Today we’d like to introduce you to Big Swede.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was drawn to music at a very early age. Used to sit by my parent’s Reel to Reel Tape Player, listening to music at four years old.
My first instrument was the piano and I started lessons at seven years old. Drums came into the picture when I was 10 years old and became my instrument of choice.
My first gig was with the legendary Swedish punk band Slobobans Undergång after I answered an ad in the paper. I did my first recording and tour when I was 15. They used to come and pick me up from school with their tour bus.
Drums was my life and I moved to LA. It was a 24/7 kind of a thing. Playing, practicing, learning, jamming, gigging, recording and hanging out with some of the best players in the world, etc… It was all about learning everything there was about drums.
I started writing and producing my own music in 2002. I was doing a drum session and the producer showed me an early version of the recording software Logic. I taught myself as much as possible about music production. I have been concentrating on my own music since then. I do produce other artists and sometimes work with bands etc.. but the focus is mainly my own music. To be creative and explore different styles of music my way – the “BS” way.
In 2003, I had my first piece of music on TV. Since then, I have had music in over 350 episodes of television – and many commercials and movies. My catalog have grown to over 1000 songs in different styles. I have released some of them and have had radio airplay in many countries with both EDM and rock songs.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s a crazy business and it has definitely been a lifestyle for me. Work hours and personal time blur together. None of this has been a smooth road. It’s an exciting adventure that continues to this day.
When I moved to LA, there was no internet. It was all about networking in person at all these music venues. It was such a great energy with all these amazing musicians everywhere. It has definitely changed. It takes time to get going in a place like LA and it is not for everybody.
One major obstacle was the work visa… I won my Greencard in the lottery and was lucky to receive it that way. I have dual citizenship now.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I write/produce/record music and songs – and also compose music to picture. I have a catalog of around 1000 songs that can be used in tv, movies, games, commercials, etc… The catalog is constantly growing.
My credits include: NCIS, The Mentalist, CSI, Mercedes, Samsung, KUWTK, David Makes Man, Lowes, 90210, Real World, Zeiss and Basketball Wives, to name a few.
I have also recorded voiceovers with Scottie Pippen (Basketball Hall Of Fame) and Jessie Tyler Ferguson (Backstage With Disney On Broadway), created music for different designers (LA Fashion Week) and a concert intro for Van Halen.
I’m also deep into electronic drums and have programmed samples for several great bands like Kiss, Van Halen and Slash.
What people don’t realize is that I do most of the work on my music myself. What sets me apart is that I write, record, mix and master most of it myself. It’s a crazy undertaking for one person. I love the process of doing it all.
I have been fortunate to have many amazing guests. A few include: Reeves Gabrels (The Cure), Rod Jackson (Slash’s Snakepit), Oscar Hernandez (Spanish Harlem Orchestra), Lee Sklar (James Taylor, Jackson Browne), Jimmy Z (Eurythmics), Miles Evans (Gil Evans Orchestra), Bo Svensson (Legendary actor, Kill Bill: Volume 2) and Papa Dee. I am truly humbled by the talent which has come through my place over the years.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
That you are on your own except for a very few. Downtown LA got so bad and so unsafe that I had to move out. Really sad. It was the most incredible creative place for so long – that I didn’t know existed until I lived there. That’s where I started my record label Big Swede Studios and my publishing company Big Sven Music. The vibe and energy got destroyed. I moved out to Palm Desert – for now.
I also learned to take breaks – to take Time Out for myself!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bigswedestudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigswedestudios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigSwedeStudiosLA
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigswedestudios
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BigSwedeStudios
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/big-swede-1
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0841186/
Image Credits
Big Swede Personal Photo: Mats Ågren Big Swede – Best Of BS Hip Hop, Vol. 1: Mats Ågren Big Swede – Electronic Core District, Pt. 4: Mats Ågren Big Swede – Christmas Beats: Mats Ågren Big Swede – Rock Your World: Swede Mont Big Swede – Totally Connected: Ian Christy Big Swede – Super Model: Rush Varela Big Swede – Bullshit: Big Swede Big Swede – BS In A Downtown Lounge, Vol. 2: Big Swede
