From the fringe of the Melodifestivalen to the whole of Europe’s Loreen – in five months. Sweden’s new hit queen is living the fast life. Now comes the debut album “Heal”.

Say it like this: You win the Melodifestivalen, achieve an elimination victory in the schlager-EM and reach fans far beyond the crowds of the devout fantasies. What do you want now?
Loreen’s answer comes quickly and beyond doubt:
– That I could be in five or six different places at the same time.

It has been almost six months since Loreen waved away Europe’s collective pop effort and took the victory in the hit European Championships in Baku. During that time, she has been home for maybe three or four weeks, but never more than a few days in a row. Home, that means late nights in studios and live performances in different places in Sweden and the Nordics. In a short time, Melodifestivalen’s specialty has become its record company’s new export venture.

– It has been a carousel without equal. I couldn’t understand how much it would mean to win the Eurovision Song Contest. Then it just happened like this, says Loreen and holds the palms of her face like a wall

How have these months been for you?
– I’m used to taking a break whenever I want, but it’s okay because I’m the one who started the carousel and no one else. But I have to make use of the time I get. It is at most 20 minutes, we are no longer talking about a few days.

Do you have time for privacy, relationships, friends?
– Relationship? There is so incredibly little time for that. I don’t dive into relationships anyway, it is a horror scenario to come home, say hello and then have to leave. I meet friends and try to take care of them, but my private life is about a lot of work right now.

Creative control

The singer points out how important it is for her to control all parts of the creative work around her music. Even though she is suddenly part of a large PR machine, it is she who makes the decisions.
– These singles that have come out are none other than me who has chosen. I didn’t know that artists aren’t given the opportunity to choose. Had it been so, hell would have erupted.

Do you think that people find it difficult to work with?
– Yeah sure. If you create your music with soul and heart, it’s your heart you put there, says Loreen and slams her hand on the table.
– Should people come in then and start cutting into it? There is no chance in the world. Does that mean we don’t have a deal, well then we have no deal.

LOREEN

Is: Lorine Zeineb Nora Talhaoui, 29-year-old singer and creator from Vasteras with roots in Morocco.

Previously: Competed in TV4’s Idol 2004 where she finished in fourth place. Competed in Melodifestivalen 2011 with the contribution My heart is refusing me and went to Andra chansen. In 2012, she was back with the song Euphoria and went straight to the finals.

Eurovision: Loreen got almost a third part of the people’s votes in the final and beat runner-up Danny by 268 points against 199. Won in Azerbaijan by more than 100 votes to runner-up Buranovskije Babushki from Russia.

Currently: With the debut album Heal which comes out on October 24. Next spring she is planning an extensive tour in Europe.

• Source: https://www.svd.se/gasen-i-botten-nar-loreen-slapper-debutalbumet
• Translation: via Google Translate, the translation may not be completely accurate