potential to reach outside the Swedish borders since I'm rhyming in English. When I started rapping it was considered uncool to rap in Swedish. We all did it in English back then and I just stuck with it. Been doing it for ten years now and why fix it if it ain't broke you know what I mean? And no, I don't belive Gothenburg has its own style but oddly enough, lots of rappers rhyme in English over here. There are a lot of different theories as to why that is which I'm not going to get into, but style comes with the artist not the city he or she is from.
How do you think Swedish hip-hop currently ranks on an international level? Do you personally listen to a lot of local stuff or what? Furthermore, what steps do you think are necessary for Sweden to take it to the next level?
A lot of Swedish hip hop acts are making it across Europe right now in countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France for instance. I think in general us Swedes are really talented when it comes to making music, no matter the genre. But in regards to hip hop, I think we stand our ground in most of the world, even in the U.S.A, but for obvious reasons it's extremely hard to make it as a rapper in America when you're not a native, don't live there and so on.
I don't listen to too much Swedish rap but sometimes I do, mostly friends of mine in the business. But overall I like all sorts of music so I listen to everything from rap to rock to pop to soul to electro etc. Pretty much anything but death metal, opera and classic music like Mozart and that kind of stuff.
But in regards to your last question I think that something has happened to Swedish hip hop this year. Finally we have broken out of our own mold and are not afraid to go our own way, so this is really the first time we have a chance of making it outside the Swedish borders I think.
Lastly, got a track you're willing to share? Tell me about it.
Sure thing, its the first track taken from my mixtape, "A new season" that came out just before my album and its called "More or less"...