ALISHA HÖGLUND TALKS MODELING

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

How did you get your start as a model?

When I was sixteen, my mom secretly sent photos of me to several modeling agencies in Gothenburg. The photos were taken from my Instagram, so they weren’t polaroids or anything like that. We got responses very quickly and booked meetings. Shortly after, I landed my first agency.

Modeling has now taken you to Berlin, where you are signed with M4 Models?

I get along really well with them, they’re very kind! I would say it’s good. Of course, communication can sometimes be a bit challenging since I don’t speak German. Many people speak English, but naturally they mostly speak German with each other, so sometimes I feel a little “lost” if you will (laughs).

You are also an artist and released your first new single since 2021 this spring. How long have you been writing music?

I’ve been writing music since I was fourteen. Music has been with me my entire life. I’ve always loved singing and dancing. But when I started writing music, a whole new world opened up for me. I’m a very creative person and love juggling many things at once, but music will always be the thing closest to my heart.

Where the modeling world can often be superficial, is music an expression especially nice to have, is it a space where you can express more of who you are?

Yes, definitely! Music is really where I feel most at home. I took a three-year break and focused on other things because I moved from Gothenburg, where I had my producer. The journey to find the music I wanted to make took me three years. During those three years, music did not feel like a place where I could be myself. I would sit in sessions and make music that others thought I should make, that period helped me refine my songwriting skills, I feel like I can write a song in almost every pop genre now (laughs). It also helped me realize what I want and don’t want to say or do with my music.

You just followed up this spring’s comeback with ‘No Way’ which you wrote together with Bhima Yunusov and Ida Schönbeck, who's a fantastic artist in her own right. What song is this one?

This is an afro-beat or afro-pop song about never forgetting your worth and not taking anyone’s nonsense. I sing about a person who doesn’t know what they want and is playing with my feelings. To that, I say, “No Way.”

Your previous single was your debut in Swedish. Was that a one time thing, or will you mix releases in Swedish and English going forward?

It will be English from now on! I love ‘Låt oss gå’, but releasing in English is more my style.

How is your summer shaping up?

I will mostly be in the studio working on music. I have so many more songs on the way that I'm extremely excited to release. Now that I've gotten back into music, I'm so inspired.

Will we see you in any campaigns?

Regarding modeling it’s very possible you’ll see me somewhere, but unfortunately I can not share more than that right now.

Will you be back in Sweden some?

I’m often in Sweden for work, to see family, and so on. I travel back and forth a lot between Berlin and Sweden.

What would be some “highlights” from the creative path you’re on in general?

Oh, that’s a tough question! (laughs) I work very hard for my goals, and when I achieve them, I quickly move on to the next step. So to be honest, I rarely stop and reflect. I can not think of anything specific, but I’d say moving out at nineteen and managing to survive, and travel while doing things I love. Everything I work on are things I would do anyway, even if money weren’t involved, so it feels so luxurious to me to get to work on the things I love.