Feeds
Congratulations on being number one in the UK. Has the single's success taken you by surprise?
"No s**t! This is totally huge - I can't really understand the size of everything; it's way beyond my expectations."
Why do you think we've taken to the song so much?
"You know, I don't know so much about the UK and the people living there. Maybe it's just the right time for this song? In Sweden we call this sort of song "moped techno". When you turn 15 in Sweden, you're allowed to drive a moped, and then everyone starts listening to techno music while driving around on their moped."
How did you get involved in music?
"I don't want to be a whiner, but I had a kinda rough childhood. I wasn't living in the ghetto, and I had a wonderful family, but I suffered a lot of bullying and didn't have many friends. During my high school years I changed school four times, because I couldn't really get along anywhere. The computer kinda became my best friend, because the computer doesn't complain about how you look or how you speak. When I was in music class at 15 or 16, my music teacher showed us the new music program for computers. I installed it on my computer at home and became totally interested in it. That's how it all started."
Why did you choose the name Basshunter?
"Because the name 'asshunter' was already taken."
That leads me neatly to the next question... how are you feeling about those revealing photos being posted on the internet?
"I'm feeling terrific about that. I only wish it had been touched up on Photoshop - my skin could have been a bit browner and my muscles a bit bigger. They're amateur photos of me with my ex-girlfriend when I was, like, 17. It was five years ago now."
Do you know how they found their way into the internet?
"I know who did that, yes. I was at a beach party in my hometown, drinking beer all day, and we came home at eight in the morning - me, my ex-girlfriend and two friends. Me and my ex-girlfriend were going to go to sleep, but she said: 'Shag me baby! F**k me baby!' and suddenly a digital camera popped up and all these photos were taken."
So it was one of your friends?
"I lost contact with this guy about three years ago, and then these photos popped up. From what I've heard, he sold them to the press in Sweden. All I can say is it doesn't affect at all, because I'm not a shy guy, I love sex and I have a large penis. I have nothing to be ashamed of. In the Swedish newspapers, they compared me to Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson because of that kinda porno attention they get, which I'm honoured about. They have ten times bigger t**ties than I have, but I'm still in the same category."
Is it true, off the back of the pictures, you've been offered a role in an adult movie?
"I have been getting a lot of those kind of offers, but the price hasn't really been right. For my penis, I expect at least £1.5 million."
That's the minimum...
"If someone can pay me that, I'll do it, but with a Santa Claus mask on my face, of course."
Basshunter's single 'Now You're Gone' is out now.
