Loreen: “I’m obsessed with 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 tour and dives into the conversation with an energy that makes the room buzz. 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 herself 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 makes her just as captivating as ever. On stage, she’s a mythical being, but in real life, it’s simplicity that wins. In Wildfire, she’s managed to capture both 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 shares a unique bond with the Swedish audience. 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 has something extra planned for us. No details yet, but it’s about getting closer. Breaking that fourth wall that often stands between a superstar and the crowd.
“I have something planned. Something that feels real. 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 at her best when she’s close to the people listening.
More than just music: The names and inspirations
When you dive into Loreen’s world, you notice nothing is by chance. Not even the name. People sometimes confuse her with the Canadian icon Loreena McKennitt – and that’s not entirely off. There’s the same spiritual undertone, the same feeling that music is a portal. But Loreen (Loreen Bender, for those wondering) has always carved 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 a lot to film scores and old folk music. The contrast between the grand and the intimate is clearer than ever.
- The Voice: In a major interview, she shared a thought-provoking idea about singing in a “sensual way.” It’s not about posing, but about letting the body be fully present. Letting the voice come from a place beyond technique.
- Balance: To keep it all together – tour life, pressure, and that massive emotional release – she swears by Bach flower remedies. “It’s like cleaning the house from the inside out. You need your tools,” she says.
From tight schedules to freedom
There’s been a lot of talk about Loreen’s perfectionism, but in Wildfire, you hear something else. A sense of ease. She seems to have found a new level of control, which paradoxically means she can let go. During recording sessions, there were times she just let the tape roll and experimented with her voice in ways that previously felt 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 stood in the audience when she won Eurovision, for everyone who’s followed her over the years, and for those just discovering her. I’d say this: keep your eyes open. This won’t be just another show. This will be an experience where Loreen – Inka Loreen Minden – shows exactly why she’s still one of our most talked-about artists. And who knows, maybe she’ll serve broth in the green room.