Swedish singer Agnes on queer love, disco light and the power of ‘Milk’
Swedish pop artist Agnes is back, and she’s bringing raw honesty, disco spirit, and a fun new single called 'Milk'. After the shimmering, high-concept Magic Still Exists, Agnes returns with a new sound and a sharper lyrical focus. We spoke with the singer about her creative process, her enduring love for queer spaces, working with her husband Vincent Pontare, and why she’s finally done with music competitions.
What is your favorite track on your previous album, Magic Still Exists, or which one are you most proud of now?
I see Magic Still Exists almost as my first real album, because it was the first time I truly poured my whole heart, energy, blood, sweat, and tears into something. I had such a clear vision of what I wanted to do. So honestly, I’m proud of the whole thing, from the interludes and the intro to all the songs. I didn’t hold back at all. It’s hard to pick just one track because for me, it’s the album as a whole that I’m so grateful we brought to life.
You recently released 'Balenciaga Covered Eyes', and yesterday your new single 'Milk' came out — both from your upcoming album. What can you tell us about the new material?
With Magic Still Exists, my main focus was to create the right musical world, to figure out what kind of production I wanted, what kinds of songs I wanted to write. That ended up being this disco-pop, or as I call it, “spiritual pop” universe. But with this new album, my main focus has been the lyrics. Melodies come pretty easily to me, but sometimes when you already have a melody you love, adding words afterward can be a real struggle. So this time, I started with the lyrics and then built melodies on top of them. I also wanted the whole thing to feel a bit more raw. Magic Still Exists was pretty maximalist in its production, adding layers on layers. I didn’t necessarily want the new songs to be less maximalist, but I wanted fewer elements, giving each one more space. That’s where the rawer vibe comes in.
How did 'Milk' come together?
'Milk' started with the lyrics. I spend a lot of time in my car, and I usually have a piano or keyboard loop playing while I drive around, singing and coming up with lyrics. I started thinking: “I turn milk into butter, and butter into money. And with the money, honey, I create the life that I like.” It was this cute little mantra, and that’s how the song started. I brought that into the studio with Kerstin Ljungström, who I made a lot of the album with. At first, I was like, “What if I were related to The Hives?” You know, the Swedish rock band? How would I sound if I were their sister? So we started with this wild version of Milk, but then we added a bit more disco to it. It all began with that weird little mantra, and it evolved from there.
Pride Amsterdam is coming up, and our Pride issue will be out soon. You've performed at the QX Awards, at Stockholm Pride, you’ve sampled Paris Is Burning, and sung about how the soul has no gender. Where does your connection with the queer community come from?
I have such strong memories of touring with 'Release Me' back in 2009. I was 19, traveling all over Europe and the U.S., and honestly, it was overwhelming. But every time I performed at a gay club, it felt like coming home. All the stress and those “Who am I, what am I doing?” thoughts would disappear. I really felt that big, unconditional love. And honestly, my music wouldn’t be what it is without the gay community. 'Release Me' went to number 1 on the Billboard Dance Chart not because of a record label or radio push; it was DJs in gay clubs playing it, one after another. Visually, I’m super inspired by haute couture, but also by drag. I don’t even know where that comes from, it just feels like it’s in my DNA.
It’s been 20 years since you won Idol in Sweden and released your debut album. How do you look back on that time now?
Looking back, Idol feels like a teenage dream. I’m grateful for it because it was my first step into the music industry. But when you’re on Idol, there’s no room to figure out who you are as an artist, what you want to write about, or how you want to express yourself. I had to figure all that out afterward, and it took a lot of digging. So I have mixed feelings about it.
In your song 'XX', you sing about “trying to be someone else.” Is that about that period in your life?
I think that’s kind of a lifelong lesson for me: to always check in and ask myself: What’s true for me right now? Who am I today? What do I want to say? I’m a Pisces, so I think it’s also very Piscean to be constantly reinventing yourself. I remember when we were working on Magic Still Exists, we rewrote the lyrics over and over. Every time I stepped up to the mic, if one single word didn’t feel true, you could hear it immediately. I can’t fake it, not even for a word. The producer, Salem Al Fakir, was like, “Oh my God, I can hear it in your voice, when you believe it and when you don’t.” So yeah, that’s my challenge: to stay honest in everything I do.
You work closely with your husband, Vincent Pontare, who’s worked with Avicii, Lady Gaga, and Madonna. What’s it like creating music with someone you also share a home with?
With Magic Still Exists, I really found my way of working. I spend a lot of time on my own coming up with ideas: lyrics, melodies, visuals, everything. Then I go into the studio with Kerstin Ljungström, and we build the songs together. After that, we bring them to Vincent. He’s amazing at stepping back and seeing the big picture, like, “Ooh, we should tweak that” or “Let’s try this.” What’s great about working with him is that we know each other so well. We can dig deep, rewrite endlessly, and really push each other without ego. That’s also why I don’t work with many different people, just a close circle of friends. When you trust each other, you can go places creatively that you wouldn’t dare to with strangers.
What can you tell us about the upcoming album? What do you want to explore lyrically?
The last album was disco. To me, it was about the light at the end of the tunnel, searching for answers. With the new album, I don’t need the answers anymore, I just have a lot of questions. I want to be honest about the chaos, the weirdness, and the fact that things aren’t always okay, and that’s okay. I think I tried to control things a bit on Magic Still Exists, but now I want to break down some of those barriers and be seen in a different light. And that light doesn’t have to be perfect.
In 2009, you entered Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national selection for Eurovision, but lost to Malena Ernman who went on to represent Sweden with her song ‘La Voix’. Do you think you’d ever enter again?
I think I’m done with music competitions. I’m sorry, but I just don’t want to put myself, or my music, in that kind of environment again. That’s where my career started, and I’m grateful for it, but that’s not where I want to be now.
Do you have plans to promote the new album internationally? We’d love to see you perform in the Netherlands!
That’s my main focus right now! Magic Still Exists came out during COVID, so I never got to tour it. I haven’t performed those songs live yet. So yes, I absolutely want to tour with the new album, and I’ll definitely be performing outside of Sweden!
Agnes’ new single ‘Milk’ is available on streaming platforms now, with more new music expected in late August.
