Matilda Lindell — empire coven

Age || 37

Company Name || Matilda Lindell

Job Title || Singer, songwriter, and vocal coach

Years Living In New York || On and off for the last 4 years

Social Handles || @matildalindellofficial

Company Website || Matilda Lindell

What did you want to be while growing up?

I always wanted to be a singer of some sort, I never even thought of exploring other options. It was the only thing possible feeling natural and obvious. I was very into musicals when I was younger cause I wanted to it all—singing, acting, dancing! But it shifted a bit as I got older and realized how fascinated I was by the voice. That’s how I also started my studies to become a vocal coach.

What’s the best piece of advice you were given when you were starting out as a singer?

My teachers said early on “just get out there!” It’s true, you can’t just sing alone in your room. This advice still feels relevant now 20 years later in my career.

How do you define success?

Even though we are so money driven, cause we need it to survive, I see success as when I make an impact and move someone with my voice and performance. When you do the best you can—that counts as success to me.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned since starting out?

Lots of things, but an important one is to believe in myself. I need to practice it every day. The music business is tough since many women don’t get their voices heard and the respect they deserve. With that, it’s easy to doubt yourself and believe in the imbalanced structure we live in. I had an uncomfortable feeling every time I backed down from my ideas or didn’t speak up. The #MeToo movement was about so much more than sexual harassment, it was about the whole power play of men against women. I think that helped me and others to realize nothing will change if women don’t try to support each other and speak up to change things on our end.

What is your go-to motivational quote/personal motto?

I try to live by “done is better than perfect.” I can easily get stuck in the thorough research and details and never get to the goal. And “what’s meant to be will happen.”

What drew you to cover ABBA?

I have toured the U.S. for over 10 years with the tribute act ABBA THE CONCERT. It’s been magical to build this act and connect with our audience, but I felt I reached a plateau. When people saw me perform live, I noticed a stronger connection and I wanted to take that to a more personal level without the wig and glitter. It made sense to start doing it through ABBA’s music that have become such a big part of my life. This is the first single of a five song EP being released later this spring. Hopefully my arrangements will give the listener a new emotional journey and attract a new audience other than just ABBA fans. Not that I’ve ever heard of anyone who doesn’t like ABBA.

What drew you to move from your native Sweden to New York?

When I started touring in the U.S. I spent some time in between tours in New York. I felt home here for some reason—I sort of found myself again. So I spent more and more time, fell in love (with both a man and the city!) and then that was it! I do miss my friends and family a lot so I go back on a regular basis.

Has the move had any influence on your music?

I’m sure. The music I create reflects who I am, where I am in life, and what is going on around me and in the world. New York and the people I’ve met here have inspired me in many more ways than I’m probably even aware of.

What is your process like for creating new music?

I often start by the piano, to find the right mood I’m looking for. I have an idea of what I want to say and the feeling is there, so I play the piano and sing “pretend lyrics” until the hook pops out and line after line falls into place. Sometimes it’s quick, sometimes it’s harder. When creating these new arrangement for existing ABBA songs, I started at the emotion I wanted to mediate and built from that. I wanted to make something totally new since ABBA already made the best pop versions there are. I tried to keep the essence of these epic tracks and still make it a new experience. I often hear melodies in my head and I put them in there, or as in “One of Us” I put some of the melodies in the string arrangement.

We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.

Which women inspire you?

My Mom! She is so strong. And my sister. I feel so fortunate to have so many awesome women in my life that inspires me. I have close friends and I think the reason why we are so close is because of our mutual respect and that we look up to each other so much. An artist who inspires me is Sara Bareilles. She is musically all I want to be and her personality shines through her work.

How do you overcome moments of self-doubt?

I try practicing to believe in myself. But I’m only human so I also go to my amazing friends. What would I be without them?

You’ve performed in a variety of styles (solo, group, a capella, with a band) which resonates with you the most?

Oooh, that’s the thing with me, I love it all! I like how I can use my experiences across the board. It makes me stay on my toes musically and I have more to give from within my work.

How do you balance your schedule?

I admit it, this is not my strong side. But recently I have definitely put time into finding tools and ways to actually save time, energy, and be more on point. I have worked on my entrepreneurial side, with this new release I had to.

How do you handle situations where you feel overwhelmed?

One thing at a time. And I think, “What is the worst that could happen?” and I realize it’s not that bad.

What has been the most rewarding thing since starting out?

To get the opportunity to move thousands of people with ABBA THE CONCERT has been incredibly rewarding. Also, getting personal notes from fans about my own music and most recently my take on “One of Us,” makes it all so worth the hard work behind it.

What advice would you give to other women trying to become musicians?

Beyond perfecting your instrument—network and support each other. Getting work has a lot to do with connections.

What do you hope people get out of listening to your upcoming EP?

Hopefully the current ABBA fans will listen to the songs in a new way, experiences new stories and emotions. I wish people who aren’t familiar with ABBA will be intrigued by the arrangements even though they don’t know the songs. The important thing is that they are moved in some way when listening.

What are some of your goals moving forward as an artist?

Even though I have an established a freelance career, as a solo artist I want to build my following, so I can continue to create more music, go on solo tours, and keep connecting with my audience!

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.