“Am I COBRAH, or is COBRAH ME?” The Swedish club-noir provocateur on being torn between extremes

I see someone who is capable of mastering many different skills, someone who needs to open up and feel a deeper connection to her artistry, and someone who is also very cool and cunty. Although Cobrah was never separate from me, she was perceived more as a character than as an artist. With this album, I feel like I wanted to create music that feels more sincere. Every song is inspired by my own life.

At first I wanted to call the album “Thorn,” but “Torn” was more appropriate. I constantly ask myself: Am I Cobrah, or is Cobrah me? I struggled a lot with being torn between my life as an artist and my private life. This album shows my mental stretchmarks. For me, stretchmarks are a good metapher for being torn. Growth is always painful and never easy. Expanding yourself requires courage and a willingness to suffer. For me, that was incredibly difficult. I also felt torn between cashing in on the sound I had created and exploring new directions. Staying in my lane no longer challenged me as a songwriter. But instead of switching lanes completely, I tried to expand my lane. That process took a real toll on my soul.

I felt like my songwriting had reached a point of predictability. A Cobrah song was characterized as repetitive, with hooky lyrics. After releasing a string of EPs, I asked myself: Was I pleasing the audience, or was I staying true to Cobrah’s vision? I wanted to regain control of the narrative. So I had to rely on my own creativity instead of adjusting to people’s perception of Cobrah. Exploring different musical genres and singing about more personal subjects feels very refreshing. I feel more real today.

I tend to do very extreme things. It’s not that I enjoy pain itself, but I do enjoy risk and challenges. I’m terrible at games — I get really frustrated when I lose. I’ve been challenged many times throughout my career, and I constantly challenge myself too, wondering how naked or provocative I can allow myself to be. That’s a huge thrill for me. At the listening party for “Torn,” we did Shibari. I had to stay suspended in the same position throughout the entire album listening session. I was also hanging there before the fans even arrived, so I ended up being on the ropes for almost an hour. It was a very painful experience. I had flown into New York that same morning, so I’d already been awake for nearly 20 hours. But I loved it because it looked amazing. It was totally worth it. Once I’d been cold and naked in front of strangers, I started asking myself: what’s next?

I love to showcase my power. That`s very exciting and very fun. Sometimes I felt like I couldn’t push myself any further physically. There was still one line I hadn’t crossed yet, but I had set limits for myself regarding how much I was willing to expose myself to the world. Now I have to find a different kind of thrill by exposing other parts of myself. For example, writing an emotional ballad like “Charming” almost felt even more exposing than the physical experiences I’ve been exploring. In the “Dog” video, for instance, I’m covered in mud — that was awful too. I’m constantly searching for new ways to navigate control and exposure as an artist. I think the power exists somewhere in between. It’s almost like Marina Abramović — she’s always very much in control, while also playing with the loss of control, but always with a clear intention behind it. That’s what I like to explore in my artistry, both musically and physically.

For me, “Charming” is the most vulnerable song I’ve ever put out and the one that’s closest to the truth. It’s also the scariest song I’ve written so far because it’s lyrically and sonically quite different from what I’ve done before. Every time I hear that song, I fall in love a little bit in a sad kind of way. That comes very close to how I love — in a very ambiguous way, which is at the core of the album. “Charming” deals with compromise in a twisted relationship, an endless back and forth…

There is a triptych of songs on the album. It all starts with “Hush,” which is about meeting someone. Straight after comes “Charming,” which deals with committing to a relationship. Even when you meet the greatest person, you always have to compromise a little. This is followed by “Dog,” which is about unrequited love. You dream of a shared future: having children, a dog, and eventually growing old side by side until you are finally laid to rest together. But this guy is not interested in you as a person; they just want to fuck you. As a romantic, for me, it’s a very sad song that marks the end of the relationship.

Yes! Usually, in interviews I get asked about clubbing or being sexual only. When I`m not touring, I`m a very homey girl. I love to cook a lot, I make music during the day and play video games until 3 or 4 in the morning at least. Even though “Dog“ is a broken love story there are also cunty songs like “Excuse Moi”, “IG”, or “Platinum” on the album.

Totally! It’s definitely a party track. In my head, I’m riding in a black limousine, grabbing a few burgers on the way. It’s 5 a.m., you’re dancing on the table, and there’s this fuzzy warmth inside you. All your friends are there — you feel like Snow White with her little dwarfs. For a split second, everything seems perfect, surreal, infinite. You’re the queen of the night!

Maybe it’s because I come from a very dark country. But we also have pop stars like Zara Larsson, who are the complete opposite.

Especially in Gothenburg, where I’m from. It’s the biggest mecca for metal. I remember my parents taking me to my first alternative fashion store when I was ten years old. I got my first corset with a little skirt. I loved it and wore it every day. I became infatuated with hardcore, metal, emo, eyeliner, and big Doc Martens boots at a very early age. That’s pretty much the core of who I am.

I like being extreme and bold. I used to sew my own stage looks at the beginning. For me, fashion is like storytelling. It’s like my second skin and my very own vision of perfection. I feel more real in a corset, high heels, and make-up. There’s a big change in my personality when I put that on. I’m very particular and an awful person to work with, if you ask my stylist. I’d rather be naked than wear something I do not like. That’s why I’m naked so often. I just wear nothing at all…

This tour is really exciting. I’m working with two amazing dancers. It’s the first time I’ve had other people with me on stage. What we do together is a lot of fun and really interesting. I’ve also worked with a video director on the stage scenography, bringing elements from my music videos to life on stage. People can expect a show that is extremely sweaty and very, very intense!