Sweden is the home to some of the best dance pop artists of all time – Abba, Ace of Base, Roxette, Eric Prydz, Army of Lovers, and Robyn come quickly to mind. Swedish Pop idol winner Agnes (born Agnes Carlsson) was everywhere during Winter Music Conference 2010 celebrating the release of her hit “Release Me.”
DJ Ron Slomowicz: Welcome to the US. Is this your first time in Miami?
Agnes: Yes, it is.
RS: How do you like the Winter Music Conference?
Agnes: I'm just so excited to be here because there's so many people
from all around the world that are here right now and you just feel
the energy in the air. Everybody's here to have fun.
RS: Your music is being embraced by the dance community here in
the US, how do you feel about the dance crowd loving your music?
Agnes: I love that that they love my music.
RS: As a Swedish artist, how do you feel to have such great
success in the UK?
Agnes: Of course you're happy when you see that a lot of people like
your songs. In the UK that's just amazing and also in the whole of
Europe and in Australia, I'm just happy about it.
RS: What was your reaction to winning Swedish Pop Idol in 2005?
Agnes: I was so happy. The day of the final I was so sick. In the
morning I didn’t have any voice at all so I was like this the whole
day. I worked for that in three months and to just win the whole
competition was just amazing.
RS: "Release Me" has lots of different dance mixes, which is your favorite?
Agnes: Oh that’s a hard question. I never remember the names but
there are some remixes that I really, really like. I'm going to check
that out.
RS: In the UK, they are about to release “On and On.” Tell us
about that song.
Agnes: "On and On" was the first single I released in Sweden from the
album Dance Love Pop. I just loved that song also because it was
the first song me and Anders Hansson, the producer, started to work
with. When I think about the whole time we worked together, it’s
just amazing. So I love that song and for me it’s a really love,
happy, and wonderful song.
RS: You've been really embraced by gay clubs. How do you feel
about your gay fans and your gay following?
Agnes: I just love it. I was in Chicago a few days ago now and I met
“Another Agnes,” a drag queen, so that was just so amazing. I did
three songs at the club I performed and he went on stage at the last
song and shook his body and he was really nice.
RS: Are you going to be over in the States for a while or just a
short tour right now?
Agnes: I'm going to be here for one and a half months and doing a lot
of promotion, radio interviews and TV shows.
RS: What would you like to say to all your dance music fans out there?
Agnes: Just keep listening to good music. Have fun and dance and be happy.
Interview conducted March 2010.
