Interviewed by: Kaamaakshi Bhat (Zirakpur, Punjab) and Deena Jasmine (Chikmagalur, Karnataka)

Edited by: Jayati Bhardwaj, Delhi

Meet Swedish sensation Erik Gabriel Henrik Brunell Brandes (Gabriel Brandes), a multi-talented singer and songwriter who has made a significant impact in the K-POP Industry with his creative endeavours. He has collaborated with famous artists like BTS, SEVENTEEN, ZEROBASEONE, STRAYKIDS, TXT, ENHYPEN, SHINEE, NCT and many others. Brandes has gathered immense recognition. His remarkable achievements include a nomination for the “Breakthrough of the Year” category at the Musikforlaggarnas Pris Awards. With over 2 billion streams and views on Spotify and YouTube, Brandes has become a groundbreaking music creator. We at Hallyuism had the opportunity to converse with this genius, whose songs has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. Let us delve into the article now and know more about his journey.

Could you please give a brief introduction to our readers and give an insight into your journey so far in the K-pop industry?

Of course! It has been a long journey to get where I am today. I started writing music after I quit my artist project around 2012. It took me about 8-10 years before I could make a real living off songwriting alone. It has been a journey with many ups and downs; honestly, I have been close to quitting many times. But I guess if you do something long enough, it will eventually work out.

You have been nominated in the category “Breakthrough of the Year” at musikförläggarnas pris 2023. How does it feel to receive such recognition for your work?

It is super fun, of course. Although I’ve never been much for awards or prices, they have never been my driving force. It’s always delightful to receive recognition for what you do.

Congratulations on BTS’s “Take Two” success, debuting at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 at Billboard Global Excl US and #1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart! What was your reaction upon hearing the news of its chart performance?

Thank you! Having a single release with BTS alone was a massive milestone for me. The fact that it charted the way that it did was just another huge bonus, making the moment even more extraordinary and surreal.

You have co-written the title track “In Bloom” for ZEROBASEONE from their debut album. It has reached double million sales. Could you share the story behind the creative process of this song?

The story is pretty funny, actually. My Swedish friend and co-writer MLC and I received a track aimed for a new boygroup called “ZB1”. All we knew was that they had been a part of some TV show and were soon to release a debut album. We decided to jump on the song (thank god), and they loved the topline. We did so much that the song became the single on the album! I just had my second release with them (“SWEAT“), and I’m super grateful to be a part of their journey.

You have worked with artists such as ZEROBASEONE, BTS, SEVENTEEN, TXT, THE BOYZ, SHINee, Stray Kids, ENHYPEN, NCT Dream, NCT 127 and many more. Do you have any memorable experiences with any of these K-pop artists that you would like to share?

Since I am based in Stockholm, Sweden, I work predominantly from here. I rarely meet the artists I work with, but one great memory is when I met Jimin from BTS in the studio and played him some of my music that he loved. Who knows what that will lead to 😉

Collaborating with JUNG KOOK on Stay Alive must have been an exciting experience. Could you share any memorable moments from working on this song?

We got the finished instrumental sent to us, and I toplined it (wrote lyrics and melodies on it) online with my friends Arcades from London. I remember I was away visiting my parents for the weekend, so I had a minimal studio setup. Fortunately, I had my computer and an old gaming headset that I used to lay down some rough ideas from the bed in the guest bedroom. When I came home a few days later, I recorded the proper vocals for it. I guess sometimes, you don’t need a fancy studio and equipment to make a good song 🙂

“Shadow,” the song you co-wrote for SEVENTEEN’s repackage album Sector 17, topped three different Billboard charts. What inspired this track, and how does it feel to see it resonate so strongly with listeners?

SEVENTEEN are one of the biggest bands in the world right now, so being a part of that is obviously incredible. I just had my second release with them today— their new single called “Maestro“. Go check it out 🙂

How does it feel to be reaching over 2 billion streams and views as a songwriter on Spotify and YouTube? What did these metrics and achievements mean to you?

It’s mind-blowing. I think it’s 2.4 billion at this point. If you had told me three years ago that, I would have achieved those numbers by now… I wouldn’t have believed you. I’m incredibly grateful for a career that lets me do what I love.

Where and how do you find the inspiration to write? Who are some of the artists who inspire you to write?

I didn’t listen to K-pop until I started writing for the market. My early inspirations were artists such as Gavin Degraw, John Mayer, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, The Script, Stevie Wonder, Chris Brown, and Coldplay, to mention a few. Now that I have learned about the pop market, I realise there are so many great groups and artists!

How do you stay updated with current music trends and incorporate them into your work? Is there any music style/genre you have yet to try but would like to try in the future?

I listen to new stuff on Spotify. We also sometimes get song briefs from artists and labels when they’re looking for new songs. Those briefs tend to have reference songs that are great to listen to. They give an idea of what A&Rs and artists are looking for at the moment. As for the second question, I would love to do some more Western songs in the future.

Is there any artist you would like to work with, whether it be a K-Pop artist or any other Western artist?

I would love to write a song for EXO. They are an OG K-pop group that I’ve been following and trying to write for from the beginning of this journey. Apart from that, it would be a dream to have a song with any of the Western artists I just mentioned.

If you could recommend one of your songs to a new listener, which one would it be and why?

Oh, that’s a hard one since every person’s music preferences are different. But some of the songs I’m super proud of are Wake Me Up – BAP, Take Two – BTS, Thrill Ride – The Boyz, and Kai – Rover.

What advice do you have for aspiring songwriters and producers looking to make a mark in the music industry?

My advice to aspiring songwriters and producers is to realise early that even if you sign with a publisher, management, agent, etc., no one will do the work for you. You genuinely have to do the grind yourself and simultaneously think outside the box to stand out from everyone else doing the same thing. Also, working with people from other publishers or who have different connections gives you more angles from which your songs can get placed. Also, write A LOT of songs. I attempt to write between 100-120 songs per year. That way you will have a lot of songs in your catalogue and your skills will also improve rapidly. Also, always make sure to finish your songs.

Could you please elaborate a bit on your upcoming projects in 2024? What can the fans expect?

Unfortunately, I cannot reveal the songs/projects I am involved in until the labels have released the information themselves. But I can say it’s going to be a fantastic year with some big releases coming. 🙂 The ZB1 and SEVENTEEN singles are already out, along with a few more releases, so it’s been a pretty good start for me.

The Korean wave is growing rapidly in India, and many fans love listening to K-Pop. So, would you like to share a message with our Indian K-Pop fans?

That’s awesome. I’m glad to hear K-pop is spreading to India! I really want to visit India someday. 🙂 Thanks for listening to my songs; I really appreciate it!

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Once again, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your precious time and sharing insights about your journey. Thank you so much. On behalf of the entire team at Hallyuism, we wish you all the best for your future projects.

We hope you all loved reading this interview as much as we loved conducting it. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!