INTERVIEW

Hakan Ludvigson - I always wanted to be a studio artist more than a live musician

Hakan Ludvigson-I always wanted to be a studio artist more than a live musician
At the beginning of our conversation, I would like us to go down the memory lane. You were born in 1984, in Gothenburg - the second largest city in Sweden. While searching for information about you, I found out this statement: "Hakan is living and breathing electronic music." I wonder from how long you're faithful to this music genre? Does anyone else in your family is also interested in electronic music?

I used to be into punk rock music when I was a kid. Then when I was 12 or so I started maing music with my computer, and I tried to recreate that music style with the electronic sounds - so that's how I started getting into electronic music. I listened a lot to bands like Depeche Mode and then later when the electroclash era began, that was when we started the record label.
Actually, my uncle, who has lived in New Zealand since before I was born, is an electronic, jazz and film music composer, but because of the distance, we don't see that much of each other.


You're not only a producer, DJ, songwriter but you're also the owner of a group of record labels including indie-electro pop label Substream, electronic dance music label group Clubstream and electronica label called Mareld. All this at the age of 29. That's very impressive. Before that happened, before you established your position in the global music market, you had to start from scratch. What were the beginnings of your musical career? What have you dreamed of as a young, inexperienced artist?

I have been making music for a really long time, and I always loved spending hours creating sounds, melodies and rhythms. Today, as much as 15 years ago, I still get the same feeling when starting a new song; that I have a blank sheet in front of me to fill with new sounds, moods and ideas. I always wanted to be a studio artist more than a live musician. Music has and keeps bringing me together with all kinds of great people. Working together in the studio is a fantastic way to spend time and have fun together.

Without a doubt, one of the landmark moments in your artistic activity was the creation of Substream. This took place in 2004. Why did you decide to follow this path? I mean, what was the reason that you wanted to manage your own label? This stemmed from a desire to be independent, free?

Of course, Substream has occupied a big part of my life for 10 years now. We started it with big dreams of enabling people to get together and create music together over internet, but today we are only focusing on the music itself. Preparing it, distributing it and marketing it. We only work with the music we really like.
I guess the whole interaction with artists, and getting people together to accomplish something is what drove me to start the label with my two friends Mikael Arthursson and Jonathan Karlsson. The three of us have kept Substream together and Substream keeps bringing the three of us together as well. Without this friendship Substream would never have happened.


Well, another breakthrough took place in 2008. I'm thinking of a project called "Trollflöjten". What can you tell us about it today - five years after its premiere? This album was released by German Pearldiver Records. How did your mutual cooperation started?

I first met Joachim Bröckers of Pearldiver in Shanghai, China. He had done some remix work for Substream, and I got him booked to a club in Shanghai, China, to spin with me. After the show, he invited me to his studio in Germany to make a record. That became "Trollflöjten", which I still consider a very unique piece of music. It was also the beginning of a great friendship.

Your fully professional debut album was released in 2011. It is called "Soulroom". There are 13 songs full of interesting sounds and positive energy. Tell me, how do you recall the process of the creation of this album? What was the keynote accompanying you during the recording session?

I wrote and produced Soulroom in the winter/spring 2010/2011. This was a great time in my life, and I think it shows in the record. Even though the mood in most of the songs is deep, mysterious and even sad, I still have to say that the keynote that was with me was "happiness".

This album took first place in the sales statistics in Juno Records label. Thanks to its good promotion and well production, you were able to reach the group of new listeners. I wonder how did you perceive this, probably not quite expected, success? Were you prepared for that? Well, I have a feeling, that you set the bar high, my friend. Especially in the context of your future projects.

Before this record I used to make dance music. For DJs and clubs. The idea with the album was to make something for a wider audience, something for listening to in your home. I was happy to manage to reach a new group of people with this record, and I'm still not getting more fanmail than I can manage to respond to, so it was all good all the way…

Not so long ago, thanks to you, I had the opportunity to talk with Raj Panesar, known as Bearface. His new album was released on Substream Music Group. One of the things that he said during our conversation was "I never planned to make commercially accepted tracks, just doing as I feel." I wonder what it's like in your case? What is your motivation, what is the reason why you are still fascinated by the music?

Soulroom is the result of me doing what I feel like. But for me, if the music is good, it doesn't matter how it was made or for whom. I wouldn't hypothetically have a problem with trying to make more commercial dance music, if it makes people dance, it still has meaning for me. However, of course, being able to do exactly the type of music I want is way more meaningful for me. After all, music is all a good thing, isn't it?

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that you had the pleasure to play in China during the 150 concerts organized in 35 cities in this country. When was that? How were you received by the audience?

I was DJing over there heavily in 2006-2007 sponsored by a whiskey brand. Since then, I think I've come back ten times or so, and they always welcome me back. As you know, the audience is as important as the music (or more so) for creating a good party, and the crowds I've been fortunate to play for have been amazing. You see, if there is only one club in town who brings in an outside DJ, then that club is where the party is at! The thing I miss over there is the lack of an underground scene. Crowds who know the music well and appreciates the deep stuff the way I do. You can find it in Shanghai, Beijing and a couple of more places, but it's not like here in Europe.

Your songs have been played by many great artists such as Steve Lawler, Paul van Dyk, and Richie Hawtin. How does it feel to know that your work is appreciated by other musicians in this industry? You came a long way to find yourself in the place that you're right now. Such success probably tastes exceptionally?

The fact that they like and play my tracks, makes me very happy. But not more so than if a fan in Poland makes a post on my facebook page - that pleases me equally. The only difference is that the famous DJs bring my music out to new people. For example, every time Tiësto introduced me on his show, I had 100-200 new mailing list signups in the next couple of weeks, and of course this makes a difference.

You seem to be an extremely busy man. Your career is gaining momentum, but I guess your private life is suffering because of it. How often do you have the possibility to slow down a little, relax and take a break from it all? You know what they say, we have only one life…

Things are actually fine in my private life. Or more than fine, really. But you are right that time is short, and I can't both produce new music, run the label and go on tour at the same time, so that's why my next album still isn't halfway done, after 2 years in the works already. I've got a wonderful wife, Kristina, who I spend a lot of time with, and my two closest friends Jonathan and Mikael run the label together with me, so we certainly get to spend plenty of time together.

What are your future plans? Are you already working on your new material?

Yes, as I said, I'm working on a new album. It has to be done next year and I hope it will be well received. Until then, I've also got some collaboration tracks with talented artists like Hakan Lidbo, Peter Marchione, Mechanist, Benja Molina and Marcos Petraza coming out, so keep an eye out for those (and sign up to my mailing list on www.hakanludvigson.com )!

At the end, in your opinion, what is the meaning of music in today's society? How do we perceive it these days? I know this is an individual matter, but I'm asking in general. Is the commercialization of the music market, its constantly increasing supersaturation, isn't marginalize the role of music in our lives?

This is a very interesting question, and one that has s a big impact on the music industry right now. It's become easier to create quality productions and to distribute them worldwide, which made it impossible for all great music to get the attention it deserves. Some people also tend to listen to just "songs" rather than "albums" which may drive artists to change into producing fewer songs (hits) instead of full albums. I don't think this marginalizes the role of music though, I think it just changes the way we listen to it, and the way we have to market it. We have to accept that there is an overwhelming stream of music coming out all the time, and as listeners, we have to navigate through it the best we can.
As an artist, I just hope people will rediscover the album as a format again, because it's something very special and magical about a well-made full album, telling a story or creating a mood which can't be done during the course of one song…


Thank you for your time. It was a great pleasure for me. I wish you all the best and many future successes. Take care.

Thank you very much as well, I enjoyed your questions - and I'm looking forward to being back again another time. Have a nice weekend!

Journalist: Kamil Mroziński
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