INTERVIEW: Ledinsky Talks Controversial “Donald Trump Makes Me Wanna Smoke Crack” Single, Signing To Atlantic & Love/Hate For Sweden [Exclusive]
Chances are you have heard Ledinsky’s controversial new single “DonaldTrumpMakesMeWannaSmokeCrack” - because with a title like that, who wouldn’t give it a listen on YouTube or Spotify, right?
This Swedish singer-songwriter is one of the latest signees of Atlantic Records and he dropped last month his debut EP “High Society” online, and yeah - this protest anthem “DonaldTrumpMakesMeWannaSmokeCrack” is the lead single from it. And I believe picking it as lead single was a no-brainer decision. Come on, you are definitely guaranteeing easy attention with that title! (me for instance; I had to go check it out the second I saw a link on Facebook). But, by the way, if you haven’t heard the song yet, don’t be afraid to do it. It’s nothing sonically-unpleasant, nor loud, nor too serious; Ledinsky’s new single is actually something very laid-back, acoustic-y, with a summer, reggae feel, but yeah, the lyrics are what they are: the harsh reality of what America may become if Donald Trump beats Hillary Clinton at the US presidential election later this year.
My debut EP 'High Society' is available now. Check out my first single #DonaldTrumpMakesMeWantToSmokeCrackhttps://t.co/bZHMIzufPi
— Ledinsky (@LEDINSKYmusic) 15 de julio de 2016
Directlyrics.com caught up with Ledinsky a few days ago to do an exclusive interview and believe me when I say you’re going to want to check this one out. Ledinsky is a guy that has no problem speaking his mind, politically-incorrect as it may be, and that I appreciated.
He talks in the interview about his thoughts on Donald Trump, the song that he inspired, his debut EP, his journey to signing to Atlantic, his love and hate situation towards his home country of Sweden, among other interesting things!
THE INTERVIEW
1. Hi Ledinsky! Where are you answering this Q&A from and how’s your day been like so far?
I’m at the Atlantic Recording Corporation on Broadway. It’s been an early day, I didn’t get much sleep last night and I woke up early, but I’m here.
2. Your new single “DonaldTrumpMakesMeWannaSmokeCrack” is making quite a few headlines around the blog-sphere for obvious reasons. What’s the story behind this protest anthem?
It wasn’t something I planned on doing, it was just a song I wrote one morning and sent to some friends; wrote it the 14th of June I think. I didn’t think that much about it, it wasn’t a cynical or political expression per say. It was just a song that I wrote that people thought was funny or tragic or something.
3. Having recorded this, will it feel kind of awkward if Trump does become the next President of the United Sates and your song is still around?
Yeah. But I mean that’s the least of the problems with him becoming president. I don’t think we fully grasp where this train is going and what could happen with the current climate, like Putin in Russia and fascists in Austria, and everybody be bringing the ‘30’s back. So, if this song is still around and he’s president, I don’t think that’s really a big problem.
4. What did your label think when you told them you wanted “DonaldTrumpMakesMeWannaSmokeCrack” as your debut single?
I think they were really cool about it; at first they felt that maybe it was a bit gimmicky and people would misunderstand me as an artist, so they wanted me to put out more material for them to understand. But I was supposed to release this EP anyway, and then I kind of wrote that song four weeks ago. They were definitely a bit concerned that it was a bit gimmicky and stuff, which I appreciate because usually that’s the artist’s objection. But I don’t really care if it takes away focus.
5. “DonaldTrumpMakesMeWannaSmokeCrack” is part of a new EP called “High Society” you dropped in mid-July. For those who have yet to get a copy, why the title of “High Society” and briefly what’s the rest of the songs like?
I’ve been a songwriter for quite a while and I’ve been writing for other people. When you do that, which I really enjoy, you always have to, kind of, make someone else happy. I wanted to do something that was for me, where I didn’t have to compromise with other artistic expressions. “High Society” is the main song on the EP and it’s sort of about capitalists and trying to break the chains of this society we created. And obviously “High Society” has a double meaning: everybody’s on drugs in this country, but it’s also my dad’s favorite movie with Satchmo.
6. You have been signed to Atlantic Records. How exactly was the signing process like?
I worked for Atlantic when I moved to America; I started working for Atlantic as a staff producer in A&R… I did an awful job… I never came to the office. I think I worked there for three years, and I probably just met five or six people. So, they fired me kind of, or Craig kind of fired me, and then they decided to sign me as an artist instead, which was probably a good move; or better move than hiring me.
7. What’s next for you after the release of the EP?
I’m gonna go out and play music live, if I can find someone to watch the dogs.
8. You are originally from Sweden but you live now in the US. How was life back home and how have you adapted to life in America?
I grew up with American music and culture and it was always a big part of my life; my dad was a jazz musician. Before I moved here, I frequently came here. I’ve always felt more at home in America than in Sweden. I don’t really like Sweden that much. It used to be a very good, socialist country, now it’s moved to the right; it’s a racist little country now. So I don’t feel like I’m Swedish I feel like I’m American.
9. There are several Swedish acts making it big in the US right now. Do you feel proud? Any favorites?
Yeah, I feel super proud. A lot of them are my close friends… I’m very proud of that. I love the band Refuse, I work with those guys a lot, and I love Tove Lo, who I work with as well, we wrote “Habits” together. I mean I love all Swedish music actually. I love Lykke Li and Peter Bjorn and John, and a lot of stuff. I’m trying to think of some I don’t like; I’ll get back to you.
10. What are 5 songs that you find heavily playing on your phone these days?
I mainly listen to my own songs because if you listen to them on repeat on Spotify it ups your publishing increase. There are five songs on the EP so I usually listen to them on repeat.
11. What are some good tips for people wanting to visit Sweden?
I’m actually being very tough on Sweden this morning, but Sweden is beautiful. I think the main thing you gotta think about is: don’t go there if it’s not July or August. If you go there during the summer it’s gonna be amazing. If you don’t, it’s gonna be fucking cold.
12. Thank you for your time, Ledinsky! Any last thing you’d like to share with our Directlyrics.com readers?
Yeah, I have a lot I want to share. This is going to be a very long answer *laughs*. No, but - I think our generation, in the western world, we never experienced a World War; we don’t think that that’s a possibility. We think wars are something being fought somewhere else. History repeats itself and it’s the ‘30’s now in America and in Europe, and we’re going down a road that’s gonna lead to a huge disaster if we don’t wake up.