Acne Studios: I can’t stop listening to your song, "We're Never Coming Home". I love the lyrics a lot. Somebody told me it is inspired by a Swedish poet?
Molly Nilsson: Yes, "We're Never Coming Home" is based on a poem by the Swedish poet Bruno K. Öijer. I want to emphasize that it's an interpretation. This song hands a great responsability to the listener, to how you understand the lyrics. That makes this song special, to me and others. After I finished it I sent a copy of the CD to Bruno. I'm almost certain he never listened to it. I'm almost hoping he didn't.
Why is that?
It's very difficult to be inspired by someone you admire greatly, I was and am still afraid it could be misunderstood. That the song taken from its context might do itself a disservice, All my other songs stand firmly on their own legs, my legs. But this song leans on someone elses foot...
So, tell me a little bit about yourself. You are living in Berlin and what do you do there apart from making music?
This and that. Mostly that.
I don’t know Berlin as much as I would like to but my impression is that there’s still a kind of idealism there. While culture in most other European cities is so much about business, Berlin seems to embody something more ingenious and meaningful. Do you agree?
The answer is economy, to what this city was and is, and how it's city is changing and why.
Berlin has changed drastically over the last 20 years and will continue to do so. But until 'she' has turned into the rest of the European cities she is a beloved, and much needed oasis.
Do you find the city stimulating in terms of what you do?
In Berlin you can do whatever you want. Sadly this means that most people do nothing. Honestly, I get awfully tired of talking about Berlin, wherever I go people wanna talk about Berlin. Even here in Berlin, we all just seem to sit around and talk about Berlin all day. It's almost like she is our senile grandmother, and we don't know what to do with her. This city is not going to inspire anyone into doing something they wouldn't be doing anyway. Although, she is gonna make it easier to find a studio and an affordable flat. And therefor we are grateful to Granny.
Is it a city that inspires your sound, or would the sound be the same if you lived in another place?
Lou Reed sounds exactly the same in New York as in Berlin. But, there's a lot of space here, unlike my hometown, Stockholm, and I would never have been able to do what I do up there. But who knows what I would have been doing then...
The sound and content of your songs have a melancholic quality – the lyrics sometimes border on the sarcastic. I love the coolness of it because it makes me feel good, I don’t know why. I wonder if the melancholic sarcasm that I sense is your intention, or not at all, or if it is just me who feels this?
Molly Nilsson: Yes, "We're Never Coming Home" is based on a poem by the Swedish poet Bruno K. Öijer. I want to emphasize that it's an interpretation. This song hands a great responsability to the listener, to how you understand the lyrics. That makes this song special, to me and others. After I finished it I sent a copy of the CD to Bruno. I'm almost certain he never listened to it. I'm almost hoping he didn't.
Why is that?
It's very difficult to be inspired by someone you admire greatly, I was and am still afraid it could be misunderstood. That the song taken from its context might do itself a disservice, All my other songs stand firmly on their own legs, my legs. But this song leans on someone elses foot...
So, tell me a little bit about yourself. You are living in Berlin and what do you do there apart from making music?
This and that. Mostly that.
I don’t know Berlin as much as I would like to but my impression is that there’s still a kind of idealism there. While culture in most other European cities is so much about business, Berlin seems to embody something more ingenious and meaningful. Do you agree?
The answer is economy, to what this city was and is, and how it's city is changing and why.
Berlin has changed drastically over the last 20 years and will continue to do so. But until 'she' has turned into the rest of the European cities she is a beloved, and much needed oasis.
Do you find the city stimulating in terms of what you do?
In Berlin you can do whatever you want. Sadly this means that most people do nothing. Honestly, I get awfully tired of talking about Berlin, wherever I go people wanna talk about Berlin. Even here in Berlin, we all just seem to sit around and talk about Berlin all day. It's almost like she is our senile grandmother, and we don't know what to do with her. This city is not going to inspire anyone into doing something they wouldn't be doing anyway. Although, she is gonna make it easier to find a studio and an affordable flat. And therefor we are grateful to Granny.
Is it a city that inspires your sound, or would the sound be the same if you lived in another place?
Lou Reed sounds exactly the same in New York as in Berlin. But, there's a lot of space here, unlike my hometown, Stockholm, and I would never have been able to do what I do up there. But who knows what I would have been doing then...
The sound and content of your songs have a melancholic quality – the lyrics sometimes border on the sarcastic. I love the coolness of it because it makes me feel good, I don’t know why. I wonder if the melancholic sarcasm that I sense is your intention, or not at all, or if it is just me who feels this?
I would never make a 'happy' song. It doesn't interest me. I want to make meaningful, and beautiful music.
And 'happy' can never be that, happy must always stay superficial and simplified. But on the other hand I can never let it get hopeless and sad, then I would only be crying over the keyboard... Having a sense of humour is necessary to survive, and this doesn't mean that you laugh about or at everything, it's far more philosophical than that. It's a way of twisting what you see, changing the perspective.
Would you say that your songs are biographical? Are they part of your real or imaginary life – or both?
Molly: It's storytelling, and all artists are inspired by their own lives, giving myself a lot of 'artistic freedom'. I want the lyrics to be personal, but never private. There has to have a value for the listener. Relating to stories is to a basic human need. I'm a songwriter, not a blogger. The songs I've made that I considered too 'private' I've kept to myself and will never publish.
In culture, past or present – who inspires you and why?
Well obviously Bruno K. Öijer. And Harvey Pekar, the guy who makes American Splendor. That's what I want to be like when I grow up. I admire that creative intransigence.
Of what I have seen of your performances, both live and on Youtube, they are very nightclub-y in a minimal avant-garde style. How do you think creatively about your performances?
Performing is terrifying. But when it's good it's wonderful. I try not plan so much, to just let it happen. In the end, it's all about the music. When I'm up on stage, singing the songs, I am the ambassador of my music, and official representatives should always
act and dress accordingly.
Someone told me that you make your music on your laptop at home, is this right?
Yes, but don't tell anyone.
One of the many things I like about your work is that it is so creative. The ideas you have behind your videos for instance represent, well, ideas rather than budgets. You seem to make-do without having to rely on lots of things to materialise your projects?
Yes, to not wade in money is a creative asset. My mother taught me that when you want something, make it yourself. Of course it can get out of hand if you want a car or something, but someone did make that car, so you can too! On the contary, I'm also very lazy. Which can also be an asset, not trying to complicate things. I keep busy doing as much as I can,
without having to leave the house.
In terms of style, who do you admire or find appealing?
Zarah Leander.
What’s next for Molly Nilsson?
Well my living room is filled with 800 copies of my latest album 'Europa' and so I'm gonna try to figure out a way to get them out of there, and into the hands of others.
And 'happy' can never be that, happy must always stay superficial and simplified. But on the other hand I can never let it get hopeless and sad, then I would only be crying over the keyboard... Having a sense of humour is necessary to survive, and this doesn't mean that you laugh about or at everything, it's far more philosophical than that. It's a way of twisting what you see, changing the perspective.
Would you say that your songs are biographical? Are they part of your real or imaginary life – or both?
Molly: It's storytelling, and all artists are inspired by their own lives, giving myself a lot of 'artistic freedom'. I want the lyrics to be personal, but never private. There has to have a value for the listener. Relating to stories is to a basic human need. I'm a songwriter, not a blogger. The songs I've made that I considered too 'private' I've kept to myself and will never publish.
In culture, past or present – who inspires you and why?
Well obviously Bruno K. Öijer. And Harvey Pekar, the guy who makes American Splendor. That's what I want to be like when I grow up. I admire that creative intransigence.
Of what I have seen of your performances, both live and on Youtube, they are very nightclub-y in a minimal avant-garde style. How do you think creatively about your performances?
Performing is terrifying. But when it's good it's wonderful. I try not plan so much, to just let it happen. In the end, it's all about the music. When I'm up on stage, singing the songs, I am the ambassador of my music, and official representatives should always
act and dress accordingly.
Someone told me that you make your music on your laptop at home, is this right?
Yes, but don't tell anyone.
One of the many things I like about your work is that it is so creative. The ideas you have behind your videos for instance represent, well, ideas rather than budgets. You seem to make-do without having to rely on lots of things to materialise your projects?
Yes, to not wade in money is a creative asset. My mother taught me that when you want something, make it yourself. Of course it can get out of hand if you want a car or something, but someone did make that car, so you can too! On the contary, I'm also very lazy. Which can also be an asset, not trying to complicate things. I keep busy doing as much as I can,
without having to leave the house.
In terms of style, who do you admire or find appealing?
Zarah Leander.
What’s next for Molly Nilsson?
Well my living room is filled with 800 copies of my latest album 'Europa' and so I'm gonna try to figure out a way to get them out of there, and into the hands of others.
