When the anniversary festival was held to celebrate Gothenburg's 400th anniversary, it was names like Suede, First Aid Kit and Europe that topped, rather than local bands and artists. Was this a sign that Gothenburg as a music city was lagging behind?
Not at all, says Matilda Sjöström and the artist Raghd, who are both from Gothenburg and played at the festival. They believe that the city's music scene is more open now than it was before. Matilda Sjöström debuted with her band Steget in 2010.
"When we started, it was more homogeneous. There are a lot more girls who are artists today, says Matilda Sjöström. She thinks that the festival succeeded in booking a diversity of the Gothenburg artists who can represent the future rather than history.
Greater transparency today
23-year-old Raghd from Angered recently released his second EP and has been noted for his genre-crossing music with influences from both hip hop and alternative rock. She says that there is a greater opportunity for people who are not already established to enter Gothenburg's music scene today.
"You get to hear my friends' songs on the radio. It did not do that ten years ago. There are more doors open now," she says.
She mentions Josef Slunge and Mimi Bay as examples of the new generation of Gothenburg artists.
Important for the alternative scene
Both Matilda Sjöström and Raghd emphasize that Gothenburg has been and is an important place for Sweden's alternative music scene – regardless of genre. From the prog of the 70s, through the 00's indie pop and to today's alternative hip hop and r'n'b.
"The music from here is probably a little more anxiety-ridden. And instead of doing what you think works, you do what you like," says Matilda Sjöström.
Hear Matilda Sjöström's song Like a storm, which she calls cry-disco, and Raghd's Easy go, which takes inspiration from 90's club music in the player.