Under the name Yeah Baby Yeah, Larsa Dahlén has just dropped ‘The Truth’, a timeless message wrapped in wonderfully nostalgic music that explores fact and truth in today’s world while paying tribute to his own musical heroes. I felt like the perfect time to sit down with this footballer-turned-musician and find out more.
You immersed yourself in music after your football career ended. Can you tell me more about the move from one to the other?
Music has always been a big part of my life, ever since I was very young. When I was three years old, I used to sing “Schlaffsojäjäjä” (“She Loves You, Yeah Yeah Yeah”). I started playing guitar in my early teens and began writing songs a couple of years later. At 17, I was dropped from the elite teams because of my size, and I decided to quit playing football altogether. From then on, music became an increasingly important part of my life. Besides The Beatles, I listened a lot to The Doors, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Joe Jackson, Bob Dylan, Talking Heads, Talk Talk, Tom Petty and many others.
Your latest single ‘The Truth’ has a slow yet anthemic 70s feel to it. What musical inspirations are behind this blend of the modern and the retro? What bands, specifically, influence your music-making?
For the intro, I wanted a Scorpions-style power-ballad feel, gradually moving into something heavier, with a touch of the Metallica sound, and then building to a climax that blends Motown and 60s soul with a hard-rock ballad. The ending, “The End, did you hear about the end”, is of course inspired by The Doors. All of these references are intended as tributes to my musical roots. The same goes for the lyrics, particularly the line “The word, it just passed into my mind”, which is a nod to The Beatles’ “Across the Universe” and the line “words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup”. “Freedom” is a tribute to 60s soul and Motown.
Is there a message or theme at the heart of the song?
Truth has become increasingly rare in today’s society. Fake news is everywhere: in newspapers, in politics, and even in music. The world is full of people who climb the career ladder through lies and deception. I wanted to pay tribute instead to the ordinary person who goes to work every day and helps keep society running. “There’s a man, doing the best he can…” I’m celebrating that person and wishing them a good life and, above all, freedom. Because life is not that long. The end is always waiting just around the corner.
Would you say that ‘The Truth’ is a typical representation of the music you make in general?
It’s a combination of both. The song draws on references from classic pop and rock, but what makes it stand out is the blend of Motown influences and the fact that it is performed as a duet.
The twin vocals are very striking. Can you tell me about Ida Ludvigsen’s involvement and what you feel she brings to the track?
Ida and I have sung together on a couple of other songs that have been played on Swedish radio. Those songs were in Swedish, and we discovered that our voices worked very well together. I wanted to involve her because of her fantastic vocal ability and impressive range. She has a bluesy, soulful voice that was a perfect fit for the Motown elements of this song. Ida also performs with a couple of other bands, where she mainly sings blues. We are planning to continue working together on future songs.
Thank you for giving me insight into your musical world, and best of luck with everything.
