Palpitation is a band from Stockholm, Sweden made up of Ilon Vejde and Ebba Carlén. The two make indie pop music.
How did your interest in music begin? For Ebba it started with violin lessons, but decided at the age of twelve that it was too geeky and started playing the drums instead. Ebba’s father played in a punk band during the 80s and there was always music playing in the apartment. Ilon started to write songs and recorded them on a crappy cassette deck, and she signed up for a guitar class at the age of twelve. We met in high school where our musical interests entwined. We started a rock band together where Ilon played the guitar and Ebba played the drums. In 2007, we formed Palpitation instead and we both changed instruments. Ebba took the guitar and Ilon tried the vocals.
What kinds of things are influencing your music right now? Everyone working with important projects and standing up against the offensive racist forces growing in both Sweden and the rest of Europe right now.
What are some recent, upcoming or current projects you are working on? We are beginning to work on our next release this summer. We are finally in the same city! Also Ilon is producing a new Swedish artist, (Call Me aka Anna Nordenström), who is releasing her debut album this fall. Ebba is experimenting with a new music project with the drummer from Days, Philip Gates.
Top 3 favorite or most visited websites and why?
http://www.thefaxproject.se/ – Important project by Swedish artist Jenny Wilson and creative director Petorovsky
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/
http://blogg.svt.se/psl/ – Best Swedish music blog
What other musicians/bands are you interested in right now? Seinabo Sey, Sabina Ddumba, Ji Nilsson, Silvana Imam, Linda Pira, Min Stora Sorg, MØ, Robyn & Röyksopp, Jenny Wilson, Mapei, The Knife
Who would you ideally like to collaborate with? Karin Dreijer!
Where is your favorite/ideal place to perform? We would love to come to the US!
What do you want a viewer to walk away with after hearing your music? Our music consists of contradictions and contrasts, and that is what we want people to take with them. (With an overwhelming sense of hope.)
What’s your absolute favorite place in the city/the world to be? Far away from the city. Close to the nature, where the only sounds you hear are trees or water or animals.
Can you share one of the best or worst reactions you have gotten as a result of your music? Got these final words in a live review:
“No no, Palpitation feels something like that lángos I ate Thursday: greasy and sickening.”