Benjamin Ingrosso was 17 years old when he released his first single. Now, almost ten years into his career, with five studio albums under his belt and 125,000 tickets sold across his European tour, it’s easy to say the Swedish pop star is flying as high as ever. His new single, “Look Who’s Laughing Now,” is, in part, a celebration of such success. He looks back at his childhood to create an anthem “for all those who have dealt with the hardships that come from everyone doubting you whilst you keep trying to believe in yourself, hopes, and ambitions and to empower those,” he explains.
Sonically, the single explores new terrains, drawing inspiration from melodies that were a part of Ingrosso’s upbringing, blending older musicals and classic Swedish pop and soul from the ’70s. “[‘Look Who’s Laughing Now’] celebrates being authentic and enjoying life, regardless of others’ perceptions,” he continues. “It’s a nod to all who doubted us, proving that we can be ourselves, live our best lives, and still come out as winners. It’s all about embracing our imperfections, living life to the fullest, and showing the world that authenticity wins.”
Catching up with Wonderland, Benjamin Ingrosso takes a deep dive into his creative upbringing, the inspirations behind the track — performed for the first time on stage at this year’s Eurovision — and what’s next on the cards for him. Keep reading…
And listen to “Look Who’s Laughing Now”…
Hej Benjamin! Thanks so much for chatting with us. Tell us a bit about your creative upbringing and when everything started for you.
Everything kind of started when I was 7 or 8 years old when I participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. After that, I started working as an artist at a very young age. Then, I took a break when I was a teenager and started working on my craft as a songwriter. I then released my first song when I was 17. Since then, I have been working ever since. I’ve released 5 albums. My mom and dad are musicians and composers, so it always felt natural to pursue a career in music.
Did you grow up in a musical environment? What were some of your first influences, and how did they shape your sonic style today?
I grew up in an environment surrounded by music. My whole family are musicians and musical artists. My first memory of music was when I saw my mom perform in the musical Wizard of Oz – which to me was an eye opener and I instantly fell in love with music.
My first and biggest inspirations in music were artists such as Bee Gees, John Travolta and Elton John. I believe that if you listen to the music I have released this year you can find very clear influences from them.
Congrats on your new single! What inspired the track? Any particular stories behind your creative process here?
I was inspired to write a song about the young Benjamin, and I really wanted to create an anthem for all those who have dealt with the hardships that come from everyone doubting you whilst you keep trying to believe in yourself, hopes and ambitions and to empower those. To all the people that tried to put you down – this is a song for you to be able to say “Look who’s laughing now”.
How did it feel to perform “Look Who’s Laughing Now” for the first time during Eurovision? What was the audience’s reaction like?
This was a performance we had prepared and rehearsed for so long. Getting the opportunity to truly elevate my showmanship at such a stage with such an amazing team and production was just a dream coming true.
Opening the performance with “LWLN” felt like the perfect song and seeing the reactions from the audience and online gave the feeling that the song truly resonated with a lot of people which is all you can ask for as an artist and a songwriter. Very grateful for that.
What influences your work and style these days? And how would you define your genre?
I’ve always been influenced and inspired by legends such as Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Sir Elton John, George Michael, and ABBA, as well as composers such as Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber.
I’m not entirely sure of what to call my genre but people seem to call it energetic live pop – which I guess to some extent is right.
How has the tour been? What’s your favourite part about performing?
The tour has been amazing. Coming from a sold out summer tour in Sweden in 2023 going into a lot smaller venues across Europe was a very humbling experience but also very developing for me as a performer. Getting the opportunity to finally perform and meet 10,000 European fans has been a dream come true and I can’t wait to do it again.
You’ve recently collaborated with Purple Disco Machine and Nile Rodgers on “Honey Boy.” How did these collaborations come about, and what was the creative process like?
I came up with “Honey Boy” at a nightclub in Stockholm, carried away by the rhythm of a house beat that instantly had me humming along to what would become the chorus. That melody haunted me for an entire year. It wasn’t until I found myself in a Chinese restaurant, nodding along to a disco track, that it all clicked. It had to become a disco song. The song, shaped by a memorable encounter in the city’s nightlife, quickly moved from concept to studio recording. Once recorded, we all felt the potential the song had and that we had to add more talented influences to make it reach its full potential. I reached out to Tino (Purple Disco Machine) to see if he wanted to finalise it with me, which he wanted! After having gone back and forth and crafted what we believed was the perfect foundation for the song, we reached out to Shenseea who joined in and added her touch to the record. The final piece of the puzzle was when Tino got Nile Rodgers to add live guitar to the song, infusing the track with authentic disco-era vibes. On my Europe tour I have been teasing the song and “Honey Boy” has proven irresistible, compelling everyone to dance.
Do you have any dream collaborations? What do you look for in a fellow artist when deciding to work together?
I believe that speaking about my dream collaborations out loud might diminish the potential of it coming true. While I do have some dream collaborations in mind, I prefer to keep them to myself for now. Typically, what I look for is a cohesive blend of styles, shared musical tastes, and a mutual excitement about performing together on stage.
Can you give us any hints about what to expect from your upcoming album later this year? Are there any new directions or themes you’re exploring?
Just like with any art, everyone should make their own interpretations of what they think the music is like. I would much rather say that and keep it as a tease for now.
How do you reflect on your artistic evolution until now? And what’s next on the cards for you?
This past year has been about honing my live performance skills and strengthening my inner entertainer. Musically, I aim to explore new genres and push my boundaries further.