In this interview, Scandinavian hipster
heartthrob Kristoffer Ragnstam talks about the joys of being a boy
magnet, the diversity of his musical palette, and his "gayish" last
name.
How did Ragnstam snag the prestigious opening slot on Debbie Harry's
fall tour? Well, for one thing, the songs on his U.S. debut rock hard
carry a big stick.
And for another, the album offers one of the most
diverse packages since the advent of Beck. It doesn't hurt, also, that
he's the hottest Swedish import to hit these shores since—well, ever.
On Sweet Bills, each track veers unpredictably to the next: The
wall-of-sound pop of "Lonely Lane," broadcast by roaring guitars and
thundering drums, gives way to the simmering funk of "Doctor, Give the
World a Smile."
Mellow horns and backward guitar samples on "Sweet
Bills" explode into a complex groove that nudges surreal lyrics--"My
girl wants to be an astronaut/My boss wants to be a talent scout." You
can also sense a chronology to Sweet Bills. Echoes of sixties garage
rock permeate "Never Get Used to You," an eighties electronic dance hook
slices through "Man Overboard," and on "Keila" the music is timeless and
the message playfully twisted.
Sweet Bills is, Ragnstam insists, a project he can introduce without
hesitation into the unsuspecting American market. "It's very intimate -
naked, even. I'm not trying to be smart or anything. I'm just doing what
comes naturally. Sweet Bills is one hundred percent me."
Here, the very sweet and funny—and straight--Ragnstam talks about the
diversity of his music palette, his thoughts on being a boy magnet, and
the thrill of rocking in the free world.
Q: Were you a big Blondie fan before you snagged the opening slot on
her tour? Kristoffer Ragnstam: Of course. I've listened to a lot of Blondie
records. I'm a huge Divinyls fans too, and I know they listened to a lot
of Blondie. I love the song "Two Times Blue," from Deborah's new album,
Necessary Evil.
Q: Deborah Harry is a gay fave. You're going to be playing in front
of a lot of gay boys, for sure. KR: I know. That's great. I never really distinguish between gay
or straight. I have a lot of friends that are gay. I've never thought
about it before--I don't really know what "gay" is. I know I have some
gay fans in Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the U.S. Sweden. To me, they're
just fans. And they're gay. [laughs]
Q: Do you get a lot of gay guys coming onto you? KR: Yeah. A lot my friends make fun of my because of that. I
don't know if I have a "gay aura." I'm in a steady relationship with a
girl, but I'm happy they like me.
Q: Do people hate gay people in Sweden like they do here in the U.S.?
KR: No, Swedes are pretty liberal to a lot of stuff. The U.S. is
so big and so diverse. We only have 9 million people in Sweden, and we
basically all get along.
Q: Your album Sweet Bills encompasses a lot of different musical
styles. It's a very varied palette. KR: Well, I recorded the album over a very long period of time,
in many different modes. I also recorded it in different countries.
Emotionally, a lot of things happened during that time, and I think
that's reflected in the songs. I have so many things I would like to
say, but my voice and my lyrics are always the link between songs. I
also don't want to sound the same from song to song.
Q: You were originally a drummer. Was it hard to adjust to being a
singer and guitarist? KR: No, not really. I just sing and play. I just picked up the
guitar and the mic and just started doing what I'm doing.
Q: Your voice sounds like Mick Jagger. KR: A few people have told me that. That makes me happy. I think.
What do you think? [laughs]
Q: I think it's probably very flattering. Let's talk about your video
for "Breakfast by the Mattress." There is some pretty funky dancing
going on. There seems to be some moves from Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
video. Was that conscious at all? KR: No, there was really no set idea behind the video. We just
set the dancers loose, and that's what we came up with.
Q: Your lyrics are kind of surreal. Are they based on experiences
from your own life? KR: Definitely a combination of fiction and real life--things
that have happened to me and things that I'd like to happen.
Q: Fantasies of what you'd like to happen? I don't want to put words
in your mouth. KR: Well, I only know 100 words in English. It's good that you
put words in my mouth.
Q: [laughs] You're funny. So, do you want to be the next Swedish rock
star? Do you want to be huge? KR: In my head, I already am. And in front of the mirror. And
that's good enough--mission complete.
Q: Some of your songs really rock hard. Are you a big fan of any rock
bands that are around today? KR: I like all different kinds of music, from Queens of the Stone
Age to Justin Timberlake. But I do like to rock out with my cock out, as
you say in the U.S. The kind of music where you don't have to use your
brain too much. You play more with your genitals than your head.
Q: Sounds hot. Can you tell me how to say your name? I've heard it
pronounced a couple of different ways. KR: [Says "Ragnstam" without pronouncing the "g."] It sounds very
gayish if you come from Texas. Wow, "gayish"—I just said that.
Kristoffer Ragnstam On Tour w/Deborah Harry Nov. 11 – Dec. 9
11/08 New York, NY - The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza
11/09 Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre
11/10 Ledyard, CT - Foxwoods Casino
11/12 Johnson City, NY - Magic City Music Hall
11/13 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
11/14 Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel
11/16 Miami, FL - Jackie Gleason Theatre
11/17 St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Landing
11/20 Milwaukee , WI - Turner Hall
11/23 Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
11/24 Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue
11/27 Tulsa, OK - Brady Theatre
11/28 Dallas, TX - House of Blues
11/30 Kansas City, MO - Ameristar Casino
12/01 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
12/02 Aspen, CO - Belly Up
12/04 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
12/07 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
12/08 Las Vegas, NV - Santa Fe Station Casino
12/09 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
Here's a video for the song Breakfast by the Mattress:
And for another, the album offers one of the most
diverse packages since the advent of Beck. It doesn't hurt, also, that
he's the hottest Swedish import to hit these shores since—well, ever.
The Hunk
