Västerbottens-Kuriren 140211
By: EVELINA BURSTRÖM
Always nervous. She’s not a musical lover, and schlager is not her cup of tea. On Friday Helen Sjöholm performs at a sold out Idun, and she promises to be extra loving.
Helen Sjöholm has been on stage since the age of 17 when she sang in choir and was involved in musicals in her hometown Sundsvall. To stand on a stage may seem terrifying for most people; but Helen Sjöholm has still been drawn to it.
– Sometimes I ask myself that before premieres: Why do I go into this? But if you have the prerequisites I’ve had, with a mighty joy of singing, a voice that’s strong and a need to express yourself, it feels very joyful. I have a great need to sing and act, she tells VK.
Though Helen Sjöholm is still nervous before her performances.
– Yes, always. But I’ve discovered there’s a lot of energy in that too, which you really can use when you perform. I think you have to be a bit tense and nervous. It requires such a concentration and being in the moment to perform that there must be a tension.
Maybe you’re best known for your musical roles. What is it about the musical format that you like?
– I think that the format likes me more than I like the format, to be honest. I’m not a musical fan. It’s not a genre I usually listen to, but I like nice productions. I simply think that I’m suited for it; I’m a fairly adroit actress with a dramatic voice.
On Friday Helen Sjöholm comes to Umeå for a completely sold out concert at Idun Theatre. In the concert she collects previous musical collaborations – as a ballad album with Jojje Wadenius and, of course, as a singer in Benny Andersson Band – with musical tunes and some personal gems. Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, Elvis Costello and Staffan Hellstrand for example.
– There’s a vast mixture, but everything is mixed in a music form that suits me and my band, Helen Sjöholm says.
After this tour, which ends in March, Helen Sjöholm starts repeating Livet är en schlager (Life is a hit song), the musical by Jonas Gardell’s movie of the same name, which premieres in September.
Although Helen Sjöholm has been asked many times to participate in the Swedish Eurovision Song Contest, it’s not for her.
– I sit glued in front of the TV now with my 6 year old son, and it can be entertaining. I’m impressed by people who nail a song in three minutes, just like that. But it’s really not my thing to go in there and compete and do something in such a short context. I love musical contexts where you have more time and can build atmospheres, she says.
When you perform in Umeå on Friday it’s Valentine’s Day…
– Oh God, how cute! I have actually not thought of that. That feels very nice, especially when Umeå is the cultural capital of the year. That feels great. It’s been a long time since I sang in Umeå so it’ll be fun. Then I will be extra loving.
Has three children
Name: Marie Helen Sjöholm.
Age: 43 years old.
Born: Sköns parish, Sundsvall.
Lives: Nacka, Stockholm.
Family: Husband David Granditsky, sound engineer. Children Ruben, (6 years old) and twins Samuel and Johanna (2 years).
Background: Roles in musicals like Kristina from Duvemåla, Chess and My Fair Lady. Has performed in tours with Björn Skifs and Rhapsody in Rock, TV shows like Så ska det låta and Allsång på Skansen and stagings Fiddler on the Roof, Les Miserables and Aniara. Has toured and released the CD “Visor” with Jojje Wadenius, and released the album Genom varje andetag with Anders Widmark. Sings in Benny Andersson Band. Film roles in Där regnbågen slutar and Så som i himmelen.
Currently: Performs at Idunteatern in Umeå on Friday.