Hailing from Sverige, Sofia Karlberg is a Swedish singer and songwriter, she is popularly known for uploading music covers videos on YouTube.
Inspired by talents like Amy Winehouse and Christina Aguilera, she got a record deal with Universal Music Group in 2016 and has released an original EP titled Spotless Mind in 2019.
Karlberg became a viral sensation when she covered Beyoncé’s song Crazy in Love.
Her cover was on top 55 on the UK Official Singles Chart, Hot 40 UK, spotted many weeks on Spotify’s viral chart, and top of the charts on iTunes in many countries.
She has also made many other popular covers, her debut with UMG came out in 2017, and a few releases later, she got back to the spotlight with her recent single called Do It Again.
We had the chance to interview her to know a little bit more about her music and career.
1- Where did you come from and where are you based now, and why?
I grew up in a suburb outside of Stockholm, Sweden, and have lived there my whole life up until recently. Ever since 2018 I’ve spent a lot of time in Berlin so not too long ago I actually decided to move here for a while! Berlin has something that I’ve never seen in a city before, maybe it’s the mix of modernity, grime, and history. And the fact that there is room for everyone to be themselves here. There’s actually a saying here that goes: Berlin is such a broken city there is room for everyone in between the cracks. I think that’s beautiful!
2- What first got you into music?
My mom always jokes about me singing before I was even able to talk… I’m not sure how true that is hahaha but I know singing has always been as normal to me as being able to walk. I started playing the clarinet and piano when I was around 7 years old and after that, I went to music school until I was a teenager.
3- Who inspired you to make music?
I think the love and connection music made me feel as a child is what inspired me in the first place! Nobody in my family is a musician but music has definitely always been a big part of my childhood. There was always music playing around the house, everything mixed from classical music to 70’s rock to dancing and singing along to Arabic music with my mother. I think the diversity in genres I and the joy it brought me was what inspired me the most to want to pursue it myself.
4- How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Definitely that one time I performed with Linkin Park in London. I was a huge Linkin Park fan as a kid so when I got the request to sing with them I couldn’t believe it, it still feels weird to this day but I’m beyond happy I got to be a part of it.
5- Tell me about your favorite performance in your career.
Definitely that one time I performed with Linkin Park in London. I was a huge Linkin Park fan as a kid so when I got the request to sing with them I couldn’t believe it, it still feels weird to this day but I’m beyond happy I got to be a part of it.
6- If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
A more fair retribution to artists and writers by the streaming services. Streaming royalties are still way too low in my opinion…
7- What part of your culture are you most and least proud of?
My favorite thing about Sweden is definitely the nature. I really miss it. My least favorite part is probably how close-minded it feels like sometimes… I touched on that a bit in the first question, and I feel like Swedish culture is probably hard to fit into if you’re not like everyone else.
8- What do you wish you had more time for?
I wish I had time to learn a new language. I’m slowly but shortly learning some basics in German, but studying french is definitely on the list too.
The Hollywood Six 