“I am from Sweden and I received my musical calling when I was five-years-old. Although I don’t come from a musical background music was always very present in my home. I started writing songs when I was seven! My outfit name El Perro Del Mar [Spanish for the dog from the sea] came to me on a beach somewhere in Spain. It was during a crucial time in my life and this stray dog just walked up to me. There was just something very special about that moment and when I started to properly write music again, soon after, it felt very natural to name it after that meeting.
 
The time for major labels are over. That's just a fact. And if you want to be an artist in control of what you do and in control of your life then an independent label is the only way to go. Well that or running your own label, which is what a lot or artists do these days. I might do it too in the near future.

My second album From 'The Valley to the Stars' is quite conceptual, revolving around the ideas of heaven, life and death. It was a very tough album to work on. But I think that's the whole point of being and being creative. You need to push yourself constantly to become better at what you do.

I enjoy working with an orchestra rather than a conventional band. I find being sheltered and swallowed up by an orchestra and the most powerful and beautiful things. It’s like floating on clouds. Is this instrumental touch my unique selling point? Gosh, I'd leave that up to others to say. I'm an artist. I don't go about thinking in terms of selling myself.
I didn’t get into the industry for the glamour and the money. I’m always travelling and currently staying in Paris working on my next album. It sure affects your private life but I guess my friends and family deal with that as I’m dedicated to what I do. I think of myself as an artist and musician first and foremost and that just makes me a part of the music industry whether I like it or not. I'd always be writing music in any case. 

As far as my influences are concerned I’m definitely into expressive vocalists of all good sorts, such as Edith Piaf and Nina Simone. People who sing or sung their hearts out. People who are passionate. I went to a Ravi Shankar concert in London a couple of months ago and it was so emotional and strong. He's in his 90s and can seem very frail but while playing he's as powerful as ever.

Movies definitely inspire me more than music. At the moment I'm having a heavy John Cassavetes period. His work is really inspiring on so many levels. I'd love to work together with some great movie director like David Lynch or Terrence Malick. I'd love to a film score.

There are so many underrated artists out there but the most undervalued are drummers. They're considered to be quite stupid, just sitting there keeping the beat, which I don't find true at all. Drummers are in many ways the key to the whole thing. Just look at Levon Helm from The Band. He was quite something.

While I may still be in search of my proudest moment I try to be the best I can and in five years time I hope I’ve finally moved to Paris. I hope I’ve found some peace of mind and I hope I’m writing music for Terrence Malick’s new movie…”

http://www.myspace.com/elperrodelmar