The various pressures of our times make it increasingly difficult to embrace uniqueness and to stay calm in the informational overflow that we are constantly bombarded with. In many spheres, the homogeneous is favoured over the heterogeneous, the habitual over the unexplored, and the safe over the adventurous, so it’s hard not to admire the creative spirit, self-expression and ingenuity of the next generation of Swedish fashion-design talent.

During Stockholm Fashion Week at the end of August, a specially selected group of alumni from The Swedish School of Textiles and a host of other great talents showcased their playful and eye-catching designs before an expectant crowd – and the audience was not disappointed. Through a flurry of materials, colours, details and unique cuts, these talented creators showed the world that they are the future of fashion and design, the young stars who will carry the torch for years to come and whose designs will become the cult looks of tomorrow.

For Dr. Martens, the now iconic footwear brand, its designs were born from a persisting sense of rebellious self-expression and originality that has permeated the brand ever since the 1960s. Through its unabashed attitude and ingenuity, the brand has created timeless and unmistakable designs, and become a true icon – and it all came from an urge to be different, a need to embrace one’s true self. So over the next pages, The Forumist is celebrating the shared sense of originality and self-expression between Dr. Martens and this new generation of Swedish design talent.

Reflecting the rebellious, original heritage of Dr. Martens, these young designers’ creations are bound to become future classics. Whether they spread their wings on their own, or choose a more treaded path, these talents will continue to innovate, push boundaries and stay refreshingly rebellious. This is only the beginning of a transition that will not only change their own lives, but the course of fashion and design.

Team credits:

Words by Petter Bladlund 
Photography by Andreas Karlsson
Styling by Emma Thorstrand 
Special Thanks to Dr. Martens 

Fashion credits: 

#1 Mukai Mary-Jane Shoes by Dr. Martens, Dress by Stina Randestad 
#2 Mukai Shoes by Dr. Martens, Coat by Alice Jardesten, Stockings: Stylist’s own  
#3 Vegan Pascal Chrome Boots by Dr. Martens, Dress by Lynn Tallvod, Stockings: Stylist’s own 
#4 Nyberg Boots by Dr. Martens, Dress by Linn Sohl 
#5 Vegan Pascal Shoes by Dr. Martens, Dress by Matilda Envall, Stockings: Stylist’s own
#6 Serova Shoes by Dr. Martens, Jacket, Trousers and Hat by Rave Review 
#7 Vegan Pascal Chrome Boots by Dr. Martens, Dress by Matilda Forssblad 
#8 Vegan Pascal Chrome Boots by Dr. Martens, Bodysuit by Kajsa Willumsen 
#9 Nyberg Boots by Dr. Martens, Dress by Karolina Centeno Norberg, Stockings: Stylist’s own 

Team credits
Photography by Andreas Karlsson
Styling by Emma Thorstrand
Hair by Sherin
Make up by Oscar Svensson
Model Ellinor Arveryd

Fashion credits
#1 Cover Jacket by MSGM from Look Boutique, vest vintage, earrings by All Blues, stockings by Balenciaga, boots stylists own
#2 Sweater by MSGM, skirt by Ivan Grundahl, scarf by Etro from Look Boutique, boots stylists own
#3 Jacket by Calvin Klein Jeans, trousers stylists own, bag by Pucci from Look Boutique, shoes by Jil Sander
#4 Jacket by Drottninggatans päls, dress by Rodebjer, hot pants stylists own, earrings by All Blues, shoes by Valentino
#5 Top by Off-White, body stocking vintage, trousers by Stand, earrings by All Blues, shoes by Céline
#6 Jacket by Pucci from Look Boutique, body stocking by Tove Berner-Wik, shoes by Valentino
#7 Sweater by MSGM from Look Boutique, trousers by Stand, sunglasses by Facial Index, shoes by Céline
#8 Coat by Stand, stockings by Balenciaga, shoes by Valentino

Complete devotion means having a passion for something that translates into everything you do – the way you think, what you create and every step forward you take. Devotees comes in all shapes and sizes, but the one thing that ties them together is an unfaltering dedication to continue doing what inspires them.

For their first design collaboration in their 30-year history, the high-tech outerwear specialists Peak Performance turned to the renowned British designer Nigel Cabourn, who has made it his lifelong pursuit to collect and become an expert in vintage global army apparel. This skilful fusing of talent has reinvented the classic functionality and aura of historic pieces, resulting in a stunning FW17 collection. Each of the 20 unisex pieces has been carefully designed with special attention to quality and utility, breathing new life into garments with a long history. And this collection was never about following trends. Everyone involved with it has a deep understanding of what it means to be committed to your craft – behind every visionary is a story.

The Forumist spoke with eight creative devotees who have turned their dreams into reality. But these stories are just snapshots of their journeys – whether in music on interior design – as they relentlessly pursue their passion. For them, it’s not just about achieving one goal, job or a hobby. This is real devotion.

Mwuana
Robin Nyström, aka Mwuana, has been devoted to his music from a young age, developing his melodic sing-rap style over the years. With a total – “not scheduled” – dedication to creation, Nyström has developed into a visionary and entrepreneur, becoming what he calls “a multi-creative” in many different areas.

“This passion is often just a romantic glint from this problem you are trying to solve,” he explains. “It’s like a mystery that constantly haunts you, and you just want to crack the code.” During the years he has spent developing his sound, he has learnt to prioritise his creativity so he can focus on projects that he is passionate about seeing through to the end. “It’s as if devotion comes to you and makes your life more meaningful and interesting, but there are also long periods when you feel lost, not sure of what you’re actually doing. But I believe that as soon as a person finds their calling, devotion automatically kicks in.”

Continuing his story, he tells us: “It started with one goal, actually more like one mission. And the further the mission went, the bigger the vision got.” This is an artist who has come a long way from where he began. Growing up in a suburb outside Stockholm, Nyström relied on street smarts to get to where he is now. “I always seem to take on more projects than it’s possible to manage, but I’m driven by the feeling of learning new things and, most of all, finishing and completing the things that are meant to grow.”
mwuana.com

Helin Honung 

For the casting director Helin Honung, devotion used to be about time – the hours you spend working and obsessing about one thing. But it was only when she got into casting, she truly understood what it meant. “As time went by, I understood that, for me, it’s in the challenges, the development and the learning,” she says.

Growing up deeply rooted to the idea that she would become a fashion designer, Honung’s life took a 360-degree turn when she decided to make a change. “Out of the blue, a producer asked me to cast one of her productions,” she explains. “I felt I had nothing to lose if I did it.” From that moment on, Honung found her true devotion within the fashion world. As a casting director, she has a creative calling that challenges her every day and teaches her something new.

She may not have had a background of working for an agency or in production, but it is her total dedication to personal development that helps her overcome daily obstacles. “I’ve always been afraid of failing and I still am, but something that I never thought I’d apply to myself is the beauty of asking people for help,” she says. “We all have our own struggles in life. I guess I’m seeking the perfect balance, and that’s what keeps me going.”

Sandra Mosh

Although she has gone through phases in other music genres, Sandra Mosh has always felt an “uncontrollable draw” pulling her towards electronic music. “People often talk about those moments of flow, when you are so deep into the creative process that you fall into this trance-like state of mind,” she tells us. “I first found this flow through techno.” Now she’s a DJ, producer and founder of her own label, MOSH Musik, so it’s safe to say she has found her musical home in techno.

“For me, there’s nothing more personal than sharing your tracks with the world,” Mosh tells us. As she became more skilled as a DJ and got more involved in the scene, producing music felt natural. Feeling such a strong impulse to create is what led to her founding her own label as a platform to release what she liked, whenever she wanted. Mosh debuted at the Berlin nightclub Berghain last year, an experience that she has been devoted to accomplishing for a long time. “I can honestly say
I walked out there and thought, ‘I can die happy now,’” she reminisces.

When she’s making music, Mosh visualises it in her own head, but she explains that playing for an audience is also a moment of creation. “When something real is actually being created in that moment, that’s the best feeling in the world. That’s zen to me.”

Axel Wannberg 

At his core, Axel Wannberg is a woodworker whose passion for his craft has become his career. His endless devotion to perfecting lines, curves and spaces keeps him busy as a freelance cabinet-maker and furniture designer for high-profile clients in Stockholm and around the world.

He realised working with wood was his calling after he bought an old mahogany boat when he was 18 and started renovating it. After a five-year education in boatbuilding and cabinet making, he started his own workshop. “I get really inspired by minimalistic sculptors from the ’60s and ’70s,” he says. Constantly expanding on his own technical knowledge, he also finds inspiration by visiting niche companies, “like acrylic plastic specialists or companies that specialise in metal surface treatments”.

At first, he designed and built his own projects, but now his work mainly revolves around commissions. He often works alone, but enjoys collaborating with a team that can add to what he does. “Since I have more of a technical-orientated background, I find working with people of a more artistic background the most interesting and complementary.”

Every day Wannberg is in his studio or office, poring over and perfecting sketches and blueprints before starting to build. “I eat, sleep and dream my work,” he says. “And I don’t feel like it’s my job – it’s my biggest passion and I’m lucky to get paid to do it. And it’s been like that for the past 10 years.”
axelwannberg.com

Ludvig Blom

Though he’s an introvert at heart, Ludvig Blom is a strategic advisor and digital producer who works with tons of people and clients, attending meetings every day. His is a fast-paced career that requires technological and creative innovation, so we were curious about what devotion means to him. “Never fail to sweat the details and always be prepared to run the extra mile,” he replies. “In the end, it’s all about delivering valuable, feasible and usable solutions for my clients.”

Blom’s schedule is packed: he’s always working and meeting deadlines, but this goes hand in hand with being totally committed to digital production. He finds his inspiration in the fast pace of big cities and does his best to embrace each challenge he faces. “The more challenges and obstacles you run into, the more you develop as a person.”

Blom holds skill in high esteem and makes it a priority to collaborate with a team of people with a diverse range of expertise. “I prefer to be among cross-functional teams of specialists. You learn so much, and I also like it if people are a bit different and fun.” His devotion is far from reaching an end point. “I consider it more as a journey,” Blom says.
panagora.se

Julia Thelin

For Julia Thelin, filmmaking is about surrendering herself to the artistic process and coming to terms with not being in control. “It sounds pretentious, but for me it has something to do with what is outside of myself, with being connected to something bigger,” she says. For her, it is that passion and lack of control that drives her forward and helps her make decisions: “My devotion pushes me to dare to do more things.”

Filmmaking is a way for her to disconnect from reality while also creating it. “To create is to dig deeper into yourself and not be aware of it because you’re so absorbed in the process,” Thelin explains. She questions gender structures and roles in her work, inspired by the complexity of human behaviour and social systems. “Although, ‘inspired’ is a weird word for something that makes you angry,” she adds. “I look at it more as fascination.”

Thelin’s ambition is to expand the way people experience film and the way film looks. “I think I need to take a hell of a journey for that,” she says. “To be devoted means making choices that always have to do with my creative work, indirectly or directly.”
Juliathelin

Michel Dida

Songwriter Michel Dida doesn’t mince words when it comes to his passion. “Devotion is being dumb enough to ignore everyone’s advice and spend your entire life pursuing some weird interest that you have,” he says. Dida lives his life with no end goal in mind and says he can do without the rewards.

He got into hip-hop in 1995. “We started off by recording gibberish on cassette tapes over instrumental B-sides and that pretty much sealed the deal,” he says. Although he has featured on plenty of mixes, Dida describes himself as a lone wolf: “There are just not that many people I can trust with all these strange ideas floating around in here, you know.”

But this artist has a formula for harnessing his creative process. He makes his music in total seclusion, away from all social interactions, so he can be alone with his own thoughts. “Just sitting in a dark room for, like, a week, that’s how I write my music. I isolate myself. I don’t answer my phone. I feed the birds on the balcony, but I don’t meet up for fikas. That’s when I’m at my total peak. That is my formula.”

Joanna Nordin

A contemporary artist and curator with a special passion for space relations and collaboration, Joanna Nordin has worked in both fashion and art in New York, and achieved her master’s in fine art at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm. “I love not knowing what’s around the next corner,” she tells us. “Unexpected conversations, events and collaborations give me tons of energy and inspiration.”

In her artwork, Nordin spends hours making large-scale installations and conceptual found-object sculptures. Recently she became a curator of contemporary art for Sörmlands museum in Nyköping, which will open next year. This new job has expanded her devotion within the art world. “I’m excited to get to be part of making it, and seeing it develop.” The must important thing to Nordin is her integrity. “I believe it’s the key to devotion,” she explains. “As long as you keep things close to your heart and do what you really want, being devoted to it will follow naturally.”

Her transition as an artist into curating has made perfect sense. During art school, Nordin “was never able to make just one work”, and instead spent time thinking about how things related to each other, making entire shows. “I think exhibition-making was always in the back of my mind,” she says. “I’m really grateful that I get to do what I love and do it full-time.” She sees her job as another step in her journey. “Devotion isn’t an end goal, it’s an outcome of your interests and your curiosity.”
joannanordin.com

The FW17 Peak Performance x Nigel Cabourn collection launches on October 5

Team Credits:
Photography by John Scarisbrick
Styling by Emma Thorstrand
Make-up and hair by Lillis Hemmingsson
Words by Eimi Tagore-Erwin
Special thanks to Peak Performance
Talents: Mwuana, Helin Honung, Sandra Mosh, Ludvig Blom, Axel Wannberg, Joanna Nordin, Julia Thelin and Michel Dida
Studio: Peas & Understanding Studio

Fashion Credtis:
#1 Swedish Mountain parka, 
wool cap
#2 Swedish Mountain parka, army undershirt, wool cap, army belt
#3 Wool zip, Swedish Mountain trousers, wool cap
#4 Swedish sheepskin
#5 Snow Smock, Swedish Mountain trousers, wool cap, army belt
#6 US clip jacket, crew-neck swear, wool cap
#7 Quilted naval dungarees, windstopper shirt (round waist), wool cap

Three talented photographers immerse themselves into the elements of nature to create images that allow us to enter the wild. Alric Ljunghager, John Strandh and Martin Wichardt have an instinct for capturing the mood and intensity of the outdoors in their photographs – and this intuition has been transferred into a limited edition clothing collection.

Fashion becomes a backdrop for photography as this collection takes a glimpse into the untamed wilderness that surrounds our cities. Photos come to life on the human form; a new way to feel the intensity of nature and the rawness that comes with it. Enter the wild, connect the outdoors with your lifestyle and bring it with you wherever you go.

Peak Performance’s Enter the Wild cruise collection is out now, and it is redefining tradition as we know it.

Fashion Credits

All by Peak Performance

1. Grey Unisex Enter the Wild Hoodie  

2. Grey Unisex Enter the Wild Crew Neck

3. Black Unisex Enter the Wild Crew Neck

4. Unisex Enter the Wild Hoodie  

5. Black  Unisex Enter the Wild Hoodie

6. White Unisex Enter the Wild T-Shirt

7. Grey Unisex Enter the Wild T-Shirt

8. Grey Unisex Enter the Wild Crew Neck

Credits:

Photography by Andreas Karlsson
Styling by Emma Thorstrand / Link Details
Make up: Sophia Eriksen / Hall&Lundgren
Hair: Joanna Rask / Mikas
Models: Julia Bollvik / Le Management and Isabell Thorell / Elite

Fashion Credits:

1. Jacket by Lin Chao Zhang, Sweater by Sandro

2. Headscarf made by stylist, Bag by Isabelle Larsson Knobel, Boots by Vetements

3. Coat by Isabelle Larsson Knobel, Trousers stylist’s own, Boots by Nelly.com

4. Skirt by Isabelle Larsson Knobel, Shoes by Dr. Martens

5. Jacket by Isabel Marant, Clutch by Christian Louboutin

7. Jacket by Ella Boucht, Trousers by Ida Sjöstedt, Shoes by Dr. Martens

8. Top and Skirt by Caroline Brendov, Boots by Reschia

9. Top by Carven, Skirt made by stylist, Socks by Mucker, Shoes by Tommy Hilfiger

Before the release of her debut single in 2013, No Gun, Naomi Pilgrim used to sing backing vocals for artists such as Lykke Li. With her successful solo debut, she caught the opportunity to make her own music, to sing her own songs and speak her own mind. Pilgrim’s self-titled EP, released early the following year, was just as well received as No Gun and the acclaim created anticipation for her next release. That anticipation has been rewarded, because Pilgrim has shown us that she is an important artist, being able to point out social injustice with her pop songs. It is a beacon of hope, knowing that music can still be a powerful thing and that a song can still change something in this world of ours.

When you meet her, you are instantly drawn in by her contagious positivity. Sitting outside in the spring sunshine, the Swedish-Bajan singer starts off our interview wearing a pair of beautiful big sunglasses, which she removes halfway through. They go very well with the casual street style she is rocking.

Her new EP, Sink Like a Stone, has just been released and we’re discussing the inspiration behind its title track, which has already received lots of attention since it came out on April 15. Although the subject of the song is a dark one, Pilgrim’s positive message shines through.

“Sink Like a Stone comes from my frustration about Eric Garner [the African-American man who died of a heart attack in New York in 2014 following police brutality],” she says, “but also about prejudice in general. I think all prejudice is so unfair – it’s not a good way to live your life and it harms people.”

When she utters the word “unfair”, the effect an event like Garner’s death has had on her is palpable. She seems like a person with great empathy for others, something she brings to the fore with her artistry. In the middle of our conversation she starts singing some of the words to Mama, another track on the EP, to help explain the meaning of the song – “Maybe someday it’s my turn.” The track is her way of honouring her beloved mother and also communicating that it is possible to help your fellow man when you have been blessed with a good life.

“I was born with a privilege, because I was born in Sweden,” she says. “We haven’t been involved in a war for more than 200 years and that means we are in a position to do good things for the rest of the world. And many people do. That makes me ask myself why am I an artist? What is it that I want to do? Is it because I want to make music and be important? What is my ‘why’?
“My friends and I all have good energy, we have lived lives and we have things to say. Not everybody has the chance to make their voice heard.”

Pilgrim feels she can make a difference in the world by taking a stand as an artist. As a co-founder of Falling Whistles in Sweden, she is making a difference. The non-profit organisation is campaigning to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, by investing in projects that create sustainable jobs and stability at a community level throughout the war-ridden country.
The EP’s final song is I Wonder. Pilgrim explains that it’s about longing and wondering if a relationship really feels right. The three tracks obviously provide an interesting mix of subjects and, together, they create a forceful entity.

For Pilgrim herself, this summer looks set to be one to enjoy and remember. One of the high points will be her slot at the Stockholm Music & Arts festival next month. She will perform on Trädgårdsscenen, a stage that will be headlined by Patti Smith each night of the three-day event.
As Pilgrim looks forward to playing her new material during the coming months, we can look forward to listening to what her songs have got to say.

Sink Like a Stone EP is out on Cosmos. Stockholm Music & Arts, July 29-31, Skeppsholmen

Credits:

Words by Filip Lindström
Photography by Oskar Gyllenswärd
Styling by Emma Thorstrand
Hair and make-up: Lillis Hemmingsson
Photographer’s assistant: Ellen Nykvist
Stylist’s assistant: Alicia Rosati

Special thanks to Lee Jeans

Fashion Credtis:

1 Crew-neck sweatshirt and Ultimate on-pocket shirt

2 Oversized bib and Printed woven t-shirt

3 Western Shirt

4 Graphic T-shirt and Bib skirt

5 Oversized bib and Oversized t-shirt

6 Rider jacket and Skyler jeans

7 One-pocket Shirt

All available at lee.com

Ana Diaz has a lot on her plate. Since the release of her debut album, Lyssna del 1, in early February, she has done tons of interviews and photoshoots, all while still working as a songwriter and running her own label, WINWIN Recordings. When we meet, it’s in an industrial studio, where one of these many shoots has been going on for at least four hours, and it looks as as though she’ll be there for several more. When she breaks for lunch, I ask what she thinks of the clothes, which at that stage of the shoot means an all-white ready-to-wear outfit. “If I could take this with me, I would,” she says. “I usually just wear black and comfortable clothes. I know what I like, but I have no interest in searching for it.” She enjoys the transformation, but couldn’t imagine the life of a model, being constantly judged by appearance. The relaxed, natural feel of Lee Jeans she wore for The Forumist’s shoot seems a perfect fit for her in more ways than one. “It’s interesting, a different perspective on the music business,” she says while we wait for the photographer to return to the desolate studio.

Diaz has written songs for international artists for years, including Wyclef Jean, Sounwave, Britney Spears and One Direction. She talks about their “sessions”, the meetings with other writers, where their mutual talents fuse together. It can be an intimate moment, writing with a stranger, who is then replaced with a new stranger the next day. It sounds intense.

Diaz has lived in Detroit, London, LA and Seattle, but has now moved back to Stockholm, which she calls “a mother”, a comforting place for her. Does her writing change depending on the city she is living in? “No, I don’t think so. The colleagues change, but I stay the same. I still recognise my own work, although I’m a part of all these different constellations. I’m always good at starting collaborations up,” she says. “Detroit sometimes feels grimey and London can be draining, Seattle is quite peaceful. One thing I love about London, which I don’t see as much of in Stockholm, is the diversity. In London you can hear 13 languages on your way to work in the morning.”

While living in London, Diaz booked visits back to Sweden for writing sessions for her solo work.
The poet Daniel Boyacioglu was one of the main collaborators for what eventually became Lyssna del 1, a pop record with trap elements and revealing lyrics in Swedish. Boyacioglu, who features on the track Simma Själv, has previously released music through Robyn’s label, Konichiwa Records. He’s a talented poet and artist who could be called Sweden’s answer to Saul Williams, the American rapper known for
his blending of poetry and alternative hip-hop. Diaz thinks so, too, and says that boosting Boyacioglu’s music career might be the next item on her to-do list.

Before that can happen, though, there are many things still on the agenda: the follow-up solo album is being finished – shaped by about 12 producers; and she is working on Snow Culture, a duo she has formed with Oskar Sikow, a former member of electro group Kate Boy. Diaz plays a Snow Culture song on her phone and we remark how the Kate Boy sound in the industrial electro pop seems noticeable.

“I think it is Oskar that is noticeable,” she says, encouraging us to listen closely as the track goes in to a Phil Collins-esque guitar solo. “We’re shooting a music video in LA in March and then I’m coming back to Sweden for the release of my second album. After that, Snow Culture will do an EP.”

Diaz describes the work of a songwriter as “being Robin to someone’s Batman”, assisting someone else with your own talents. Ever since she chose to start making music of her own, instead of being the eternal Robin, she has been asked the same question: “What’s it like being known now?” Just because Diaz has stepped into the limelight and put on her Batman suit, it doesn’t mean we know anything about her.
“I am in constant motion, I’m changing all the time,” she says. “No matter how much of me I share, my inner sphere will never be seen by anyone but myself. I could publish a diary and still not be seen for who I really am.”

Credits

Words by Filip Lindström

Photography by Oskar Gyllenswärd

Styling by Emma Thorstrand

Hair and Make-up by Lillis Hemmingsson

Special thanks to Lee Jeans

Fashion credits:

1 Oversized Rider Jacket and Bib Skirt

2 Bib Logger in White Denim and Classic One-Pocket Shirt in Tencel

3 Slim Rider Jacket in Moon Wash and a Lighter Shade

4 Classic One-Pocket Shirt in Light Denim and 5-Pocket Boyfriend-fit Shorts

5 Oversized Lee Tank Top with stripes

All items are available at Lee.com

Credits:

Photography by Anders Kylberg @ Acne
Styling by Emma Thorstrand @ Linkdetails
Hair: Henrik Haue @ Link Details
Make-Up: Sophia Eriksen @ Hall & Lundgren
Models: Ia W and Emily P @ Elite, Mia @ Le Management, Georg Nordmark & Sebastian Åhman @ Nisch
Photographer’s assistants: Christoffer Dalkarls & Olivia Markström
Stylist’s assistant: Alicia Rosati
Retouching: Anna-Maria Edvinsson

Fashion credits:

1: Blouse by Lars Wallin, Top by Urban Outfitters, Trousers by Giorgi Rostiashvili

2: Suit vintage, sweater by Citizen Cashmere

3: Blouse by Lars Wallin

4: Dress by Back, blouse by Nina Ricci

5: Coat by Moa Antonsson, shirt by Chloé, badge stylist’s own, bow vintage, trainers by Nike

6: Dress by Lars Wallin

7: Trousers by Back, trainers by Nike

8: Top by Back

9: Shirt By Lisa Viola Setterberg, vest by Rag & Bone, beret by Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane, badge stylist’s own, trainers by Nike

10: Suit vintage, shirt by Millet

What’s it like being a young artist in Stockholm — is it a place that inspires you?
“It’s inspiring to be surrounded by so many talented and creative friends. It seems like there’s a music studio in every basement here. I also like living in a big city because it contains more different kinds of people.”

The video for your single Samma Gamla Himmel has a mysterious Swedish forest in the background. Are you very attached to nature?
“I spent my childhood summers at a farm with my family. It was always the best time of the year. But I wouldn’t like to live in the countryside, because I would feel too isolated and restless. My life isn’t divided into weekdays and weekends, it’s almost like every day is both Saturday and Monday. That fits well with living in a big city, where there is always something happening somewhere.”

Do any of the sounds of Stockholm inspire you?
“The first thing that comes to me is the metro line — the monotonous voice on the train, all the people talking on their phones, the signal when the doors closes and the train starts rolling. It’s where I come up with a lot of ideas for new songs.”

You’re known for wearing comfortable hoodies, sweatshirts and denim. Would you describe your aesthetic as normcore? What is the recipe for a hipster-ish Stockholmer’s style?
“During my teenage years I tried out many different styles and cared a lot about my looks. I think my style now is a reaction to that. I want to have a more natural look and be able to just get up in the morning, put something on and leave.
Fashion to me is about being comfortable. It’s important that my clothes represent my personality. I like scruffy jeans and hoodies and I mostly buy clothes at vintage stores because I don’t like it when they look all new and ‘shiny’. My tattoos are a big part of my style — something that is 100% me. I guess there is no recipe if you are a true hipster!”

Do you remember your first favourite pair of jeans? What were they like?
“They were probably a pair in typical 1990s style. I’m wearing really nice jeans in a lot of pictures taken when I was about five years old. I want to have them now! My dream jeans would have a high waist and straight legs and be black or light blue.”

You write, sing, produce and even direct your videos. What creative outlet would you like to try next?
“Photography is really hard, but it’s something I’d like to get better at. I also like letters, so maybe I should try out graphic design.”

What’s your favourite way of spending long, dark autumn evenings?
“Probably in the studio. I also enjoy going to yoga classes and hanging out at the climbing centre, practising bouldering.”

Credits:

Words by WERONIKA PÉREZ BORJAS

Photography by OSKAR GYLLENSWÄRD

Styling by EMMA THORSTRAND

Hair and Make-up: Lillis Hemmingsson

Special thanks to LEE JEANS

All Clothes by LEE.

1. Lee´s classic rider jacket and a Sherpa lining Jacket

2. Sherpa jacket. Chambray one pocket shirt with white dobby raised stripes. Split skirt in stretch fabric

3. A boyfriend Button down shirt in corduroy fabric. Jeans: Lee´s ultimate skinny fit

Scarlett in a coated fabric.

4. Jacket and Poncho inspired by Lee´s alaskan print blanket lining.

5. A classic chic BIB in lightweight denim

6. Jeans: Lee´s Bootcut fit Joliet. Boyfriend Sweatshirt and a vest based on the Rider

Jacket from 1931

All items are available at LEE