Erik Hassle is Sweden's latest pop export and is becoming almost as well known for his hair as for his music. We catch up with him to talk about his famous ‘fro, touring with Little Boots and his debut album, Pieces...
The single Hurtful has been your breakthrough hit in Sweden and is now receiving a lot of attention in the UK. When you were making the track, did you guess you might be onto a winner?
It started pretty slow in Sweden. It took almost a year on the radio. It was climbing all the time and I just kept on being surprised. In England, it’s a totally different tempo. Everything happens a lot faster.
Hurtful has a rocky edge to it, while your single Don’t Bring Me Flowers is more electronic. Which is more representative of the new album?
I think that Hurtful stands in the middle of the album. Everything sort of circles around that song. I would say its more to the synth side than to the guitar side.
The original video for Hurtful featured you in bed with five women and ended up being banned in Sweden for being too raunchy. Do you prefer the original video to the one that ended up being released?
It was fun to shoot it. The reason we re-recorded it was basically we couldn't show it to everybody. I haven't looked at it for a long time. It's a bit weird looking at yourself in that kind of situation. I like that video but I like the new one too.
Sweden has a history of really strong acts breaking out and doing well in the UK. In the past there has been ABBA, Ace of Base and the Cardigans and more recently Robyn, Lykke Li and Fever Ray. Why do you think Sweden seems to have a knack for producing such good pop acts?
I think there are a few reasons. We have a really good music education in school. Everyone gets to study music from a really young age until you're basically graduate from college. That's a privilege, I think.
What do you think of the British music scene?
I'm really impressed by the British music scene. I went to Reading Festival actually and I was really impressed by Jamie T. I think he's amazing with a really good album. Seeing him live was very good.
You’re supporting Little Boots on her UK tour. Are you a fan?
Yeah, I think she's good. I'd be lying if I said that I'd heard a lot from her. I've had so much to do that I haven't had time to listen to it that much, but I think she's a cool girl.
Do you enjoy doing live performances?
Yeah, that's the best thing. I love it! That's the thing that makes me want to do music.
You have very distinctive hair. Is it a look that has just happened organically or did you deliberately want to adopt a certain style to stand out as an artist?
It’s a look that’s came to me very naturally. Two weeks after I was born I had an afro. I've always had big hair. I'm used to people looking strange at me when I pass by in the street. My hair is as big as my head.
You originally wanted to be a professional footballer. Why did you become a pop star in the end?
I
read a quote when I was thirteen and my professional footballer dreams were crushed.
One boy out of 52,000 in
The single Hurtful is released on 2 November. The album Pieces is released on 16 November.
