Sven from Sweden
Sven Fredrik
Sweden has some really cool people. If you ever go there, look for Sven. I hope you find the right one. Treat him to a beer and some halloumi. A really interesting interview about drums, cheese, fitness and even Mr T. Enjoy!
How would you describe your music and yourself?
I hope my music and I costantly moving forward and changing all the time. right now I am in a period where everything in my music is about the body, training, physicality and both positive and negative aspects of training and external fixation.
You’ve been a solo artist since 2021, so basically since after the COVID pandemic. How hard did this period hit you, change you or even ‘inspire’ you?
For me personally, Covid came during a period where I changed my life. I switched from late, blurry nights to early mornings about a year before the pandemic, so for me right there and then it somehow passed me by unnoticed. I sat at home in the evenings and tried to understand how a midi keyboard worked and dug into my brain about things that inspired me. On my first album, there is a lot of darkness, sadness, the fate of people that inspired me. Everything from Elvis’ last years of life to Jussi Björling’s (tenor) upbringing and life and early space flights during the Cold War with fatal outcomes. haha, not so cheerful maybe but I am actually a happy person who smiles a lot!
What should people avoid serving you backstage, and what do you like to eat before and after a show?
People can serve me whatever they want, but halloumi is super delicious! because I always play drums 100% with feeling, whether I want to or not, I’m always completely drained and sweating after a gig, so I’ve learned something easy to eat over the years! I sweat a lot when I play live. I always have. there’s something about playing live that’s so fun, every beat counts. to always be on the limit of what your body can handle. I think that’s exciting.
As a Swede, you inevitably have to love nature. How is it for you? Do you draw strength from the solitude of nature or the hustle and bustle of the city, or perhaps both?
I love nature. Really. Up in Norrland among mountains, reindeer and open fields. But also in the middle of the city where weeds can penetrate through asphalt amidst car exhaust fumes and concrete. Trees are nice too. When the wind blows on them in the summer they can sound like cymbals.
When most people think of Sweden and music, Abba has come to mind for decades. Is that a blessing or a curse?
How did the collaboration with Aux Animaux come about? Did you meet at Ikea or perhaps in a club, and what was it like?
I met Aux through Tess. We played at the same festival (Subkult) a few years ago. I think she makes interesting music and is a nice person with a unique style to her soft and kind approach. I asked her if she wanted to remix an upcoming song for my second album, which is about death and darkness. It went well and was fun!
Your music often deals with the topic of fitness. How fit are you? Are you running the Stockholm Marathon in May?
right now all my songs are about training and the body. in 2 years they will be about something else. I like trying new things all the time! I just got back from a foot operation so I’m waiting 2 months to run. I love running. I can’t really run that well but I do it anyway because it clears my head of thoughts and feels so good afterwards. I used to settle for 5km at a time to save my feet for the drums too!
Why have you only performed solo live in the USA and Sweden so far? (I hope I’m not wrong here.)
Exactly! the usa tour in the summer of 2025 was fantastic. cozy, very well organized and so much fun meeting people, playing with people and starting collaborations with people I met and played with on the tour. hope to be able to play in more countries and meet more nice people. collaborations are the best! even though this is a solo project it is so nice to be able to do things together. having guests at gigs, recordings and everything in between.
What makes the 80s so interesting?
How is it different to perform solo or with Memoria?
What did you do before your solo career and what motivated you to take the step into the solo world, and have you ever regretted it?
Do you think the world would be better if the real Mr T were in the White House?
What can we expect from you this year and what do you expect from yourself?
Thank you very much for this interrogation!