Korantemaa is primed to transition from Youtube star to a major player. We chatted to the rising talent about her studio essentials, Netflix habits and her morning ritual.

Korantemaa is following an increasingly popular path into the music industry, but one that wouldn’t have been possible not so long ago. Racking up 25 million views on Youtube while residing in a sleepy village in southern Sweden the young singer, songwriter found comfort and a sense of escapism in music.

Passionate about climate change, she wants to ensure the nature of her rise from internet stardom to the world stage is deliberate and genuinely ethical. Dreaming that she can perform, tour, connect with fans and avail of that good stuff that comes with a blossoming music career in a positive way.

A self-starter with uncompromising values, Korantemaa has defined her lane quickly both in terms of musicality and values. She recently dropped a beautifully transparent new EP ‘a place of substance’ that’s careful songwriting presents a sense of nostalgia for events you’ve never experienced, yet somehow feel connected to. We caught up with her for a quick chat!

You are fighting in the octagon, what song do you walk out to ?
’She’s a bitch’ by Missy Elliott.

What fact about you would surprise people?
I’m actually really, really short which usually surprises people.

What does retirement look like for you in the future?
I wanna live somewhere on the Italian countryside, or maybe south France, in a little house with a beautiful garden where I will grow fruits and vegetables and flowers. I will have long, grey hair and wear light and flowery dresses, and I will spend my days looking after the garden, going to the local market, learning a new language maybe, and doing creative things like painting and knitting and singing. And I will do it purely because I enjoy it, it will be prestigeless and relaxing and I won’t care at all about the outcome.

What is your morning ritual?
I wake up, check my phone, and get mentally prepared for getting out of bed. Then I usually eat breakfast right away, I mostly make it the night before so I won’t have to spend time on it in the morning. Then if I’m going somewhere I get ready, but otherwise I usually stay in my pyjamas for the rest of the day.

What movie / video game has the best soundtrack?
I actually love the Minecraft music. I never watch movies so I don’t know a lot about movie soundtracks, but I remember I liked the music for the 2013 movie The Great Gatsby when it came out.

Finish this sentence: You should never __________
You should never dye your hair when you’re in a hurry, and without wearing glasses or contact lenses. It won’t end well.

What is essential to have with you in the studio?
A water bottle, my phone, and a charger.

What is the last thing you watched on netflix/youtube/tv?
I’m currently watching Tiger King on Netflix and a lot of music production related content on Youtube.

What are you addicted to ?
Sugar. And Depop.

You have your own talk show, who is your first guest?
Barack Obama.

You are headlining Glastonbury, what are your most outrageous rider requests?
I want to have an endless supply of peanut butter M&M’s, no one is allowed to talk to me before the show unless it’s something important, I want to have at least three cats backstage for emotional support, and to start off the show I want to be lowered down from the roof of the stage while a symphonic orchestra plays.

The first album you bought?
I can’t remember if I’ve ever bought an album myself actually, I was still pretty young when CD’s and stuff were a thing. As a kid I usually got CD’s as gifts or I listened to my older sister’s ones. And then when I got to the age where I could buy some myself, Spotify got big so I remember we got it on my mom’s computer and that became my music source.

You can choose one artist to head up the government and subsequently save the country, who is it?
Solange.

You can rock the stage with any act past or present, who are you choosing?
Electric Banana Band.

What is your pet hate?
When someone spills something on the floor and doesn’t clean it up, especially when it’s something liquid. I absolutely HATE stepping in something wet or sticky.

Listen to ‘a place of substance’ below:

Photography: Bjørn Cliff