If you follow Melodifestivalen, then you know Albin Johnsén and Mattias Andreasson. Albin co-wrote Behrang Miri’s Melodifestivalen 2015 song “Det rår vi inte för” alongside Måns Zelmerlöw. And Mattias rose to fame on Idol, where he placed fifth, and later formed the boy band E.M.D. with Erik Segerstedt and Danny Saucedo, also Idol alums. Albin and Mattias have already had a fruitful musical partnership in the short time they’ve been working together. In 2014 they co-wrote “Din Soldat” (Your Soldier) and Albin performed it alongside Melfest 2015 starlet Kristin Amparo. It topped the charts and has been streamed more than 30 million times on Spotify.
They’re men of few words. But when Albin and Mattias speak, they always have something to say. Such was the case when we caught up with the songwriting duo who will compete in the first semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2016 in Gothenburg with the song “Rik” (Rich).
“Din Soldat” — your collaboration with Kristin Amparo — was one of the most-played songs in Sweden in 2014. It was funky and fresh and mixed R&B, pop and hip-hop. Is “Rich” similar in style?
Yes it is.
What’s the message of “Rich”?
That it’s not money that makes you rich.
What was the process like creating the song — did one of you write it and then the other one reviewed it? Or was it very collaborative from the beginning?
It was very collaborative as always when we write together.
How long have the two of you been writing together? Why does the musical partnership work?
Two years…we compliment each other.
What can we expect from your stage performance?
A lot of energy.
Albin — you wrote Behrang’s song last year and made it to Andra Chansen. Did it hurt getting so close to the final and not making it? Did that inspire you to enter this year?
No, I didn’t hurt at all. And not really.
Mattias, when you were last at Melfest in 2012 you sang solo. What’s it like to be back and singing with Albin?
It’s really fun.
Danny Saucedo has co-written Molly Sandén’s song. Do you feel a rivalry to do better than her because of that?
Not at all. Molly will win this year. We’re not here to win.
Has Erik from EMD said which song he prefers between yours and Molly’s?
Erik is a big fan of Albin & Mattias.
If Christer Björkman ever demanded an EMD reunion for Melodifestivalen, would you participate?
No, I don’t think so.
Do the two of you have a message for all of your new fans and followers on our web site wiwibloggs.com?
Be happy.
@my 2 cents: Your definition of masterpiece I call it “rubbish” so .. we’re going nowhere discussing that. Then, if you question the abilities of a jury to truly acknowledge a great song, like they did with the amazing “Moving On” back then, I DO question what kind of criteria is behind a televoter’s choice … and so far for quite a significant extent it had proven me that televoters like music like a pile of s*** out of an a****.. Again even a dog catching a bone is far more entertaining. People want an operatic singer singing bs pop… Read more »
@Charles, my 2 cents: Once in a while, you’ll get a major paradox when you have a split system. Jessika’s “Hypnotica” won the televote at MESC 2014, but was massacred by the jury (tie for 12th); and because the televote was 1/6 the total score, she ended up in a tie for 8th as Firelight won. Even if it had been 50-50, she had no chance.
@Charles: I suppose I would have guessed wrong, that maybe some artists participate in the anticipation, or even the hope that, If they don’t win, maybe their performances will steer the public in one preferable direction or another.
@my 2 cents: Because sometimes televoters are way to drunk to fully understand that their supposed musical preferences are nothing but rubbish … and the outcome at the 2009 ESC final proved La Voix was utter filth of a song. And people still complaint about juries … as if televoters had any understanding of what great music is or even had credible criteria to select one … they go along with any rubbish that entertains them like a dog jumping to catch a bone… They spend money voting and TV broadcasts get happy.
@CookyMonzta: Because you don’t have to win to make your music be heard and be successful in Sweden. Not everybody aims intentionally at going to Eurovision. If it meant to happen, fine. Otherwise there is no obligation to have such target when your purpose is far more music-oriented than Eurovision-oriented … if you know what I mean. As for the short sentences as answers. I see no problem at all. At least they had the nice gesture of responding somehow instead of ignoring the questions. And had they written a 10 line answer for each question, a lot of you… Read more »
Its ok to say a few words but not to say maximum 10 words in a question. Lol….
Well Melodifestivalen is a great platform to bring out your music to the world i guess. I hope one of the Molly’s is going to win.
1. Molly Sandén
2. Molly Pettersson Hammar
3. Molly (Dolly style) 😉
If they’re not there to win, why are they there at all? :-/
@nick
Not fixed, but predicted.
Molly is a good singer, and most of her new songs became hits in Sweden, so you can see why they would say that Molly has the biggest chances of winning.
Heck I’d say the same 😛
Wow they’re not so friendly….
I know you said he has a man of few words, but those answers tho… wtf..
Sorry predictive text is awful I actually meant.
@nick
I don’t think it’s a fix but I think everyone already kinda knows that Molly is the most likely to win as she’s great live and a song called YOUniverse is going to be great. I have a feeling it could be a ESC winner. Can’t wait to here it
@nick
I don’t think it’s a fix but I think everyone already knows that Molly is the most lolly to win as she’s great live and a song called YOUniverse is going to be great. In have a feeling it could be a ESC winner. Can’t wait to here it
I hope that Molly Sanden will also win eurovision!
It makes me feel very uneasy to hear people inside the swedish music scene are sure of Molly Sanden’s victory before even the songs are heard. If this is the case, why should we (mortals) watch 6 weeks of (fixed) competition?
Typical Swedish guys, lol.
Really unsympathetic I think… what a shame.
Well that was fun…
Very few words indeed.