Lisa Milberg is the witty front woman of Swedish pop band The Concretes. Since her mix on Letsmix, suggestively named I just want to see you underwater, is such a lovely little trip, we thought we’d link up with her for a chat.
So, Lisa, just give us a quick idea of what’s in the mix. What “vibe” – if you’ll allow the expression – were you going for?
– I put a whole lot of of songs I enjoy in a folder and then I guess I ended up keeping the dreamy/minor key/understated/mildly eerie ones that still managed to have a nice groove to them. Oh, and I chose to call the mix ‘I just want to see you underwater’ because that kind of applied too. They are drenched, the songs.
There’s a solo track from you in the mix, and also, we’re told, an actual world premiere?
– The solo track is called It was the end, ironically as it’s only the beginning and one of my only solo songs completed at this stage. I go to Sweden shortly to record some more songs. I have no idea what I’ll do with the album when it is completed but it should be done by late March. We’ll have to wait and see. But it’s a marvellous process and a nice change from being seven (people). I listen to no one.
– And the world premiere is the song called Swinging Party by Kindness! Which I think is one guy. I know very little about it but I fell head over heels in love with the song after stumbling across it on MySpace and so I sent him (them?) a message filled with flattery, praise and proposals. And it paid off, he emailed me the song the next day! It’s a beauty.
You’re obviously not one of those beat matching puritans, you’re approach to DJing seem to be a bit more punk?
– I don’t have an approach to DJing, I have an approach to tunes. But I guess you’re a little bit right, I think beat mixing tends to get boring quite quickly and the music inevitably suffers for the “groove” to be maintained. I like good songs! And also I like that each song has its own feel, which gets a little lost in translation when they all dance to the same beat…
You not only dj, but also do graphic design, run a record label, produce your own music and, of course, front pop six piece The Concretes. How do you project manage yourself? Is it a one day this, one day that, kind of thing?
– We are a pop seven piece actually! I think. Last time I checked at least. I don’t really project manage myself at all I’m afraid. And I’m the heavyweight champion at postponing boring practical things. Obviously most things I do suffer as a consequence. If anyone wanna be my Bob Colacello, don’t hesitate to call!
You’re originally Swedish but have relocated to London, England. How’s life there today, still snowed in?
– Life here is a reumatic, damp bliss that shuts at 11 in the evening if you’re not prepared to go into full juggernaut rave mode. I love it in England and I am staying.
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