Pop-Culturalist.com

Robin Lundbäck, recognized as Boy In Space, establishes himself as a Swedish pop sensation, captivating over half a billion listeners globally with his remarkable vocal talent, pioneering productions, and whimsically crafted lyrics.

This winter marked his highly-anticipated return to music with the release of his cinematic new single, “Atom Bomb.” Confronting physical struggles, enduring multiple surgeries, and contending with his own mental challenges of ADHD, he recognized the necessity for a shift in how he approached both his personal life and musical journey.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Boy in Space about “Atom Bomb,” this exciting new chapter in his career, what’s ahead in 2024, and more.

PC: There’s such a cinematic quality to your songwriting where you’re painting these very vivid pictures. How much does your love for film play a role in the way that you write and in your own music videos?
Boy In Space: I think that part has to do with the fact that I generally haven’t read a lot. I’m one of those people who have found art through visualization and movies, and that sort of aspect. It has a lot to do with that. I’ve always loved films. When I was younger, it was more childish movies like Pokémon. The older I have gotten, I’ve done a deep dive into the pits of older films. It’s been amazing. It’s a cool art form that I really enjoy.

PC: I feel like that’s bled into the work that you’ve done as a musician, which is very innovative. There’s also a universal quality to your songwriting where it feels very personal to you and your experiences, but listeners are able to interpret your words and apply them to their own lives. Is that balance something that you’re mindful of during the songwriting process? Do you have a favorite lyric that you’ve written throughout the years?
Boy In Space: I definitely try to. I definitely think art should be perceived in a different manner for everyone who listens to it. I want to be very specific about some parts, but then in some other aspects, I also want to zoom out so everyone can have their own take on it. That’s definitely something that I try to incorporate into my music. Also, there are some things you want to keep personal, but also some things you want to leave out so you don’t reveal too much.

I don’t know if I have one favorite lyric. Honestly, I write so much music that I can’t remember any of them. [laughs] So it feels like I keep going in circles with the same types of words. Imagine if you had a 200-piece puzzle and you went back to the same puzzle each time you wrote a song. That’s what I’m doing. Honestly, I don’t know. There are too many songs. But that’s also the best part of this job: being able to release my creative children and share them with the world for people to enjoy. I tend to ask my fans what their favorite lyrics are, or they’ll tell me out of nowhere. It’s amazing to see that the music I write and put my time into resonates with someone else in that way. It’s not always about me, which is amazing. It’s almost like giving it to the people who really enjoy it.

PC: That must be so rewarding for you as a songwriter. I saw on Instagram you were asking fans about their favorite lyric from “Atom Bomb,” and every comment is a different lyric.
Boy In Space: Yeah, it is. It’s cool because it brings that depth. Music has so many layers. With some songs, you just want to stand with your fist in the air. Then with others, it’s about a cool chord. Some songs don’t have the best melody, but the lyrics are super poetic and amazing. It’s cool to see that my fans listen to my music and find different messages that touch them personally in various ways, without being too cheesy.

PC: It’s also a testament to your artistry that in the past when you’ve released music, fans and listeners have gotten multiple versions of a track. Whether that’s the final cut with all the production, the acoustic versions that you’ve done, or a live rendition. As you’re in the process of creating a song, are you thinking about how it’s going to play in all these different settings? Is that a litmus test to whether or not you have a good song on your hands?
Boy In Space: If I’m going to do that like I’ve done before, such as an acoustic version, garage session, or a live version, it’s fun to surprise people. I want to approach it in the same manner but in a different way that’s going to be inspiring to people.

It’s fun to surprise people in the best of ways, not in a weird way where I’m just standing in a room singing one note, but where it’s like we haven’t seen this before from Boy In Space, and that’s really interesting. I’m definitely always looking for different ideas and trying to expand on them, whether it’s the song, the concept of an EP, or whatever. It’s fun to create in that way.

PC: You’ve also been really open about the ups and downs that you’ve faced in the past couple of years, both personally and musically. How have those experiences influenced this next body of work? How are you able to bring another level of vulnerability to your artistry?
Boy In Space: The vulnerability is going to be in a different way. You’re always writing from personal experiences or the way you view the world. This time around, I might even make a happy song to surprise everyone. [laughs] I’ve always done these emotional, sad songs where it’s about breakups and heartbreak. It’s like I’m alone in my car, crying, and that’s fun. But I want to find my vulnerability in different places as well, like making it bittersweet in a way that I haven’t done before and finding that good balance. Mostly, I feel like I appreciate life way more. I’m really happy to be alive and breathing and have a loving family. There are so many things that I’m grateful for, and I’m also grateful for having this platform and having people who are invested in what I do and seeing how happy they get when I’m like, “I’m releasing more music!” They’re always like, “Finally, we’ve been waiting.” It’s a beautiful response. So it’s helped me in many ways to not take life for granted. There are bad days, but keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, and you’ll be fine. Life’s tough, but you’ll be good.

PC: Speaking of new music, “Atom Bomb” is your latest single, and it’s been a while since we’ve gotten a new song from you. What inspired this song in particular? How did you know this was the right song to reintroduce Boy In Space?
Boy In Space: The first thing that got me going was how pop it was. Because in 2021 and 2022, there were a lot of heavy flirtatious vibes from the rock, emo vibe. That was where the pop space was at that time. But this time, “Atom Bomb,” just feels like a bop. It’s in the same space where I started. It feels like there’s this love that people have for that music. I was excited about feeling excited about releasing something like that. I just love that song. I love that melody that it starts with as well. That’s a huge convincer for me about the melody. It hits in a good way.

Lyric-wise, it was a typical day in the office writing about heartbreak, but also putting myself in there. I’ve told other people this but it almost felt like I was coming out of this apocalyptic time of my life where everything has been heavy and felt very gloomy and dark. It’s speaking on that and feeling like when you’re at your lowest point. You often feel by yourself because everyone forgets quite quickly when you’re in a bad spot. I feel like a lot of people have that initial reaction, which is empathy and love, but the hard thing is to have a continued loving relationship with the people that are going through something for a long time. It touches onto that as well.

PC: You’ve been steadily releasing music throughout the years. If you had to pick a song that best encompasses Boy In Space at this moment, which would it be and why?
Boy In Space: At this moment, I would have to say “Atom Bomb” because it’s the latest song. It’s the direction that we’re going for. It definitely has that fresh sound that’s new for both me and my fans. For some reason, I thought of “u n eye,” which is really underrated. It’s one of my underrated songs. It has so much potential. It’s so catchy and boppy. I love the lyrics and the whole production. That’s like an underrated, under-the-radar Boy In Space song. Everyone listening who hasn’t heard “u n me” should go listen to it.

PC: A good uncut gem. You shared on social media that you plan on making a lot of noise this year. What does 2024 hold for Boy In Space? Can we expect you back on the road? Is there a larger project in the works?
Boy In Space: I’ve spent a lot of time talking to my team about various strategies to kick-start this engine again. Now that it’s up and running, I want to release as much music as I can. I don’t want to get carried away with one huge body of work. I aim to maintain a continuous flow of music releases, so I have a bunch lined up. There will be one or two EPs this year, along with many singles and creative videos. Social media will play a significant role. I’m striving to embrace that aspect more because I’ve struggled with it in the past. Many artists feel the same way; we get absorbed in the studio bubble, and navigating social media feels like climbing a daunting mountain due to our pursuit of perfection. However, I want to engage more with platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, connect with my fans, and continue that journey to see where it leads.

To keep up with Boy In Space, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Listen to “Atom Bomb” today.