Göteborg, an idyllic port town on the west coast of Sweden, is the second biggest city in the country. At Göteborg's heart is the Gota River, which runs alongside the city's famous opera house and several museums. The current that flows through the city consists of a diverse musical legacy whose influence reaches around the world. The town is home to both death-metal band In Flames and avant-garde electro duo The Knife, and of course, the not-to-be-forgotten '90s pop group Ace of Base. With such a vast Göteborg spectrum of sound, there must be something in the water.

Göteborg is now pulsing loud and clear on the radar thanks to a new crop of talent. The locally-based label/conceptual art project, Sincerely Yours, has launched indulgent Swede-pop acts the The Tough Alliance and Jonas Game into the international stratosphere. And thanks in part to producer Johan Agebjörn and Sally Shapiro, the city recently witnessed the renaissance of Italo Disco. But perhaps the greatest crossover success, belongs to the tender acoustic folk embodied by José Gonzáles, Jens Lekman, and El Perro del Mar.

psychoPEDIA joined Sarah Assbring, of El Perro del Mar, on the eve of her US album release From the Valley to the Stars, to learn more about her hometown:

What is the correct spelling and pronunciation of the town?
Göteborg is the Swedish name and Gothenburg is the English, or international name. A good way to pronounce it the Swedish way would be to use the German author Goethe as guideline but with a j-sound instead of German “g.” And then pronounce borg as you would pronounce Björn Borg, with a “j” on the end and not a German “g.” So kind of like this: Joethe-borj.

While on the subject of names, would you please explain the story behind your project's name?
The story goes like this: just before I started making music on my own, I was in a time of personal crisis and trying to get to grip on myself. I eloped to a Spanish island, where I happened to meet this stray dog. The meeting and the impact of it became the expression “El Perro del Mar”– the dog from the sea– and I¹ve kept it close to my heart ever since, just like I do with my music.

What inspires you about the city’s surroundings?
Göteborg is known for its extreme climate–- wind, rain and fog–- and you tend to wish or dream for something else all the time. So maybe it’s the fantasy for something different than Göteborg that inspires me. A wish to leave or to be somewhere else can be just as strong or even stronger.

What is your favorite venue to play or see a show?
The Concert Hall is the most beautiful venue for sure, especially if you’re into classic or symphonic music.

What are your favorite stores to buy music?
Various second-hand stores such as the old jazz shop, Pennies from Heaven.

Are there any up-and-coming local bands you are excited about now?
There’s this band called Wildbirds and Peacedrums that are totally amazing. It’s a duo– a couple actually– and they’re mindblowing.

What is your favorite restaurant, especially if someone else is paying the bill?
I’m a vegan and it’s kind of difficult to find good vegan places in Göteborg, unfortunately. But there is one which is splendid. It's housed inside an old movie theater called Hagabion and it’s a must if you're into well-cooked vegan food. I'd definitely go there regardless of who's paying.

Favorite museum?
The Göteborg Museum of Art is a typical institute of good classic Nordic art, and it’s a beautiful building with great atmosphere, too.

Being a touring musician, you must have friends all over the world. Where do you take them for the real Göteborg experience when they visit?
I’d take them on a boat trip to see the pretty archipelago just outside the city.

What do you miss most when you are on the road?
My loved ones and my studio.

What is the first thing you do when you arrive home from touring?
Sleep a lot, and spend the afternoons in my kitchen drinking coffee and staring out the window.

What's a Göteborg secret that out-of-towners wouldn't know?
The typical Göteborg person is known to be loud and a bit brute and often, this is mistaken for some kind of rudeness. But they’re actually nice, shy people.

And what should you never do while in Göteborg?
Go to Backaplan, Hisingen. It’s probably one of the world's ugliest shopping areas–- it’s like a giant ugly parking lot.

~Abbey Braden

Catch El Perro Del Mar on tour this summer with fellow Swede, Lykke Li.


First photo, courtesy of El Perro Del Mar
Second photo by Lydia Lou via Flickr
Third photo by radiohuvud via Flickr
Fifth photo via Virtual Tourist
Fourth photo, courtesy of Goteborg Museum of Art
Sixth photo, courtesy of Hagabion
Seventh photo via matnils.blogspot.com
Eighth photo by peterlong via Flickr