Miss Li Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 4th 2010 4:00PM by Shaun Christie
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Swedish singer Miss Li combines elements of jazz, pop, and blues to create her own unique twisted pop ditties. Sweden has taken to her brand of music with great aplomb--she receives constant heavy national radio play and her song 'I'm Sorry, He's Mine' was the most played in the Swedish Student music chart. But the people of Sweden could not keep the Stockholm native all to themselves, as eventually other countries began to take notice. Her sound has led to her music being featured on some of US television's biggest shows. Her song 'Don't Try to Fool me' was used in both 'Weeds' and 'Grey's Anatomy.' She is currently getting ready to return to the States for a tour including some shows at Austin's SXSW Festival.

Describe your sound in your own words.

I think I would say pop music with some jazz, blues and soul influences. But the sound has changed this last year. The
first albums were more jazzy and very spontaneously recorded. The last one, 'Dancing the Whole Way Home' is less jazzy and more of a pop album.

How did your band form?

In the beginning I did all the gigs on my own, but after a while I got tired of just hearing my piano and my voice in the monitors, so I asked a friend [Clas on bass] from my hometown if he wanted to join me onstage. One day when me and Clas were on our way to the studio to record a demo, we just happened to run into a friend of his [Gustav, drums] and we asked him if he wanted to join us to the studio. He didn't know the songs or anything, but we recorded a demo. On the first album, there is a duet with Sonny Boy Gustafsson. I was a huge fan of his other band Captain Murphy and I really wanted him to be the guitarist on the album. Nowadays, since his other band split up, Sonny and me are the ones that are writing the songs together and he has been very important in developing the sound.

What are your musical influences?

When I started to write music under the name Miss Li, I listened a lot to pop and soul music from the '60s. The Beatles, Kinks and bands like that. Solomon Burke, James Brown and Little Richard, but also powerful singers like Janis Joplin and Kate Bush. I hardly listen to any new music at all.

How did you come up with your band name?

My real name is Linda Karlsson, but in Sweden that's a quite common and boring name. That's why I started to call myself Miss Li. It sounded better and maybe a little bit more exciting than Linda!

What's your biggest vice?

Oh, that must be all the beer and wine that I'm drinking!

What's in your festival survival kit?

A cute looking dress and alcohol. I can't stand drunk people if I'm not drunk myself.

Any bands you are looking forward to hearing at this year's SXSW?

I haven't checked the schedule yet and I don't know what bands that are playing this year, but I heard that Soko is playing and I really like her cute little voice and French accent, so maybe I'll go and listen to her.

Who would be in your dream festival lineup?

Probably the same line up as it was in Woodstock 1969, if I could go back in time.

Any artists you would like to duet with?

Nelson Sanders! he must be the best singer ever. What I have heard is he only recorded three songs in the '60s, and then he gave up his music career and became a priest instead.

what do you think is the best festival anthem sing-along song?

I don't really know, there's so many songs to choose between. But the last time I saw a concert I was singing along to "Lola, la la la la Lola," and that was a perfect sing-along song.

Shaun Christie is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.