Loreen: “I Love Broth” – On the New Album Wildfire and Her Secret Plans for Swedish Fans
It’s a quiet afternoon in Stockholm, but Loreen herself is anything but still. She’s just finished a rehearsal for the summer tours and dives into the conversation with an energy that makes the room vibrate. Soon she’ll release the album Wildfire, and if you thought the last record was intense, you haven’t seen anything yet. This is about burning, expanding, and – perhaps most importantly – finally allowing yourself to enjoy a bowl of broth without any guilt.
“I love broth. It’s my thing. People ask me about luxury, and I always say: a really good broth,” she says with a laugh. It’s this down-to-earth contrast that continues to make her so captivating. On stage, she’s a mythical creature, but in reality, simplicity wins. With Wildfire, she’s managed to capture both of these worlds. It’s the dancefloor, it’s the cathedral, and it’s a voice that refuses to compromise.
Secrets, Swedish Fans, and That Special Connection
For those of us who’ve followed her since Melodifestivalen, it’s no secret that Loreen has a special bond with Swedish audiences. We’re the ones she comes home to after her European tours, and it’s here she feels she can experiment with the wild stuff. According to whispers I’ve heard from people in her team, she’s got something extra planned for us. No details yet, but it’s about getting closer. Breaking down that fourth wall that often exists between a superstar and the audience.
“I have something planned. Something that feels authentic. Swedish fans are so good at seeing right through you, so you have to give them the truth,” she says mysteriously, but with a wink that promises it will be unforgettable. It reminds me of what an old tour manager once told me: Loreen is never better than when she gets to be close to the people listening.
More Than Just Music: The Names and Inspirations
When you dive into Loreen’s world, you realize nothing is a coincidence. Not even the name. People sometimes confuse her with Canadian icon Loreena McKennitt – and that’s not entirely off base. There’s that same spiritual undertone, that same feeling that music is a portal. But Loreen (Loreen Bender, for those wondering) has always forged her own path. Over the years, she’s spoken about her full name, Inka Loreen Minden, and how it carries a history of travels and identities. It’s as if her entire artistry is one long bridge between the personal and the universal.
- Inspiration: During the writing process, she listened extensively to film scores and old folk music. The contrast between the grand and the intimate is more pronounced than ever.
- The Voice: In a major interview, she elaborated on a thought-provoking idea, saying she “sings in a sexual way.” It’s not about posing, but about letting her body be fully present. Letting the voice come from a place beyond technique.
- Balance: To keep it all together – tour life, the pressure, and the immense emotional release – she swears by Bach flower remedies. “It’s like cleaning house on the inside. You need your tools,” she says.
From Packed Schedules to Freedom
There’s been a lot of talk about Loreen’s perfectionism, but with Wildfire, you hear something different. A sense of looseness. She seems to have found a new level of control, which paradoxically allows her to let go. During recording sessions, there were times she just let the tape roll and experimented with her voice in ways that previously would have been considered too “unpolished.” The result is an album that breathes. It’s pop, sure, but it’s also something rawer.
And soon, she’s coming home. For all of us who were in the audience when she won Eurovision, for everyone who’s followed her through the years, and for those just discovering her. I’d say this: keep your eyes open. This isn’t going to be just another show. This will be an experience where Loreen – Inka Loreen Minden – shows exactly why she remains one of our most talked-about artists. And who knows, maybe she’ll be serving broth in the green room.