Catch House of Wallenberg DJ at Mums Mums in Stockholm and at Hot Fuzz in London on October 17th at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
Click to Listen
MUMS MUMS.
with Leila K.
Argyris recently caught up with Petter Wallenberg, a Swedish DJ, music producer, song-writer, author and artist. He uses the name House of Wallenberg for his musical releases which come out on his own label Mums Mums Records and Universal Music. He also directs his own music videos.
Hello Petter. How’s it going? What have you been up to today?
Hey, I'm great thanks! I'm right in the middle of a hot Swedish summer, so all sweaty and scantily clad... haha!
Tell us a little bit about you as a person, your musical background and influences when growing up.
I grew up on the very rough council estates on the outskirts of Stockholm. I spent my early years listening to club music and dreaming of getting away. I was really into female rappers like Neneh Cherry and Leila K, but also punk and classic house. In fact, it’s all the stuff that I still like today… I haven't changed much since I was twelve, only got fatter!
You have come a long way since then. What was the journey like?
As soon as I finished school I packed a bag and got a single ticket to London – and ended up staying for 11 years. I arrived as a fresh faced teenage twink and threw myself into all the clubs and wilderness. I went to art school, bummed around and tried to make it as an artist and a musician. It was tough. I miss London, she's a tough bitch – but that's how we like her!
What opportunities do you remember most? Was there a “turning point” in your career?
Ironically it was only when I left London and went back to Sweden that things happened for me. Now I divide my time between both cities and love it.
In 2013 you released the hit single “Love Yourself”, which was nominated for a prize in the big Cannes Lion competition of global campaigns in Cannes, France. What inspired you?
The organisation StopHIV set out to do a campaign to encourage gay men to go for HIV tests. They approached me and told me I could do what I wanted, so I wrote the track “Love Yourself Test Yourself” which became the signature track of the campaign. I wanted a life affirming message that was about love and joy, not the doom and gloom of most HIV campaigns. The single got picked up by Universal and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. A lot of people really liked the track, so I think it was a great way to get the message across. After the campaign I found out that the rates of testing in Sweden actually went up, which is absolutely amazing! (See the video on the left)
You were very busy last year, as you also released your album “Legends”. What was your creative process when writing the album?
I basically set out to record an album with my idols – the artists that I had had posters of in my teenage bedroom, and new ones that I admire now. I had no label backing me and it took six years to complete!
You have quite a long list of collaborators on the album. Why did you choose to work with these artists?
They are all musical heroes of mine. Neneh Cherry and Leila K were two of my biggest influences growing up. Getting them on the album was amazing. As was Ari Up from legendary punk group The Slits and Victoria Wilson James from Soul II Soul. I also worked with current heroes of mine like new Swedish soul diva Mapei and Jwl B from hardcore lesbian rappers Yo Majesty, who's since become like a sister to me.
Let’s talk about Leila K, in particular. Both you and I were 12 years old when her hit “Got to get” was released in 1989! You were the one who brought her back in your album after all these years and also wrote a book about her - "Historien om Leila K" (The Story of Leila K), which was released in Sweden last year. Why the fascination with Leila K?
Leila K was the first European female rap star – from Sweden in fact. I grew up with her music – and her life story. She was basically the Amy Winehouse of Scandinavia… Sweden's ultimate bad girl. After her years as a superstar she fell on hard times and has spent more than a decade amongst the homeless on the streets of Stockholm. She's a living legend. No one had recorded with her for 15 years and I was intrigued as to why. One day when I was visiting Stockholm – I still lived in London at the time - I ran into her on the street and we started talking. We decided to do a track together. That's how the track “Legendary” came about. And I wrote a book about her life story and my time with her in the underworld of Stockholm, amongst killers, dealers and the down and out. It was one hell of a journey.
There is not only the music, the clubs, the books, but also fashion! Tell us a bit about the clothes!
I've teamed up with Swedish designer Karl Alley for a special edition of “Be Somebody” metal plated caps, named after my single with the same name. The proceeds go to LGBT-work in Russia. You can buy the caps on my website www.houseofwallenberg.com
From your name (House of Wallenberg) to track titles and lyrics (Legendary), we see a running theme of NYC drag ball culture. Very “Paris is Burning”! What is it that you admire so much from that world?
I love Paris is Burning. It's my favourite film. It's such an important part of our gay history, and still so relevant. One of the stars of Paris is Burning was the transsexual ballroom queen Octavia St Laurent, who sings the track “Be Somebody” on my album. I knew her for years and used to listen to her talking about the vogue and ballroom scene, on long distance calls to New York. Sadly she passed away just after we recorded, so this became quite an emotional journey. To celebrate her memory I made the video in New York, with some of the original legendary vogue houses from Paris is Burning, such as House of Ninja. During filming a homeless man came up and held a speech about being somebody, and I kept it in the video as it summed everything up beautifully.
What is the bear scene like in Sweden?
It's very small. I should start my own little scene for ginger bears and our admirers, haha! I know there is a party like that in the US, so I think Europe needs it. I can be the poster boy! Until then I'm looking forward to DJing at Hot Fuzz in October in London. Tell all the ginger bear chasers I'm coming to town!
Oh they will know, Petter! So what is coming next for House of Wallenberg?
DJing around Europe and working on lots of new exciting stuff and hopefully I'll have a new single out this autumn. Been in the studio with House music legend Angie Brown – but don't tell anybody yet! Haha! You can follow me on Facebook for updates: https://www.facebook.com/HouseofWallenberg
WOW! Angie Brown! Another massive icon! Thank you very much for the chat, Petter!
You run a club-night in Stockholm called Mums Mums. What should we expect if we come to party there?
Mums Mums means Yum Yum on Swedish. It's a fun uplifting night. We play a lot of classic house, the 'hands in the air' kinda stuff that I grew up with. It's a mixed crowd, all sorts, gay, straight, hipsters, young, old, trannies. A fun trashy vibe with great music and no attitude. Just how I like it.