Interview with Elina Johansson (Dear Euphoria)

Me and Elina Johansson got to know each other a couple of years ago and we've done some stuff together since then. We've guested on some of each other's shows and Elina sung on two songs on my latest album "The Lake Acts Like An Ocean". Elina's solo project Dear Euphoria has been going on for some time now in different constellations, last year Stereo Test Kit re-released her 2005 debut album, this time eponymous (originally For Everything of Worth) and with new sleeve and bonus tracks (such as the lovely Falling Behind). Later this year they will also release a brand new album. Last autumn, she did a show at The Luminaire in London and now she has just finished a three week's tour (which I wrote about here) in Europe. I took the opportunity to ask her how it went.


* Elina, you just came back after a 3-weeks European tour, what was the weirdest thing happening on the trip? I read you performed in Hamburg television, what did they make you do? Did you notice any differences between touring abroad compared to doing shows in Sweden?

Many weird things happened. How to tell without anybody being exposed..? Mmm.. Maybe taking care of a half-unconcious bandmember in Amsterdam. Or sleeping in a sunchair after a soldout show in Leipzig. Or when the guy who we were the support-act for in Giessen (with whom which we shared a hotel-flat that night) entered our room and I was alone, unaware that somebody had put on porn on mute on the tv and left the room..

We performed 3 songs on a balcony on local tv in Hamburg.

One of the differences is that there is a bigger interest abroad. You get to do silly things such as sign autographs on the albumsleeve, posters etc. Fortunately Swedish music has a good reputation and the fact alone that you are a Swedish band gives you a head start. Other differences is that for example the Germans wants you to play really long sets and after that almost always wants two or three encores.


* I've understood that you're up to releasing an album later this year on the UK-label Stereo Test Kit, what's the news about it?

I guess the only thing I really know about it myself is that it will be released in September, latest October. Will have 11-12 songs on it. Maybe be followed by a new tour in Germany and UK.


* Your music in Dear Euphoria to me feels like a mixture of all kind of things, indie, pop, cabaret, avantgarde, electronica, jazz etc.. How do you label your own music, what bands or artists have been most important to DE and if you would record a cover version of a song, which one would that be?

Funny that you hear so many styles in the music. Hate labelling. Especially since maybe then I really have to accept the gap between what I would want it to be and what it is. But I think I would say it is a mix between Lowfi indie and athmospheric pop. Sigur Rós, Stina Nordenstam, Radiohead and Björk has been dear to my heart for a very long time. Oh covers.. Sensitive topic. According to me, If one do a cover it should be really great and personal.. Otherwise I don’t think one should bother.. So I don’t know if I would.. Can I get back to you on that one?..


* Thanks for singing on my album, you're the best! You have such a special voice, exactly how does it feel to be able to hit those high notes?

Thank you Thomas! It was my pleasure.
They are not really that high.. The trick is to make it look difficult.