Hemliga Klubben on “Typ 100 år,” Klaudy, and the feeling of no-frills Swedish pop

For those who have just discovered Hemliga Klubben – how would you describe the band and your music?

Unpretentious, honest, nostalgic, strong Swedish pop! No fuss, straight to the point! We say what we feel, and the lyrics and music go hand in hand.

The name Hemliga Klubben immediately sparks curiosity. How did it come about?

We were discussing different names and talking about the concept of a “secret friend” from school, when you were supposed to be extra kind to a chosen person in the class, and then it just hit us and we came up with “Hemliga Klubben”. Because we really were like a little secret club when we started. We began writing our first songs/bangers and making grand plans!

You are soon releasing “Typ 100 år” – what can you tell us about the song, and what does it mean to you?

It was born out of nostalgic feelings, where you tell yourself that nothing is ever completely over. That maybe things do not have to be so definitive, and that maybe people can drift in and out of each other’s lives. That is rarely the case, of course, but there is something very romantic about two people feeling the same way and still keeping it to themselves.

The title “Typ 100 år” sounds both nostalgic and a little dramatic. Where did it come from?

It came from when you say something like “I haven’t seen you in, like, a hundred years”. Just that feeling of it seeming like an insanely long time, and that it does not really matter how long it has actually been. The feeling that it has been forever. And in this case, that it will feel like forever until we get to be with each other again.

How was the song born in the first place – was it an idea you already had, or did it grow together with Klaudy?

It first grew from the piano and the pitched-up melody. Then the chorus existed on its own for a while. After that, we met up and worked together, and from there came the verse, bridge and middle eight. Klaudy’s lyrics, voice and feeling really tied the whole song together.

How did the collaboration with Klaudy happen? Was it planned for a long time, or did you just stumble into each other’s worlds?

We have known about Klaudy for a long time and have always loved his voice and his music. We have also worked with some of the same people, for example Åke from Den Svenska Björnstammen, so we had a few points of connection! Then we just had a feeling that we would have a similar vibe, which turned out to be true.

Klaudy has quite a distinct expression. How did his sound meet the world of Hemliga Klubben?

He really does, doesn’t he? So beautiful! We started as we often do, by talking nonsense until lunch and then having a beer at the café across the street. If you meet outside the music, it is easier to meet inside it too!

And is this the beginning of more collaborations in the future, maybe even more with Klaudy?

If he has not already grown tired of us, haha. No but seriously, fun that you ask. It feels like we work on the same wavelength and care about the same things in music. It feels like the beginning of a lovely relationship, so more may very well appear this autumn.

What made you start creating music together?

We got to know each other at a school with around 30 people and became friends in different ways. Then we all thought that the others made good music, and everyone was very open and curious about what more we could do. Swedish pop was relatively unfashionable and all the bands had broken up, so that is where we started!

Your music has a very distinctive feeling. How does a song usually come to life for you – do the lyrics, melody or atmosphere come first?

How lovely to hear! It varies, but generally it starts with lyrics and melody. Sometimes it is a more or less complete song, or just a chorus or verse. Then we continue working on the arrangement and production once we know we have something to say.

Which artists or bands have inspired you the most, both musically and on stage?

Oh wow. There are many. We think we have listened to a lot of music and watched a lot of videos, so it is hard to name anyone specific. We like taking inspiration from artists who do not necessarily sound like us or our music, such as more international artists.

What do you want the audience to feel when they listen to your music?

In headphones, we want them to feel empowered, cool and like “the main character”. Live, we want them to feel togetherness and ecstasy!

Is there any song in your catalogue that means a little extra to you right now?

Yes, right now it has to be our new single “Typ 100 år”, because it is such a full-circle moment, or whatever you want to call it. This is a song we have had on the computer for a long time, and we always dreamed of making it together with another incredible artist, but hardly dared to even think about it. But then we took the leap and asked the mega-talented Klaudy, and the rest is history!

How do you see the difference between recording music in the studio and performing it live?

In the studio, the focus is always on getting the right feeling. In the vocals, the arrangement, the production, the backing vocals – everything! On stage, it is more about having fun with the audience and giving everything you have. The adrenaline is pumping, and you regret not going to the gym more often!

What is the best thing about being on stage together?

That we get to share and experience everything together. If it is a fantastic show, we can have a beer and celebrate, and if it is a tough show, we can have a beer and complain. We can talk for hours about things only we understand.

You have a show coming up at Gröna Lund. What does it mean to you to play on such a classic stage?

It feels incredible. Almost like you want to pinch yourself! We are so incredibly grateful and happy to have been given this opportunity, and we plan to make the most of it!

How do you prepare for a bigger show?

By preparing as much as we can in advance, so that when the day comes, you can almost pretend it is just a completely normal day. Focus a little more on soundcheck, then just talk nonsense in the dressing room and drink medium-strength beer so you can have many without feeling too bad! Then we take turns getting little stress spikes now and then, saying things like “Oh shit, now it’s three hours left” or “Do I have time to pee one more time?”.

Do you have any ritual before going on stage, or is it more organised chaos?

Organised chaos is probably the right expression. We all have slightly different processes and ways of getting into the mode, but we always hug and hype each other up right before the first person goes on stage.

Which song is the most fun to play live – and why?

Oh, that is a difficult question. Maybe “Gå rå” or “Dina föräldrar”? They are all fun in their own ways, but of course it is powerful to play the ones where everyone in the audience knows every word. I would also say that “Du kommer dra” and “Fight” are starting to get there!

Do you have any particular concert memory that stands out?

It is impossible not to think of when the floor started giving way at Södra Teatern. That one is hard to beat! But other honourable mentions are Lundakarnevalen, where we played for 14,000 people and had not really understood beforehand how big it was. Usually the nerves disappear once you get on stage, but this time they kicked in massively when we got up there and saw how many people there were. Then there was Valborg in Uppsala, at Östgöta Nation. The atmosphere was incredible, the rain fell in such a beautiful way, and everyone stayed, got soaked and sang with everything they had. Incredible!

How would you describe the audience that comes to your shows?

Kind, caring people. They give so much energy, and you almost become jealous that you are not standing down there singing with them all night! But yes, they are the most valuable thing we have!

If Hemliga Klubben were a film, what genre would it be?

Maybe a nostalgic romantic comedy? Perhaps with a “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” vibe!

What do you prefer doing when you are not playing music?

It is always fun to work on everything around Hemliga Klubben. Designing merch, editing videos, making moodboards, planning stage clothes, designing posters. But of course, outside of that, we also do things like meeting friends, hanging out at summer houses, climbing, playing video games, cooking good food and drinking beer!

Which song do you wish you had written yourselves?

All of them. Then we would have all the money. No but, oh, I don’t know, maybe “Jag kommer” by Veronica Maggio, or “Hit Me Baby One More Time”? Or “Africa” by Toto? There are many bangers out there!

Is there anything you absolutely cannot be without on tour?

Beer, our in-ears and our audience!

What can the audience expect from Hemliga Klubben going forward?

They can expect the same energy and hype! We are not tired yet! And of course new songs, new arrangements and new old songs.

If you could invite anyone to your “secret club” for one evening – who would it be?

Klaudy, every time! Such a fantastic person and insanely funny! This collaboration has been so much fun that we have probably got a skewed idea of what a musical collaboration can be like! But we are happy with that!

What is the most unexpected thing that has happened to you as a band so far?

Seeing people who have tattooed our car! Hearing wild stories about how people found our music or how many times they have seen us live. And when we returned to Södra Teatern and saw that they had had to renovate the venue and put up new pillars because the floor had taken such a hit. Sorry not sorry!