THE BUZ Z |
STOCKHOLM
“It wasn’t until
INSIDER’S GUIDE
Swedish synth-popster
Erik Hassle
tells us where to go in Stockholm
I visited the UK that I heard people talking about a big new Swedish music scene,” says singer Erik Hassle. Now Stockholm-born Hassle, whose flame-coloured hair seems to defy gravity, is part of that Scandi invasion. His single Don’t Bring Flowers is out this month and he describes his debut album Pieces, due out next month, as “love songs that are arena-sized. I grew up listening to soul music, so that’s how I sing, and the production has a Scandinavian
minimalist touch.” We asked the 21year-old to tell us where he hangs out in Stockholm. When I’m hungry I love traditional Swedish food and Tranan (14 Karlbergsvägen, tel: +46 (0)8 5272 8100) has the best meatballs in the world. You eat them with potatoes and pickles – perfect. Another favourite is Blåbär café (54 Upplandsgatan, tel: +46 (0)8 325 475), which is the Swedish word for blueberry. It has great sandwiches and salads and you get a blueberry juice drink for free. When I’m thirsty My favourite bar is Pappa Grappa (26 Gamla Rådstugugatan). It’s a bit rough, but it has such a cool vibe. At one point my friends
and I would be in there five times a week because it’s opposite the music school I went to. I always see people I know there. When I want to see live music Mosebacke (3 Mosebacke, mosebacke.se) is a beautiful venue on top of a hill with views over Stockholm. I saw Timbuktu here – he’s a Swedish rapper – and I’ve played here twice. When I want to shop I only wear Swedish brands. The Acne Archive (55 Torsgatan, acnestudios.com) stocks Acne clothes you won’t find in other stores. At 65 Hornsgatan is Herr Judit (herrjudit. se), which has high-quality vintage Swedish brands.
see the Stockholm archipelago. My dad is from Gothenburg and insists the Gothenburg archipelago is better. So I haven’t actually been to see Stockholm’s as often as I would have liked! When I want to catch up with friends Near the Mariatorget subway station there’s a hill called Skinnarviksberget. When it’s too early to go to a bar, my friends and I buy some beers and go up there and talk. When I need a haircut Until a few months ago I did my own hair, but now I go to a hairdresser called Twisted (100 Sankt Eriksgatan, tel: +46 (0)8 335 110).
interview by sophy grimshaw
When I want to take a trip out of town I recommend a boat trip out to
30 | TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 09