Planet Notion - IM FROM BARCELONA

01/09/2006

PLACE OF BIRTH: Skövde, Sweden

DATE OF BIRTH: 3/12/76

PERSONAL MOTTO: För Sverige i tiden

STYLE OF MUSIC (IN FIVE WORDS): Simple, joyous, big band pop.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF (IN FIVE WORDS): Red-headed, stubborn as hell

Named after Fawlty Towers’ Manuel (he’s from Barcelona, si?), and formed in Jonkoping, Sweden by Emanuel Lundgren, I’m From Barcelona are 29 friends who gathered together and, fuelled with the energy that only a sunny summer holiday can bring, created an album of explosively happy pop songs. Emanuel’s flat transformed into a factory where band members embraced a do-it-yourself ethic, coming and going loaded with banjos, accordions and kazoos and eventually releasing a DIY EP. First single ‘We’re From Barcelona’, taken from their forthcoming debut album ‘Let Me Introduce My Friends’, has a chorus it’s impossible not to sing along with and a fantastic video that has already clocked up over 150, 000 hits on YouTube and is gathering more and more converts to the “biggest” band in Sweden’s party.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY EMANUEL

What do you do to chill out after a hectic night performing?

After the last gig we had to go by bus for like 12 hours, so I turned a model aircraft into a robot. I used a couple of razors and forks as well. I’m very proud of the result. This is my new hobby.

What is your biggest achievement so far?

I think personally it was when I finally opened my mouth and started to sing. I used to be a guitarist who kind of wanted to sing, but didn’t dare.

Who are your musical heroes?

I guess Prince is some kind of hero. He’s got more guts than everyone else. He doesn’t care about what anyone else thinks, and that’s cool.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m from Barcelona will hopefully visit France, England and Germany this autumn, but touring with over 20 people seems to scare the hell out of some people. But we’ll show up, I promise. Other than that I’m writing and recording songs for a 2007 release. I don’t know where it’s heading yet, but many songs seem to have a cinematic vibe.

Are there any artists you would like to work with?

I would like to hang out with Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) one day at his range in Virginia. Not necessarily work with him as much as watching him work. Sometimes it would be inspiring to see how other producers do their little tricks.

What is catching your ear at the moment?

Wolfmother made me so happy that I picked up my old Yes albums. ‘Close to the Edge’ is a favourite. I listened to a lot of progressive rock in the 90s when everybody else seemed to be into Nirvana. I understood them way too late. I really like Maia Hirasawa from Sweden too, she’s made a beautiful song called ‘Mattis and Maia’ that is available on her myspace.

You’re having a dinner party. Who would you invite and why?

I’d invite John Cleese and thank him for giving me a nice idea. And maybe David Attenborough could lecture. He probably has some nice animal friends he could bring as well.

What is your recipe for success?

Don’t think too much and never change your original ideas.

What makes you happy?

Music takes more and more of my time so I felt I needed a hobby. I picked up something I used to do as a kid - skateboarding. I usually never exercise, so my body is very happy that I’m finally using something else other than my head. My goal with this summer is to finally learn how to do a kick-flip.

What makes you angry?

I don’t get angry that often, but if I do, it’s when I’m hungry. Then I get angry over anything. But most of the times I seem to get sad, not angry.

What was the last CD/record you bought?

I bought a CD with two albums by the Temptations in a little shop in Barcelona.

What is your favourite song?

I think ‘Always on my Mind’ is the ultimate song. It’s probably a song I’ll still love when I’m 80 ...it’s timeless. I like the Pet Shop Boys’ version, it brings back a lot of childhood memories. I bought the Pet Shop Boys LP in Oslo when I was 12 or something.

I’M FROM BARCELONA’S DEBUT ALBUM, ‘LET ME INTRODUCE MY FRIENDS’, FEATURING THE SINGLE

‘WE’RE FROM BARCELONA’, IS OUT ON INTERPOP ON SEPTEMBER 11TH. WWW.IMFROMBARCELONA.COM