"Agnes Made Hollywood Cry" - Aftonbladet

"Sweden's hottest export item about auditioning for the U.S. record bosses.
In spring 2005 the jury had to rescue a shy 17-year-old back into the "Idol".
Almost five years later, she has had a Billboard nr1, received millions of an American giant recordlabel, and sung in the Boss´s garden.
Next year Lady Gagas team is taking over Agnes.

Then, several years after the program gained pace in herr career, it was always a gentle teenager who met the press. Answered the questions but rarely embroidered print quotes.
Now there's a humble but noticeably more confident singer, a stone's throw from the Globe and talks about a busy year.

What has happened is a breakthrough.
- It's been an extreme year and a lot of traveling. I can almost count on my hands how many days I have been in Sweden, "says Agnes.
Instead, she has appeared, among other things, for 200 000 people in Morocco, made success in the UK and started what could become the next Swedish stellar career in the U.S..
- It was such a sick situation when three of America's largest record company wanted to sign me. Suddenly I was in a position where I could choose who I wanted to work with, "says the singer.

In the end the choice was mighty Interscope and Geffen. And according to "Nojesbladets" sources the contract gave Agnes multi-millions.

Performed at a party
The singer went over to America again and stayed for nearly two weeks. The record company president Ron Fair, who long had a tradition of presenting their biggest artists at a party at home in his garden, showed off his new finding. Among the flowers and candles were Agnes put on an intimate stage and sing in front of 300 powerful people.

- He had invited all sick people. It was lucky I did not know who was there, then I would have never dared to sing, "says Agnes.
Afterwards found Agnes Eminem's manager Steve Bernman, senior television executives, key dj's and Whitney Houston-songwriter Diane Warren in the manager's garden.

And so it went Agnes first job weeks in the U.S.. Among other things, got the singer to introduce themselves to those who will work with her launch in the U.S.. Agnes used with the Swedish team, stepped into the middle of a meeting in the belief that a handful of people would sit in the room. They were 35.

Sang in front of co-workers
That day also ended with the Swede had to sing in an office before the company's ten employees. As she prepared to beat off her A & R, so that in passing, who made it before her.
- First, I see Lady Gaga and then Sting. After that I dared not look the more people who had done it, "said Agnes, laughing. But it was really appreciated and some started to cry.

Agnes is now partly following Lady Gagas footsteps.
- I will be working more or less exactly with the people she worked with. From those going around me at club gigs to the top. One can see that they really have worked extremely hard.

Something Agnes also will do. Recently, she was in the U.S. on promotional trip. The days consisted of interviews, the evening of klubbgig.

- I slept three hours each night for two weeks. I got makeup on me and put me in the afternoon. Then again ten in the evening, make-up before it was time to disguise himself and come down again in the evening. In the end, I knew not where I was or whether it was morning or evening.

Climbed the Billboard chart
"Release Me" is the fifth song Agnes has been writing - in her entire life. Now it has become her most important business cards in the major international effort. The second day of singer's promotional trip the single climbed up to number one on Billboard's dance list.

U.S. contract gave you a lot of money.
- Yes, but I don´t think about that so much. It is not the most important thing. I am most pleased that things go well in these countries, and that I get to perform in these scenes. Then, it is of course nice to have money in a way that shows you they appreciate what you do.
My clothes account has increased a bit.

In Sweden, like many participants at any time forget the "Idol" afterwards.
In the U.S., it ison the contrary?
- Yes, where is the proof that you can sing and is damn good. In Sweden, people are more "oh, how lame that you have been there". I think it's really boring to people who are part of the competition and then are not happy about it. It is as schizophrenic. Not being able to bear it, I think is very strange. For me, "Idol" is something I'm very proud of."

Agnes about the songs on her international album
"Secret Love"
- We wrote that new for England. I like it very much. Just like "Release Me" it went really fast to record, sometimes it may be that those songs are those that are most popular.

"I need you now"
- It´s not a new song but an upbeat version. I recorded a video for it in a desert outside of LA. It was pretty sick to play in there. We started at four o'clock in the morning and it was freezing cold. At midday, it was so hot that we had to take a break.

"Sometimes I forget"
- It's a track I have always liked just because it is about my family. I want them to know that I love them even though I may be a bit dizzy at times. When my sister heard the first time she began to cry.

"You rain "
- It's a beautiful song. I have not recorded so many ballads on the album because I wanted this latest version to be a little more upbeat. But when I heard this song I really wanted to record it.

"Big Blue Wall"
- Also an upbeat version. I feel almost that it was better.

Aftonbladet.se (Translation by AWW)