Enfnts Terribles

Hypothetically, if you’d have to change your artist name to something new, what would it be and why?

That’s like the hardest question I’ve ever been asked. It took me a year to get COBRAH so that’s something. I think I would pick something that isn’t a classical name and would perhaps choose something like a thing or animal because I like the spirit of not being so stuck to being a person. It would never be Amanda, and it’s just cool to be a thing.

Anno 2021, there are more multi-disciplinary artists than ever. How have you discovered your passion for music?

I discovered that I know where I want to be in five years. So I knew that I wanted to be an artist when I was in high school. I went to songwriting schools to learn how to write songs, and afterward, I knew that I wanted to put my music out and that nobody was fully supporting it. I had to learn how to have a label and then I wanted something to wear on stage. I couldn’t afford to buy really cool gear and had to learn how to make things myself. That’s always been the case with everything because I had to teach myself about fashion and aesthetics, in general, to be able to do it myself. But also, I think the whole DIY is fun because it gives you the maximum control over what you do, and I’m all about being a control freak.

You’ve done musical theatre when you were younger. How did that help you become a performer?

You learn a lot about culture and the whole campy thing as well, but I also learned a lot about performing, dancing, and theatre. It gave me a very good set of beginner skills to kind of move forward. Before studying musical theatre, I just used to study music in general. When I was a kid, I went to a special school where there’s a lot more music than science and maths. I tried a lot of different stuff to kind of figure out what I wanted to do. So I started musical theatre and found out that that’s the thing I wanted to do. It helps me now when it comes to performing to know something about what I’m doing.

However, “GOOD PUSS” is a real sex-positive anthem. Does being unapologetic in your songs help you gain confidence?

I would describe the genre of “GOOD PUSS” like ‘cunty’. It’s this thing where you talk about your pussy and genitals so that sexuality is a genre in itself. I think Peaches is the queen of doing that, so it’s definitely a sex-positive song. Somebody asked me recently if COBRAH was an alter ego or if it’s all me, but I think I’m me through COBRAH. It’s not something I separate.

I’ve always thought that confidence doesn’t come from within but from the outside in. Doing COBRAH is definitely a part of me acting it and taking it into my private self. It surely helps me a lot to have that safe space in the studio and expressing things. Especially because I’m a Swede and we have this mentality where you don’t see yourself better than any other. That’s a very internalized way of being, so it’s really nice to get out of that and be a place like in music where I’m better than others. Not really, of course, but I can kind of act on it in a way.

In your songs, you explore queer identity, mental health, and the power of self-confidence. Is there something specific you’ve learned while making your new EP COBRAH?

I learned that it’s okay to be a bit careless. I struggled with how important it has to be to not have a sincere message because the message is quite there. I learned that it doesn’t have to be a statement being who you are, or I don’t have to think about it as it being a huge statement. At least, what I want to convey with the EP is that it doesn’t really matter if you’re queer or who I sing these songs about. It’s the vibe, the self-indulgence, and the confidence.

All that is the true meaning, and I’ve learned that personally. It’s okay not to overthink your sexuality or make it a big statement but just live and roll with it. You can be loud and proud, but it shouldn’t be that big of a deal. I hope that my music doesn’t really turn heads just because I sometimes sing about girls. I just don’t know how relevant it is anymore or how much of a shock it is to be queer. I think we should get over that and just accept that people sing about people.

‘COBRAH’ is out now on all platforms!

Pictures by Ninja Hanna