10 Questions For: Benjamin Ingrosso

INTERVIEW

Time for one more interview on Sounds European!. We went to one of the home lands of pop music in the world, Sweden, to talk to one of the best new talents appearing in the country's music scene. These are our 10 questions for Benjamin Ingrosso:

Sounds European!: You are a young guy, but you already have a long history with music. Can you tell us a bit about it? When did you start singing? And how were your first steps into the world of music?

Benjamin Ingrosso: I have always loved music, dancing and acting and stuff like that. My family works in the business, so I grew up in that world. I started writing songs when I was seven years old, and that's when I knew I really wanted to do this full time.

SE!: You come from a very artistic family. Your mother is a great singer, and your father is a dancer, composer and producer. How was it for you to grow up involved with their works? Do you think they influenced you to enter the field of arts?

BI: Of course they have inspired me. My mother and father were both songwriters when they were young, so I have listened to all their work – and my father showed me a lot of old school music when I was nine years old, like Toni Braxton, Michael Jackson, Stevie [Wonder] and Elton John. And when I listened to those sounds, I fell in love with soul/pop.

SE!: Still talking about references, who are your idols in music? And do you feel they have any influence on the music you produce?

BI: Like I said, my father, all the legends like Paul McCartney, Michael, and a Swedish artist called Ted Gärdestad. And I also grew up to deep house music because both of my uncles and my big brother and cousin work in the house music business. So that has influenced me as well.

SE!: In 2006, you won Lilla Melodifestivalen and you represented Sweden on MGP Nordic. What are your memories of it? What did you learn from those experiences? And do you ever think of taking part of the adult version of Melodifestivalen?

BI: I loved it. That was the first time I got to feel how to be an artist. I had also written by myself, so that was a cool feeling. I will probably not participate in the adult version, but writing songs for other people in the competition could be fun.

SE!: Your latest singles are absolutely amazing. And they show you have a very broad range of style. How would you describe your own music? How would you like people to perceive your work? And what genres do you enjoy listening yourself?

BI: I am a bit all over the place, as a person. Sometimes I wanna do a classic pop song, and on the other day I wanna write a deep soul pop song with modern production. That's why my music is also a bit all over the place. But I think it's boring to be an artist and only have ONE sound. And when I don't listen to my own music, haha, I listen to EVERYTHING. Maybe except hardcore metal.

"I think it's boring to be an artist and only have ONE sound" (Picture: official Facebook page)

SE!: We can't say your relationship with arts is limited to music. You also took part of theater plays. And you won the TV show Let's Dance in 2014. What can you tell us about these moments of your life?

BI: When I was younger, I loved musicals, so when I got a part in my first musical, I was amazed by how fun it was. I quit doing musicals when I became 14. By then, I had participated in eight shows. So I wanted a break. And then, when I was asked to dance in Let's Dance, I said "no" seven times. But my friends made me say "yes", and I don't regret it at all. It was one of the funniest times of my life.

SE!: You are also a songwriter. How is the process of songwriting for you? Is there any particular time, space or situation which gives you more inspiration? What topics do you like to write about? Your singles, by now, have all been in English. Is it easier for you to write in English?

BI: I don't really need a situation to write songs. I am a bit of a jukebox, haha! I always have a melody in my head – I don't say they're good melodies, haha, but I usually always have a melody. And I love writing in English. Because it sounds better, sometimes. But of course I wrote songs in Swedish as well, but those are a bit more private songs.

SE!: If you could choose anyone, who would be some Swedish and international artists you'd like to collaborate with?

BI: Oh, that's a difficult question. Maybe Bruno Mars or Beyoncé, that would be cool.

SE!: What are your professional projects for the near future? What can your fans expect?

BI: Just releasing more songs to me and others. And they can expect a lot more soul vibes and deeper sounds in my new stuff.

SE!: We would like to post a song of yours to close this interview. What is your favorite song of yourself, and why?

BI: That must be "Fall in love". It means so much to me, and it was my first release. And I love the old school sound in it.