Midnight Boy is one of the seven acts competing at Deltävling 4 of Melodifestivalen in Örebro this Saturday. ‘Don’t Say No’ will be opening the show in the same spot Molly Pettersson Hammar, Linus Svenning and Ellen Benediction have performed in over the past three weeks. We fell in love with Midnight Boy’s eighties inspired sound so chatted to him ahead of his performance at the Conventum Arena in Örebro…
Hi Midnight Boy – you’ve said you are inspired by the 80s, does that impact on your sound?
It does! There’s something about the groove and the melodies that really turns me on. To me the 80’s was a lot like a bubble, with no boundaries, which is exactly the same feeling that I get when I’m on stage.
Your single ‘Roll With It’ had a lot of success and resulted in a tour in the US – what was that experience like?
The tour was a lot of fun! I met with many cool people and had some really good shows where at rad places like the Tigerheat club at Avalon and House of Blues. I also got the chance to discover LA which I fell in love with right away. I hope to return later this year.
Has your experience touring shaped your stage presence?
As an artist I’m not very aware of those things but I guess it does. The main thing for me is always to have fun on stage, I don’t pay much attention to details in my own stage presence.
You have previously worked with songwriters for Britney Spears, P!nk, Madonna, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj – which of those singers has had the most influence on you and why?
They’re all great artists that I admire but Madonna is something else to me. If I had to make a list on my Top 5 favorite artists, she would be one of them. I’m mainly influenced by her early work and albums like “Like a Virgin” and “True Blue”.
Did working with those producers make you want an international career?
Definitely, although that’s been a dream long before I came to the US. Working with all those great songwriters and producers was a blast. I usually had the mornings free to walk around in Venice Beach and absorbing the environment there. It made a strong impression on me. There are so many different characters there, it feels like being in 30 different movies at the same time. Then I went off to the co-writes with a lot of inspiration. It’s an amazing place for a creative soul.
With success in the United States why did 2015 seem like the right time to enter Melodifestivalen?
It was just something I really wanted to do when I got the chance. There were never any doubts. I’m very into the visuals and I think Melodifestivalen is a great platform for artists who wants to do something different on stage.
You have described ‘Don’t Say No’ as danceable – what is the message of the song?
That everybody has the right to their own true expression.
Can you tell us anything about the staging?
With only a few days to go I don’t wanna say too much but there’s gonna be some hips in there.
How does it compare to ‘Roll With It’ – is it the same sound or something different?
It’s a Midnight Boy song so the sound is similar but it’s a totally different song obviously. More uptempo I would say and with an African-Savannah touch to it.
http://youtu.be/eGoNxdvtXak
Was ‘Don’t Say No’ the only song you considered for Melodifestivalen?
No, there were two more songs actually but ”Don’t Say No” felt like obvious choice to go for after I’d had some distance to it.
Lastly, thanks so much for this interview, do you have a message for your fans at wiwibloggs?
Stay true to yourself and thank you so much for your support, it means so much to me!
Follow Midnight Boy on Social Media Below:
Midnight Boy FB
Instagram @midnightboyforever
Twitter @midnightboyart
Judging by that song I’d say he is taking us to 1983 or 1984 … but 1989 that is certain … sounds too new wav-ish to be 1989 …