Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

The Swedish are coming and Erik is certainly the one the industry is talking about. Straight from supporting Mika on tour - Swide catches up with him to find out more.

***Erik on performing...***

THIS SUMMER YOU SUPPORTED MIKA ON TOUR. WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND BEFORE GOING ON-STAGE? WHAT ARE YOUR CONFIDENCE BOOSTING TRICKS?

I always try not to think about the show until just before I go on stage. when I'm standing backstage waiting to get up there I usually do a lot of high fives with people. The base drum starting to kick is definitely my boosting trick.

WHAT DO YOU DEMAND BACKSTAGE?

Tea, ginger, honey and some beer.

WHAT SINGERS INSPIRED YOU TO WANT A LIFE ON THE ROAD?

Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and Stevie Wonder inspired me to sing. But I think bands like The Strokes, The Beatles and Ebba Grön (Swedish) inspired me to be on the road

DID YOU EVER PRACTISE IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR?

Always. I still do, but with my guitar

DO YOU CRAVE SOLITUDE OF CROWD-MOBBING FAME?

There's nothing like going to my grandparents house up north in Sweden and listen to the wind. So yes...

***Erik on his debut album, Pieces...***

YOU SAY A LOT OF THE SONGS ARE ABOUT BEING A TEENAGE AND HAVING YOUR HEARTBROKEN. ARE YOU A LOSER IN LOVE AND DO YOU THINK YOU NEED FAILURE IS A CRUCIAL PART OF BEING A SUCCESS?

I’m definitely a loser in love!! I don't seem to do anything right. I think it's hard to fake dark feelings, but I think you can always pick them up if they were once there.

  WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD ONE OF YOUR TRACKS ON THE RADIO?

HAHA! I was driving my parents car in Sweden and almost died as a result of the shock.

***Erik on the music industry...***

DOOM AND GLOOM APPEARS TO BE THE MUSIC INDUSTRY’S MANTRA AT THE MOMENT. HOW DO YOU SEE ITS FUTURE?

I'm feeling quite positive. I like being the underdog. Also I think the Swedish cd sales have had a positive curve the last few months. Maybe the reason is Spotify, and I hope smart people will continue to come up with smart ideas like Spotify to make make music accessible for everyone in a good way.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO THROW A TV OUT OF A HOTEL ROOM’S WINDOW?

YES!! Preferably from the top floor of some Las Vegas hotel and aim for the hotel pool.

***Erik on his home place, Sweden...***

YOU’RE FROM KATRINEHOLM, SAID TO BE ONE OF THE MOST BORING TOWNS IN SWEDEN. IN MANY WAYS COMING FROM AN UNINSPIRING PLACE YOU’RE FORCED TO MAKE YOUR OWN ENTERTAINMENT. COULD THIS BE ONE OF THE SECRETS TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS?

The city was boring, but I grew up in a very inspiring environment, a little village outside the city. My parents built a venue in our garden and invited comedians and bands to come and play there. Eventually I started to sing at those nights as well.

THINGS YOU MISS ABOUT SWEDEN AND ANYTHING YOU CAN REVEAL ABOUT THE COUNTRY THAT PERHAPS NO ONE KNOWS.

I miss my dog and the silence of the countryside. I'm off cold temperatures at the moment though so it levels up. In the summer, the sun never goes down but in the winter it's unfortunately the opposite.

Erik Hassle's latest single - Hurtful

***Erik on his hair...***

YOU’RE NOW SAID TO BE LIVING IN EAST LONDON, HOME TO A NOTORIOUS HAIRSTYLE THE ‘HOXTON QUIFF’ – CAN YOU ENVISAGE A TIME WHEN YOUR HAIRCUT WILL INSPIRE THE SAME POPULARITY?

Hehe! It depends on how resistant I manage to be. Sometimes I just wanna shave it off - but if I’m patient enough to keep it (which I will be), I plan to run everywhere around Hoxton all the time...

***Erik on his future***

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE IN FIVE YEARS TIME?

In New York. I dream about moving there every night.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE IN TEN YEARS TIME?

In Sweden, I’d love to live up north but will probably end up in Stockholm.

DREAM DUET?

Whitney Houston in bodyguard.

With special thanks to Erik Hassle.

***To see more from Erik and follow his latest tour dates see www.erikhassle.com/uk

You can also follow Erik on Twitter at twitter.com/erikhassle***

Kerry Olsen

Source & Photo Credits: Erik Hassle

TAGS: erik hassle hurtful music swedish music music stockholm album