Tour

Frankfurter Rundschau’s interview with Per Gessle and Lena Philipsson

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Boris Halva from Frankfurter Rundschau did an interview with Per and Lena on their press day in Cologne, Germany.

Boris Halva: – Per, when did you first feel like you wanted to return to the stage with Roxette?

Per Gessle: – It took quite a while. After we decided to end Roxette in 2016, I wasn’t sure how things would go. I then talked to Marie about her thoughts. She said I could do whatever I wanted, probably because she knew I wouldn’t do anything with Roxette that wasn’t in line with her wishes. When she passed away in 2019, I let a few years pass. And at some point, I realized that I really missed playing Roxette songs. They are simply an important part of my life.

BH: – You played those songs for three decades, a long time.

PG: – Absolutely. And I knew that if I were to play those songs again, I would have to start from scratch. Coincidentally, I was recording a Swedish album with a lot of duets at the time, and one of my singing partners was Lena. When I was working with her in the studio, I realized that she has what it takes to sing Roxette songs, because you have to be a truly fantastic singer to bring those songs to stage. Especially because that also means replacing Marie. That’s a huge challenge. So I called Lena and asked if we could meet – and when we met, I asked her, “What do you think about going on tour with me and playing the old Roxette songs?”

BH: – And what did you think, Lena?

Lena Philipsson: – My first thought was also – Per just said it – that this was a really tricky situation. Precisely because I would be replacing Marie, which might not go down well with the fans…

BH: – Do you know what the fans think about it?

PG: – When we announced it, there were, of course, some fans who didn’t know what to think about Lena singing those songs. But most people who came to the concerts were thrilled by Lena’s talent and the way we pay homage to Roxette’s legacy together. And that doesn’t surprise me, because anyone who has never seen or heard Lena on stage will definitely be surprised.

BH: – So, Lena, you don’t regret joining Roxette despite your initial doubts?

LPh: – No, I was very flattered that Per asked me – and I quickly realized I wasn’t going to say no. I also found it exciting; I liked the feeling of embarking on an adventure. And once I accepted, I immediately focused on the work and simply put everything else aside.

BH: – Aside from the thrill of the adventure: Was it harder to find your place in the band – or to accept that you would always be “the other singer”, in a way part of an illusion?

LPh: – It was both at the same time: integrating myself into an existing project and being myself, staying myself, while still showing respect to Marie, the songs, the fans – everything that defines Roxette. I listened to the songs in the original recordings over and over again to really learn every phrase so that it would sound the way it should for the audience. Because the truth is, I’m new to the band, and I thought that was enough change on stage. So I’m staying as close to the original as possible. I want it to seem as natural as possible, that I’m here where Marie was. And somehow still is. I want her to be proud of what’s happening here and say, “Yes, that’s exactly how it should be!” That’s what it’s all about for me.

BH: – Your first tour took you to Australia and South Africa in the spring. Did the distance from Sweden make it easier to make a fresh start on stage with Roxette?

PG: – Yes, in retrospect, it was a really good idea. Lena is very well-known in Sweden, and people associate certain things and songs with her. Performing so far away had the advantage of removing all that. So we could go for the knockout in the first round, so to speak. And those shows were fantastic! Logistically, they were tricky, because it was the first time we were on stage together and we didn’t really know how each other would behave. I thought, ‘Ah, she goes left in “Dressed for Success”, good to know…’

LPh: – Although that wasn’t really about choreography, it was more about getting to know each other on stage, recognizing the patterns.

PG: – We also interact with the audience, quite naturally, at a certain point in the song. But sometimes we both tried to do it at the same time, which is totally unnecessary. You can’t really rehearse something like that, but it worked out wonderfully. And my teeth are all still okay, even though we bumped into each other quite a bit now and then… Hahaha.

LPh: – I just always put my hand on Per’s shoulder now when I’m standing behind his back, so he doesn’t suddenly turn around and knock me over with his guitar!

BH: – Sounds like you’re having fun…

LPh: – Oh yes, we are!

PG: – And it’s really great to have the classic Roxette band together again, at least the ones who are still alive, all those old friends we played with on the big tours. And for them, it’s great to have Lena on stage. Everyone is happy, has a smile on their face. It’s like it used to be.

BH: – Per, Roxette’s music has been part of the pop universe for almost four decades. You wrote those songs in the ’80s and ’90s, which were quite optimistic and carefree, especially in Europe. The songs are the same, but the world has changed dramatically. When you play the songs today, doesn’t it sometimes feel like your music is out of date?

PG: – It depends. I remember, as a child, always talking to my parents about what they were like in their 20s and 30s and what it was like for them 30 years later. I guess that’s true for every generation. But I also know that I wouldn’t be able to write those songs the same way today: not only because I’m older, but also because that kind of music wouldn’t work the same way anymore. People don’t write songs the way they used to. It’s a completely different thing. What we did in the ’80s and ’90s was totally coherent and unique, just like Bryan Adams did something completely unique, and we still benefit from that because there’s nothing comparable. Or when was the last time you heard of a rock band that started in some basement and became big? That doesn’t exist anymore.

LPh: – So I can totally understand why people want to reconnect with the feeling they had back then through songs from earlier times.

PG: – Yes, exactly! But for today’s generations, I think it’s completely different, because pop culture was so present in the ’60s and ’70s, everything was interconnected: art, fashion, film, theatre, photography, music, poetry – pop culture was powerful and had a much greater influence on society. Today, everything is so polarized, and everyone is constantly busy with this (holds up his smartphone). You keep in touch with your friends, but you only check the news you want to read. It’s a completely different way of life. That’s why I think it’s really difficult for artists today to build a repertoire like Roxette’s. And that’s not because Roxette is better, but because of the environment, the way things work today. That’s perhaps one of the reasons why we still sell so many tickets. As you said, Lena, people want to hear these songs. Those who grew up with these songs miss this music.

BH: – Speaking of teenage years: Per, your first band was a punk band. You refused military service – sounds like a rebel at first. How did this rebel start singing about love and heartbreak instead of criticizing politics and the system?

PG: – I’d say every teenager is a rebel, but I wasn’t really one. I was always a fan of melodic pop music, even when I was very young. My older brother taught me a lot about the sixties, “Love” and “Small Faces” and things like that. And when I got my first guitar, I played glam rock, T. Rex and Bowie, Led Zeppelin. But for me, it was always about melodies and atmosphere, the combination of melody and lyrics. I started writing lyrics long before I started making music; I’ve always been interested in poetry and song lyrics. Do you remember, Lena, your first lyric was written by me?

LPh: – Yes, I know.

PG: – It wasn’t that good…

LPh: – But the song was good.

PG: – You were good!

LPh: – Good enough, I’d say…

BH: – So you jumped straight into the music business – or did you learn something sensible beforehand, as they like to say in Germany?

PG: – It depends on how you look at it. Basically, pop music has been everything in my life since I was six or seven. I didn’t have many friends. I always had my headphones on, listening to music, writing something. A school friend happened to be playing in a band, and I went to a rehearsal with him – and that completely changed my life. I was standing in this small room, the band was making a hell of a racket, and I thought, “This is exactly what I want to do!” And the drummer, Mats, became my first real friend. Together we formed Gyllene Tider, which became the biggest band in Sweden in 1980. We wrote the songs together, I wrote the lyrics, and we did a lot of promotion, sending cassettes to radio stations and labels. Björn and Benny from ABBA turned us down, but eventually we got a record deal with EMI, and the first single became a number one hit. We had only played six shows in front of an audience before we reached number one in the charts. So it happened very quickly – and was over very quickly, too. Four years later, I was more or less left with nothing: the band broke up, and I recorded a few solo albums that weren’t so well received. And then, in 1986, Marie and I came up with the idea of ??founding Roxette. And the rest is history.

BH: – Speaking of history: In recent years, there have been repeated discussions, especially in the US, because some musicians and singers didn’t want their songs played at political party campaign events. Do you also receive requests from people who want to use your songs for campaigns whose goals or stances you don’t share?

PG: – It happens, not often, but it does happen. But when people ask me if they can use my songs, I always say no.

BH: – Why so categorical?

PG: – Because I don’t want to stand up for something I know nothing about. Especially when the request comes from another country where I don’t know how things work, because I don’t live there. Sometimes they use the songs anyway, which I find really annoying, because you should respect the person who wrote the song. Additionally, I’m not a particularly political person, and it’s not because I don’t have any interest. I just don’t want to put my energy into political discussions. I never have, not even when I was younger. I’ve never officially spoken out in favour of this or that. But I do support certain things that I think are important.

BH: – For example?

PG: – If the soccer club in my town needs a bigger budget, because otherwise they can’t equip a new team of kids, things like that. But I don’t support any political ambitions or goals. I never really felt ready for it either, because I know that – especially when you’re famous or a public figure for whatever reason – the things you say mean so much to people you don’t know. I find that quite intimidating. I think as a star, you have to be careful and know what you’re doing and what you’re saying. I’m not saying this is the right path, it’s just the path that felt natural to me. Some people say loud and clear: I support this, I support that – and that’s fine. But that’s not who I am.

BH: – So you’ll continue to write and sing about love, heartbreak, and joyrides in convertibles…

PG: – It certainly seems so. But it’s not as one-dimensional as you make it out to be. Of course, hits like “Heartbreak”, “Love Gone Lost” or “Love Affair” are about love. But my songs are also about life, about loneliness, and what it does to you. Especially in my Swedish songs – I’m simply better at writing in Swedish than in English – I write a lot about my childhood, my parents, the things that have happened in my life. And it’s also a bit too simplistic to say that Roxette is all about love. Because it’s more than that. Also because working with Marie definitely changed my songwriting.

BH: – In what way?

PG: – Not only was I able to write better melodies after we started Roxette. I also started writing lyrics from a different, female perspective, which was challenging for me. Sometimes while writing, I thought maybe I should use a different word. Or I’d call Marie and ask, “What do you think of that sentence?” And she’d say, “No, that doesn’t suit me”, so I changed it. She always asked this question: What’s the other person like? What do they have that I don’t?

BH: – So it’s about empathy?

PG: – Exactly. But this “What’s the other person like, what do they feel, what do they want?” question is an important one anyway, not just when a relationship breaks down. But I don’t always overthink it; I just write it down. And you never know when you write something if it will work. You never know if it will touch people. You’re basically always writing it for yourself. And to find some kind of meaning in this little bubble you’re in by writing this song. You try to do your best and make it make sense somehow. And above all, you have to start from scratch every time.

All interview text is written by Boris Halva for Frankfurter Rundschau in German. Here it is a translation by RoxBlog.

Photo by Fredrik Etoall

Per Gessle and Lena Philipsson for Världens Barn

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Världens Barn started in 1997 and is Sweden’s broadest fundraising campaign for children’s rights around the world. The annual campaign’s gala is on SVT on 3rd October.

Världens Barn is a collaboration between public service and Radiohjälpen together with several Swedish civil society organizations*. The fundraising work around Sweden is organized by a special national fundraiser that coordinates commitment and volunteers across the country.

Since its inception in 1997, Världens Barn has collected a total of over two billion SEK.

By donating at least 50 SEK to Världens Barn, you can both contribute to children’s rights around the world and have a chance to win unique, fantastic prizes. One of the prizes is a meet & greet with Lena + Per after the Roxette In Concert show in Stockholm on 5th December! Ticket for the show is also included.

Donate HERE until 12:00 CET on 7th October and you’ll have a chance to win!

Watch Per and Lena talking about the fundraising in THIS VIDEO!

EXPRESS.de interview with Per Gessle and Lena Philipsson – “Marie’s spirit is felt all the time”

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EXPRESS.de met Per Gessle and Lena Philipsson in Cologne to talk about the Roxette comeback and memories of Marie Fredriksson.

EXPRESS.de: – Roxette’s last concert with Marie took place in Cape Town in February 2016. Your return took place in exactly the same hall in February 2025. Was that intentional?

Per Gessle: – It just happened that way. But it was definitely special to play these shows. It was the first time we shared the stage together. We had to get used to each other.

EXPRESS.de: – And how did it feel?

Lena Philipsson: – I was very nervous at first. It was my first time standing in front of the fans. I told myself several times: slow down, don’t stress, think about the lyrics, hit every note, and watch the audience. It worked out well. The reaction was really positive. I was already more relaxed by the second show.

Per Gessle: – I didn’t shed any tears, but it was very emotional. It was a big step for us to restart Roxette and have someone else sing the songs instead of Marie. It could have ended badly. But we know the quality of the songs and the original band. Everyone enjoyed it very much, and it’s not like five people in five cars drive to the venue and play a show there. I’m now certain that it was the right decision to come back.

EXPRESS.de: – Did you hesitate for a long time when Per asked you to take on the task?

Lena Philipsson: – Yes, I thought about it for several weeks and asked many family members and friends if I should do it. Everyone thought it was a fantastic idea. That’s when I knew I had to say yes to this adventure. I listened to the songs many times to learn exactly how Marie sang them. It’s not about me doing my own thing. I wanted to be as close to the original.

EXPRESS.de: – You’re doing a great job. The songs sound live just like they did three decades ago.

Per Gessle: – I’m so happy you say that. Because that was our goal. When the idea was born, it was clear to me that we didn’t want to change anything about the sound or the presentation. We wanted to bring Roxette back the way the fans loved the band. Essentially, we’re paying tribute to the great songs by reviving the old hits. There are no covers, no new material. And that feels good.

EXPRESS.de: – Are you planning to record new songs together?

Per Gessle: – We’ve produced songs together, but not as Roxette. Only the old classics will be available under that name.

EXPRESS.de: – You’ve been active in music for 40 years. How closely did you follow Roxette back then?

Lena Philipsson: – You could never escape the songs; they were everywhere. I made my own songs, toured, appeared on TV, and participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. We all know in Sweden how successful the band was. I even danced to their songs in the club.

EXPRESS.de: – How did the fans react when they heard about the comeback?

Per Gessle: – The majority were happy. But there were also some who expressed criticism, especially on social media. The most important thing: there weren’t any negative comments from the people who saw our show afterward. Those who were there loved how Lena followed in Marie’s footsteps.

EXPRESS.de: – Is there a moment at the concerts when Marie is remembered?

Lena Philipsson: – I dedicate “It Must Have Been Love” to her. When I sing that, I think of her especially strongly. That’s why we’re bringing her back into the show at that moment.

Per Gessle: – For everyone, for the fans, for the band, Marie is there the whole time. When I think of songs like “Fading Like A Flower”, “Listen To Your Heart” or “Spending My Time”, she’s such a big part of it, even when she’s not there. Her spirit is there the whole time.

EXPRESS.de: – Songs from the ’80s and ’90s are still very popular. What’s the secret to their success?

Per Gessle: – I might sound like an old man talking about it, but I miss personality in modern songs. Current music is more pressed into structures and is not allowed to unfold.

Lena Philipsson: – The melodies used to be more memorable, too.

Per Gessle: – Many songs are written by producers, not by the artists. When a singer writes a song, they reveal something personal. That can’t happen when six people are tinkering with a song. Bands used to have more control over their songs.

Lena Philipsson: – When people come to our concerts, they travel back into the good old days.

Per Gessle: – And they remember how they celebrated at school, got married, or had children to our songs. This creates a bond and shows that we have accompanied them for a really long time of their lives.

Interview with Per Gessle and Lena Philipsson by Music Media Magazine, Hungary – “I hope Marie is proud of us from up there…”

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György Danev from Music Media Magazine did an interview with Per and Lena via Zoom.

Music Media: – Per, it was a huge surprise when you announced the re-launch of Roxette last year. However, the joyful news immediately raised the question: isn’t it too risky without Marie Fredriksson?

Per Gessle: – Well, I’ve been toying with this idea for a while. For years I couldn’t decide what to do with Roxette, because I knew that Marie couldn’t be replaced. She left a huge void, and as you said, continuing without Marie as Roxette was a risk that I didn’t dare to take for a long time. Years passed, but I decided to give the band a rest, while at the same time I was increasingly saddened by the fact that the Roxette catalogue was lying fallow and that I was unable to tour. Those songs are the backbone of my career, they are a life’s work, and I obviously didn’t want to end the story prematurely. Life finally offered me the solution: it so happened that when I was working on an album of duets in the studio for the Swedish market, Lena appeared among the many guest singers. The work together went amazingly well, and Lena’s vocal performance literally took my breath away. She provided an incredible quality, and I didn’t need anything more: I immediately started wondering if she could possibly do justice to Roxette’s songs. You have to know that from a vocal technique point of view, songs like “Queen Of Rain”, “Listen To Your Heart” or “It Must Have Been Love” are very tricky, it’s not easy to sing them properly. I mulled it over for a few days, then I called Lena to ask what she thought about joining forces in Roxette, whether she would take on the challenge. Of course, she didn’t answer right away, she let me stew in my own juices for a bit! (laughs)

Lena Philipsson: – I did ask for some time to think, but only a few days. I was really surprised when Per asked me the question. Of course, I was aware of the situation Roxette was in, which was caused by the loss of Marie, and it was also clear to me that it would create a complicated situation if I said yes. I couldn’t know in advance what the world would say to it. At the same time, I also felt that it would not be just any adventure that I simply could not say no to. So I nodded and then I dug into the songs to give my best on the tour.

Per: – When Lena agreed to the collaboration, I immediately called the members of Roxette’s old touring band, so guitarist Jonas Isacsson, keyboardist Clarence Öfwerman and the others. First, we gathered in my office, where we started to revive a few songs acoustically, just to find the right tones and see what the mood was. Needless to say, we were immediately on the same wavelength, we felt fantastically at home in each other’s company, and the songs came to life wonderfully. Then we started the regular rehearsals, and it became absolutely clear to me that this line-up had a lot of potential. We have been through twenty-five concerts so far, and I can only say that after so many years of absence, it is a huge gift for me to be back on stage as a member of Roxette, surrounded by the support of Lena and my old colleagues, not to mention the devotion of the fans! I hope Marie is proud of us from up there…

Music Media: – Lena, you have a fantastic vocal talent, that’s a known fact. How well did you find the songs to suit you when you started singing them?

Lena: – Actually, we changed the keys of some songs to fit my vocal range. Marie’s vocal range was basically higher than mine, and we couldn’t ignore that when putting together the show. But these were just small tweaks, nothing drastic. You know, I come from the eighties: my career started in 1986, and in that era you had to be able to sing powerfully in the high ranges. Stable vocal sustain and the right tone were also a basic requirement live. Marie represented the same school, and since we started almost at the same time, the world of Roxette was quite close to mine, so it wasn’t difficult for me to take on the role. I had no doubts about whether I could live up to the expectations, on the contrary: I was sure that it would be a great experience to sing these wonderful songs, so I couldn’t wait for the tour to start. Of course, I also knew that it was a huge responsibility to sing Marie’s themes, so I tried to stay as faithful as possible to the original album versions. That’s what the fans all want to hear, so I couldn’t disappoint them.

Music Media: – How were the last live rehearsals before the tour started in South Africa in early 2025?

Per: – Everything went as smoothly as possible…

Lena: – That’s true, because I was so damn prepared! (laughs)

Per: – That’s really how it was! Lena has always been extremely disciplined and collected, which was new to us at first because Marie has never been! (laughs) She was a completely different person, she followed her own rules… This time we came to the rehearsal room with a long list and went through all the songs that were on it. They couldn’t have sounded better, but many of them ended up in the trash anyway. The final touches before a tour are not just about rehearsing the setlist quickly: you have to find the main direction and then throw out the compositions that don’t fit the concept.

Music Media: – Lena, which song turned out to be the hardest to sing from a technical point of view?

Lena: – “Spending My Time” is definitely the most difficult song in the show, and we’re also performing it acoustically now, with Per accompanying us on guitar. What can I say, it doesn’t make it any easier for me to play it so raw, so stripped-down, but it still provides an unforgettable experience, as it leads to a huge sing-along with the audience at every concert.

Per: – “Spending My Time” has always been a special piece in the repertoire. It describes a unique arc as it builds, and the lyrics fit it very well: the story of the song begins in the morning and ends in the evening. The story is familiar to most people, it’s easy to relate to. This song is especially popular in South America.

Lena: – As incredible as it is, I’ve never noticed this time motif in the song before, but now I know it! (laughs)

Per: – “What’s the time? Seems it’s already morning…” – and that’s how it starts! You still have a lot to learn in terms of lyrics, I see! (laughs) Seriously, the song is a very important pillar of the setlist, and it works really well in this stripped-down acoustic form, like we’ve been playing at the last few shows.

Music Media: – How did the first performance together in South Africa go? Did the audience accept the new line-up straight away?

Per: – We were all quite nervous… But maybe that’s not the right word, I’d rather say that every nerve fibre in our body was tense with concentration.

Lena: – That’s right. This was especially true for me, because as we went on stage, I was focusing on everything at once: trying to read the audience’s reaction, while also having to pay attention to Per and the others. I needed maximum concentration so that I didn’t short-circuit, or forget a verse, for example. In addition, I also had to stay on track in terms of vocal technique, because overdoing a song is just as bad as simplifying it. I had to find the right proportions.

Per: – For me, Lena’s presence was something new that I had to get used to, because we had never been on stage together before. We had to pay attention to each other’s movements, which is also important for communicating with the audience. I also had to learn things like Lena starting “Dressed For Success” on the left side of the stage, but the same thing happened to Marie when we did our first tour in the mid-eighties. We bumped into each other on stage several times, and Marie almost knocked my tooth out with her elbow once, but these are inherent in concerting, in energetic stage work! (laughs) However, the interactions started right from the beginning with Lena, we had a great time at the first concert. The band was very tight, it was obvious, the audience picked up on it too. There was a feverish excitement in the air, which has not subsided since seeing the love of the fan base: the technical staff of the tour is just as enthusiastic as the band members, everyone can’t wait for the next concerts! Our fellow musicians are constantly asking when we’re going to rehearse, everyone is so pumped up! You know, we’ve been doing this for a very long time, almost forty years, and yet the magic of performing can still affect us with renewed force. Suddenly we’re back on a world tour, selling out a lot of tickets night after night, the reception from the audience couldn’t be better, and that motivates everyone. We feel like we’re part of something timeless. Sometimes I have to pinch myself if I’m not dreaming. We’re incredibly grateful that this tour can happen and that we can do what we love the most again.

Music Media: – The second leg of the European leg of the tour will start soon, this leg will start in Budapest on November 4th…

Per: – Exactly, and I can’t wait to eat a good goulash again! (laughs) Budapest is a wonderful place, it always makes me happy to perform there. The audience is fantastically supportive, but I can say this about all the cities where we perform: the Roxette camp is extremely loyal and full of positive energy everywhere. We are one big, happy family with our fans, we feel that everywhere.

Music Media: – Lena, have you ever been to Hungary?

Lena: – No, never, but that’s exactly why I’m really looking forward to the Budapest concert!

Music Media: – Looking at the setlist that you used for the first half of the tour, well, even as a big fan I couldn’t have put together a more perfect show: you performed all the famous songs, as well as several secret favourites, such as “Almost Unreal”, “Fading Like A Flower” and “Queen Of Rain”. Can we expect this for the upcoming concerts as well?

Per: – Basically yes. Before the autumn European tour, there will be another intensive rehearsal period, which will last about a week. That’s when we will finalize the setlist plan and try out several songs that haven’t been performed so far. We’ll see what works and what doesn’t, but the setlist will probably be 90 percent the same as what we played in the summer. When we’re on tour, we always experiment with the setlist: we try songs we haven’t played before, we change the order of the songs, it’s like trying to put together a puzzle. The goal is always to find the most optimal dynamic and best-rounded show. Once we get there, we don’t really vary much from there. Since we’re two singers, it’s also important to divide the tasks: if Lena happens to sing a big ballad, it makes sense for me to carry the next song on my back. As you said yourself, this is a setlist that’s close to perfect. It works well with the audience, it has the right flow, so I don’t think we’ll change it significantly for the rest of the tour.

Music Media: – Will you continue to perform in 2026?

Per: – Yeah, that’s the plan. Hopefully nothing will get in the way.

Music Media: – Have you ever thought about recording new songs in the studio?

Per: – Not really. You know, I’d rather keep the existing catalogue in the public eye by touring all over the world. If I were to write new songs, I’d have to tour with them, and that would mean taking some of the old songs out of the show, but we can’t do that. Roxette concerts will definitely be about evergreens for a while!

Music Media: – What message do you have for the Hungarian fans?

Per: – As I said, I’m always happy to play in Budapest, and this time we’re going to throw a party that no one will soon forget!

Interview with Per Gessle and Lena Philipsson about the Roxette In Concert tour in Blikk, Hungary

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Blikk did an interview with Per and Lena on Friday via Zoom. The Roxette In Concert tour’s first autumn show will happen in Budapest on 4th November.

Blikk: – The return of Roxette surprised everyone. Why did you feel like you had to continue with the band?

Per Gessle: – For many, many years I couldn’t decide what to do with Roxette, so this is a really big step for me. Then a few years ago I realized that I was a little sad that I couldn’t perform the songs that I had written for Roxette over the course of three decades. I tried to find a way to continue, but I didn’t really know what to do. In 2024 I made a Swedish album with Lena on it. When we worked together in the studio, I realized that she had the ability and the knowledge to sing Roxette songs. I just felt that out of all the people I had met so far, she was the first one who could really do it. I thought about it for a while, and then I met Lena and I presented my idea to her, which made her completely pale of course. But then we just tried it. We rehearsed some acoustic songs with some of the members of Roxette and they sounded great. Lena was a really good choice, she sings these songs just amazingly.

Blikk: – Lena, what was your first thought when Per asked you to join this project? It’s quite a challenge to step into Marie’s shoes.

Lena Philipsson: – It’s definitely a challenge. And it’s not that easy, because I know that when I go on stage, I’m not the person people really want to see. They want to see Marie, but unfortunately she’s not with us anymore. So someone else has to sing the songs, and that someone is me. In that sense, it’s a bit complicated. At the same time, Per’s request was flattering, almost impossible to refuse. And then, once I said yes, from then on, I just tried to focus on what I had to do and do my job as best as I could, considering the uniqueness of the situation. I really wanted to keep the original version of the songs as much as possible, so as not to cause any confusion for anyone, because it’s already a big difference to see a different person on stage, who might move differently and look different. It was important to me not to change any of the songs, but to show respect to Marie, Per and the fans by keeping the original. Our South African premiere was of course quite nerve-wracking. I tried to pay attention to the atmosphere in the venue to get a feel for what the band was doing, what we were doing on stage and how the audience was reacting. That’s where I started. But I think the feedback was positive from the very beginning. And from there, everything just got better and better.

Blikk: – We’ve seen other bands continue working with a new singer – most recently with Linkin Park. What do you think is the most important thing for it to work well?

Lena: – I can only speak about our own situation – for me it’s about showing respect for the music. I mean, I try to blend in, because it’s Per’s project, and I try not to take control of it. Just pay attention to the mood and listen to what the flow dictates. I don’t know how to explain it – you just have to be yourself as much as possible, instead of trying to be someone else. Give yourself and be honest in what you do.

Blikk: – Do you remember when the moment came when you felt comfortable in this role?

Lena: – After the second concert, I felt that everything was OK, that it was working. Now I can go out and be myself even more, giving myself more space. So it happened pretty quickly. The band, Per and I were working together for the first time – as musicians, we had to get to know each other on stage. But in terms of the setlist and the things that happened on stage, as we played together, it got better and better. So I think I got used to it pretty quickly.

Blikk: – Which song is the hardest for you to perform together?

Lena: – I would say “Spending My Time”, because it’s just me and Per on stage. He plays the guitar while I sing, which is very stripped down and revealing at the same time – so that’s an important moment. Also, singing “It Must Have Been Love” is very important to do perfectly, but I’ve learned it pretty well. Now I have more favourites: I really like “Listen To Your Heart”, for example, it’s pure joy for me to sing it, and I don’t think of it as complicated anymore. I just want to do a good job. We’re over the difficulties.

Per: – I think the best thing about the whole line-up is that we have a lot of fun and we feel good together on stage. The band members are also very enthusiastic. Lena’s presence and being able to perform the songs again is very inspiring for them. I tried to gather all the key figures from Roxette’s past, like guitarist Jonas Isacsson. Clarence Öfwerman, our producer, is still with us. I think that ultimately it is a tribute to Roxette and its legacy, and for that to happen we have to enjoy what we do. For me that is the most important thing, because if we have fun, the audience will have fun too.

Blikk: – What’s the goal of the project, besides playing old Roxette songs? Are there any plans to write new songs in the future?

Per: – No. I think the point of Roxette is to perform old songs. That’s all we do. By the way, we have made music together before, and maybe we will in the future, but I don’t think we will do it under the name Roxette.

Blikk: – You will also perform in Budapest in November. You just mentioned “Listen To Your Heart” – this is the song that probably every Hungarian knows, because from 1990 onwards a political party in Hungary started using it for its campaign and other events. Sometime around 1992 you said in an interview that you had heard about it. Were you ever worried that people would automatically associate your song with a party, forgetting its original message and content?

Per: – Well, first of all – looking back – I don’t like it when people use songs without permission. In the past, we were not asked about it at all. What happened in Hungary is a very unique situation, I have never experienced anything like this anywhere else. We have always tried to stay away from politics, because we don’t fully understand the countries and their political situation. I think if anyone had asked me if I would license one of my songs to a political party or movement, I would have definitely said no, without taking a stand for the left or the right. Because that’s how I operate and that’s how I work. I think copyright should be respected and the person who owns it or wrote the song should be asked first before they use it. That’s what I think.

Blikk: – There was a case a few years ago –  the same party used your song at a political event, and they even uploaded a video of it on Facebook, but because of copyright, that video was removed. Have you heard about that case?

Per: – I didn’t know about that, but I know that our record label, Warner Music, took legal action against it, because for them it’s the same situation: copyright infringement. You can have any political views, but ultimately it’s about how laws and rights work. As I said, I don’t have any other experience, so I can’t give you any other examples – it’s a unique thing. And I don’t really like being in the middle of things that I didn’t choose.

Blikk: – Let’s get back to the concert. You’ve been touring for a while now, how is the audience reaction?

Per: – We’ve done 25 shows so far, and they’ve been just fantastic. When we started, we were still wondering what happens if it doesn’t work out? On the one hand, what happens if people don’t buy tickets? On the other hand, what happens if they don’t like Marie being replaced by someone else? So many things could have turned out differently, but it turned out the opposite. Even the most dedicated fans have started to get to know Lena, appreciate what she does, and everyone leaves the concerts with a smile on their face. We have a huge catalogue of songs that people have grown up with and that have become part of their everyday lives – I think that’s just amazing, and it’s also a very rare thing. It’s really fantastic that I’ve found a way to carry on Roxette’s songs and that they are accepting it like that.

Blikk: – What message do you think the audience will take away from the fact that Roxette’s legacy lives on?

Per: – I don’t know if there is any specific message. But I’m a songwriter after all – I started writing songs when I was a teenager and I still do that basically today. I feel lucky to have had so much success all over the world in my life, and if my music and lyrics still mean something to so many people globally, that’s really fantastic. I hope that the people who come to our concerts get their reward from us on stage – something that adds value to their lives and that we can be a part of. Some people got married to our songs, some people gave birth to their children, and some people listened to “Joyride” on their way to school. These are just small fragments of some people’s lives, but we are part of them. It’s amazing to see that our music means so much to others.

Find the dates and links to ticket sales sites HERE!