The new album Pink Velvet Theatre is a reintroduction to Benjamin Ingrosso. Vogue Scandinavia sits down with him – in a pink-furnished theatre, fittingly – to discuss his new sound and finally proving the naysayers wrong
Already on his fourth album at only 27 years old, Benjamin Ingrosso is a veteran in the music industry. But in many ways, this era feels like the true beginning for Ingrosso. Growing up in the public eye, he has spent his entire career trying to escape the 'nepo baby' label. When he released the first single of the year, 'Kite', it was clear the artist’s sound had crystallised into something far more true to himself. Last week he finally released his new album, Pink Velvet Theatre, marking a new musical beginning.
I meet Ingrosso at the Maxim Theatre in Stockholm a couple of hours before his album release event. True to the name of the album, the venue has been dressed in velvet carpets for the night, switching out the classic red for his signature pink. The stage is decorated with plush salmon-coloured sofas and mirrored floors. Just as much as the album feels like Ingrosso is arriving at his truest self, the choice of venue for the night was a given considering his love for theatre. “I first performed here in a musical when I was seven, and my mum, grandmother, grandfather, and uncle have also performed here, so this theatre is my childhood,” he says.
Ingrosso started writing the new album before completing 2022’s Playlist, which he admits didn’t reflect his sound and became a collection of hits with no real cohesiveness. This time around, it was important for him to look to himself and figure out what kind of music he wanted to make. “This is my baby, and it feels like it’s my first album ever,” he says.
Photo: Jonathan Perlmann