KalmarPosten 2021-11-24
By: HEDDA OTTESTAM
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On November 25, Helen Sjöblom will come to the Kalmar Hall. She tells KalmarPosten about the new album and about her relationship with the city.
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When KalmarPosten reaches her, it´s the morning after her first gig, in Jönköping.
– We´ve just eaten long breakfast, me and the band. It all feels very rock´n´roll, we travel through the country in a big trailer, a tour bus, where we both eat and sleep. It’s new to me, so it’s been exciting.
How did it feel during the concert yesterday?
– It was great, so uplifting and fun. It feels almost unreal to be in front of a large audience again.
Was it what you thought it would be?
– I was quite nervous before. You don´t really know the voice or how it should feel or the address to the audience. But it´s still in the body, you notice quite quickly when you start. I also travel with five fantastic musicians so it feels really luxurious.
Also on the tour are drummer and producer Andreas Dahlbäck, bassist Martin Höper, guitarist Ola Gustafsson, keyboardist Rickard Nilsson and violinist Erik Arvinder.
– You really feel that you have missed the live situation and to play together for real. Even with the audience you clearly feel that people have longed.
She says that a lot is played from the new album, but also many old treats from the past and of course the interpretations from Så mycket bättre (So much better).
– There are many songs that I know the audience wants and that are strongly associated with me and I of course want to offer them. I find that mix very fun. I get a lot of power from playing those old treats that I’m very sure of, at the same time it’s fun to show off the new music as well.
Can you tell us a little about your new album En ny tid (A New Time)?
– I´ve for several years collected songs to get this album together. Two years ago I got in touch with a couple of songwriters named Jonatan Järpehag and Paulina Palmgren who live outside Uppsala. I´ve also received songs by Andreas Mattsson. This is the first time I do songs that are written for me. In the past, I´ve sung a lot of songs that have been written for dramatic performances and interpretations of old songs. So this album feels like a great complement to my other songs, I’m super happy about it.
How is your relationship with Kalmar?
– I have played a lot in Kalmar before and have some friends there. The Kalmar Hall is fantastic. Then I also usually take the opportunity to go out and trudge in the city, it is very beautiful there.
Do you have a special memory from when you were here?
– Yes, I actually have, one that is a little crazy. I was at Krusenstiernska farm together with Tomas Andersson Wij maybe four, five years ago. We did a short tour together, and then we played in the garden there. It was absolutely magical. And then I was so touched, because then some local brewery had made beer with labels with my and Tomas’ faces on. So there were some beers with my face on, and some with Thomas’ face on. Then I almost cried because it was so nice. It’s probably my biggest memory of Kalmar actually. So then I brought home two bottles, one with each face on, and so I have saved them ever since.
Was there any special taste in them?
– I actually don´t know. I’m gluten intolerant so I can´t drink regular beer, but it was fun to look at the label! I may never be one to get a wine named after me, but I got beer from Kalmar with my face on.
(The entire interview is not reproduced for copyright reasons)