The Soothing Sounds of Sweden Laundry

The pair reveals the routes they almost took before deciding to just be their natural selves.

Photo courtesy of Sweden Laundry

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “Sweden Laundry is ___” or “Sweden Laundry’s music is ___”? 
“[Sweden Laundry’s music is] comfort.” Just like how the steady hum of a washing machine calms your mind, or how you feel a sense of relief in the cozy air of a laundromat, we truly hope that when people listen to our music, they feel as though they’ve found a peaceful hiding place to just breathe and rest. 

Did you consider any group names before “Sweden Laundry”? 
We actually had a few other names on the table: Attic Radio, Two Soap Girls, and Tra-Radio. But when we finally came up with “Sweden Laundry,” it just clicked, and we were absolutely thrilled. 

Who or what first inspired you both to pursue music careers? 
Looking back, it was a mix of the instruments we learned as kids, the music shows we loved watching, and the cassette tapes we used to collect with our allowances. We didn't really have a grand plan; we were just chasing after the things we loved, and that naturally led us to making music. 

How have your individual music tastes changed throughout your lives? Have they grown more or less similar over time? 
We actually started out with quite different tastes, and that uniqueness remains unchanged. However, we’ve definitely influenced each other a lot, and through one another, we've been introduced to genres we might have otherwise overlooked, completely [falling] for their charms. It’s probably most accurate to say that we’ve built a shared taste together over time.

What three words or phrases best describe your new single album, pado and parang? 
“Waves,” “Blue,” and “The ocean.” We thought a lot about the blue sea while working on this album. We wanted our listeners to feel like they are at the ocean, even if it’s just for a moment. The sea can be a bit scary, because it’s so deep, but it’s also so beautiful and mysterious that you want to jump right in. We wanted to use the ocean as a symbol for our dreams and life itself. 

Have you ever considered adding more members to the group, or has being a duo always been ideal? 
At one point, due to health reasons, we briefly considered bringing in another vocalist. However, because the two of us have been together for so long, it made us realize that there's a unique, beautiful energy that only happens when it's just the two of us. It gave us a sense of certainty, so we aren't looking to add any new members now.

Photo courtesy of Sweden Laundry

Do you look up to and take inspiration from other musical duos, and if so, who? 
Rather than having one specific role model, we tend to find new dreams and inspiration by watching a wide variety of artists. We deeply respect all musicians who possess beautiful voices and meaningful thoughts and who successfully translate those into music or other forms of art. 

What are the biggest differences you’ve noticed in the music industry nowadays compared to when you debuted? 
Everything moves so fast now, and the avenues for music to be discovered have become incredibly diverse. While the rapid pace can feel a bit overwhelming at times, it’s also really exciting to see how many new opportunities are open to independent artists today. 

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourselves or your music? 
The longer we make music, the more we realize that just being our natural selves brings us the most happiness. We believe the real strength of our music is that it’s never forced. In the end, we just hope our songs bring true comfort and peace to everyone who listens.

Check out Sweden Laundry’s newest release here!

View the Substack version of this piece here!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.