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Interview with Kleerup

Monday 11th May 2009

Swedish based Kleerup was half of the act responsible for Robyn's number 1 hit single, 'With Every Heartbeat'.  A massive star in his native home, Kleerup has also collaborated with Lykke Li, Marit Bergman, and Titiyo (features on his debut dingle for Positiva records).

We took the time to find out a little bit more about this rising star; what makes him tick, what's the best advice he's been given and what's currently on the all important iPod.

The Positiva Records Ten with Kleerup

1. What was your first big breakthrough as an act?
As an "act", the obvious response has to be "With Every Heartbeat".  But behind those three minutes it took me 25 years to get to this wonderful, calm and exciting area that is: Be Here Now.

2. What do you see as your main strengths as a producer?
Making the people i work with feel relaxed - I always start with getting a good connection happening.

3. What's the key to getting noticed?
Be yourself.  Plus hanging out with good-looking girls!

4. What’s the most ridiculous promotional thing you’ve done?
Nothing really.  I find that if you stand out and don´t take sh!t from people you can be viewed as a megalomaniac and that sucks.

5. What is the most interesting comment you have heard about your music?
Actually, just recently i did an interview with Metro London and got a lot of good questions.  It felt like i was understood right away and the comments were all spot on, that’s rare.

6. Is there something that you don’t like about this scene or things that pissed you off along the way?
If you refer to the producer/artist scene no, it’s probably the easiest and most honest way to earn a living and being able to eat out and drink Chablis every night!
A lot of things have pissed me off but I’ve just turned 30 and have a kid on the way so i´m cool and life is good.

7. If you ever walk around the house in pants and slippers and what do you listen to?
Usually Steve Reich, Fleetwood Mac or Leonard Cohen; Calming stuff.  Either that or I just enjoy the silence.

8. What is the best thing, and the worst thing about the dance music scene?
The best thing is it’s creative as Hell.
The worst thing is being around too many drunk people who didn’t get certain things out of their system when they were teenagers.

9. What is the top five most listened to tracks/songs on your iPod?
Hmmmmm.  Usually i go to bed with the stuff I’ve worked on that day.  I go to sleep with my iPod on and let the music get into my soul.  Otherwise Air and Boards Of Canada always comforts me.

10. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
None actually.  Coming from a long period of depression now life is smiling at me and that´s more than I ever expected - after that nothing scares you, except my shark-phobia!  I guess the advice I follow comes from investing time in working out why my life didn´t work.  I never really got advice other than to just kept the train rolling. Oh, and clean underwear is good!

Lead single from Kleerup, and debut on Positiva, 'Longing For Lullabies' featuring Tityo is available to donwload from May 17th.

Watch the video here

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