Frida Sundemo: “The most important thing for me is to touch the listener in some kind of way”
Photo: Linnea Sundemo & Joel Humlén
Who are you?
I am Frida Sundemo from Sweden and I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. I started out playing classical music on the piano and the French horn, and the first pieces of music I wrote were instrumental ones. I began playing the guitar when I was around 17 which led me to singing more and to start writing songs with vocals on them. A few years later I got myself a small studio setting in my bedroom and that was when I really found a big fascination with creating music. I think arranging and producing are big parts of writing a song.
Apart from that I love medicine (I’m a half-way-through-medicine doctor but on a long break), building things, taking hot baths, learning new stuff and much more.
What type of music do you play – genre, expression, mood?
It’s hard to just pick one genre but I usually say I do cinematic electronic pop music. The most important thing for me is to touch the listener in some kind of way. I want to reach out wide and to deal with all the big emotions. I love to play with contrasts and to combine small elements with huge productions.
What was your first musical experience?
Me sitting on the piano bench as a little kid playing the keys. And listening to my brothers singing one particular song in the car over and over again that they had written themselves. I thought it was the most beautiful melody I had ever heard. The lyrics were “Night sugar, night sugar, sugar tonight. Sugar to Christmas tonight”. I don’t know how old I was, but probably around 3.
What are your sources of inspiration – other bands, people, experiences?
I find inspiration in so many different things but to name a few: Hans Zimmer, Boys Noize, feeling sad, feeling happy, feeling bored, digging into my own mind, Debussy, Radiohead, talking to strangers, doing new things in general, trying to play an instrument I’ve never played before, Bromma Disco, space, movies, beautiful things, trees, heavy rain and much more.
What is your ambition playing at SPOT?
To reach out to new people, discover new music and to have a lot of fun! And I’ve never been to Aarhus before so I’m looking forward to exploring the city.
Have you ever played abroad? – If yes, where and how was it different?
Yes, I’ve actually played more abroad than in Sweden I think. In various countries in Europe, in the US and in Asia. Some places are more different than others. The Japanese people for example are extremely polite and structured. Performing in another country than Sweden gives me some kind of freedom on stage. I don’t know really why but I like it.
What is your dream as a musician?
To reach out to millions of people and to never stop doing the music that I want to do. And to do a collab with Thom Yorke, Hans Zimmer and a symphony orchestra.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned so far?
To always listen to your gut feeling.
Where do see yourself in five years?
I’ve released a lot of new music, I’ve collaborated with a symphony orchestra and I’m a doctor.
