INTERVIEW – Young Royals star Omar Rudberg

Troy Murphy:
He’s a music sensation in his own right, and he reached global fame, especially here in Australia, starring on the critically acclaimed Swedish teen drama hit Netflix TV show, Young Royals, and now the world has the pleasure to fall in love with him and discover his music, the music of the talent that is our next guest as he joins us here on the Troy Murphy Show to talk his latest single, it’s a single called, I’m So Excited. Omar Rudberg, welcome, my friend.

Omar Rudberg:
Thank you. Thank you so much.

Troy Murphy:
Now, is this your first Australian radio interview?

Omar Rudberg:
I think so, yeah. Yeah, it’s my first time I’m ever on doing a Australian interview. Yeah.

Troy Murphy:
Do you know much about Australia? Because you’ve got a lot of fans down here.

Omar Rudberg:
Really? I’m so happy to hear that. I’ve never been to Australia. I know a little bit about Australia, not that much. Actually, Australia is one of the places that I would really want to visit one day.

Troy Murphy:
Well, when you do, I’ll take you out on the town and I’ll show you everything that Sydney has to offer.

Omar Rudberg:
Awesome. Sounds great.

Troy Murphy:
Now, Omar, let’s talk about your music. You’ve released original music, you’ve released covers. What made you choose to cover your latest single, I’m So Excited?

Omar Rudberg:
Well, actually, I performed I’m So Excited with a live band called Cotton Club here in Sweden at a gay gala. Well, ghe Gay gala here in Sweden. After that, they have been asking me like, “Oh, can you please release it? Can you please release it?” Then we started working on it. Then we decided to release three different versions of the cover, because why not? People loved it. It’s just for fun. I love having fun with music. Yeah. It was just a really nice experience at the gala, so I had to release it after.

Troy Murphy:
Ah, it’s such a great song. It’s been on high rotate in my house for days now.

Omar Rudberg:
Oh, really?

Troy Murphy:
Yeah. I love it. I love it. Now, the Pointer Sisters who released the original song, their version is such a gay anthem. It’s a party classic across the world. In Australia, we call that handbag music here in the LGBT+ community in Australia. It’s such a feel good song. Do you hope that your version becomes a go-to party playlist song, or I guess nowadays, a trending TikTok sound?

Omar Rudberg:
Well, I released three different versions, so I feel like there’s a version for everybody in a single bundle. There’s one that is a slower version, a little sexier version, and there’s one that I think that you love a little extra, and that’s the more uptempo, clubby, dance friendly version.
I just hope people like what I released, and I don’t really see it become the smash it that the original is, but it would make me really happy if people really love the versions, and maybe do some TikTok dances and some dance moves to it as well. Yeah, definitely.

Troy Murphy:
You are too modest. Now, do you have a favorite version of your own?

Omar Rudberg:
I actually like the additional version. This the sexier one.

Troy Murphy:
Now, do you prefer recreating iconic covers or producing your own original music?

Omar Rudberg:
I love doing both, but I would do covers if it actually makes sense. For example, now I performed I’m So Excited at the gala and people really didn’t wanted it in on Spotify, so then I did a studio version and I released it. For me, that kind of makes sense. That’s when I really love doing covers. If not that, I really love doing my original stuff. I’ve been working a lot on upcoming music and my original sounds and songs, and I’m in love. I cannot wait to release them.

Troy Murphy:
Now, we’ve got your career a little bit backwards here in Australia. We first discovered you on Young Royals, but music has always been number one. How did you get in, for those in Australia who may not know, how did you get into music? What started at all for you?

Omar Rudberg:
Well, so I’ve been singing and dancing since I was a little, little kid, and I started very, very young. I started when I was 10 years old, singing at small little talent shows at the malls around in Stockholm and at parks. Then my mom took me to, long story short, I did the Sweden’s Got Talent TV program. Then I kept on doing these talent shows, and then I got discovered on YouTube because my mom always posted everything that I did on stage on YouTube. I got discovered and then I came into this, I was one of the members in this new Swedish pop boy band when I was 14.

Then we literally blew up. Our first gig together ever was opening up for Justin Bieber in one of the biggest arenas here in Sweden. After that, we had a long boy band career, basically, me and my three brothers. Well, not brothers, literal brothers, but my band mates. We literally toured the country, Scandinavia, we went to Latin America. We also went to the US a couple of times. We had a really fun time together until I was 18.

Then when I was 18, I started my solo career. For me, the music has always been a part of me since a young age, and that’s who I am. I’m a singer from the start. Now, doing this acting in Young Royals, this is all new to me. It’s really fun to try out the acting part of everything.

Troy Murphy:
You mentioned Justin Bieber. Let’s talk about that. You’ve opened when you were part of the boy band for One Direction and Justin Bieber. Who’s hotter, Justin Bieber …

Omar Rudberg:
Yes.

Troy Murphy:
… Or Harry Styles?

Omar Rudberg:
Oh, shit. That’s a hard question, man. I cannot choose. Who could choose that question? I don’t know. I cannot choose that.

Troy Murphy:
Oh, go on, go on. There’s got to be, one of them had to have done something a little bit special to win your heart.

Omar Rudberg:
Damn. I think when I was younger, more of a Belieber than a Direction fan. Then I’ll say Justin Bieber.

Troy Murphy:
Good answer. Good answer. Second part to that question, which artist in the music world would you love to work with, either collab or open for, duet, go on a date with anything?

Omar Rudberg:
Oh, I would love doing anything with anyone, really. No, but I listen to a lot of different artists. I listen to Justin, Harry, Arianna, Rosalia, Maluma, The Weeknd. I cannot. I could keep on going all day. I love all these artists, and I’m open to do anything with anyone because I love them so much. I also, I’m very spread out music wise. I could definitely do a uptempo, crazy club song, but I can also do a Super Ballard one. I love literally every single artist out there. By the way, I love Troye Silvan. That I got to say.

Troy Murphy:
Yes, Aussie. Such a great iconic Aussie singer and actor.

Omar Rudberg:
Yes, yeah.

Troy Murphy:
I’ll have my people call Troye Silvan’s people and I’ll have them call your people. How about we arrange that?

Omar Rudberg:
Actually, me and Troye got to know each other at Fashion Week a few weeks ago or a month ago or something like that. He was super nice, and I cannot wait to let him show me around in Australia.

Troy Murphy:
Well now you’ve got two Troys who can show you around, Omar. You’ll just have to pick.

Omar Rudberg:
Right. Yeah, I’ll start with you.

Troy Murphy:
All right, good. Good answer. Good answer. Now, Omar, you have such a captivating stage presence. It is mesmerizing to watch, and you are so young. Where do you get your confidence from?

Omar Rudberg:
Well, thank you. I don’t really know. Since a young age, I’ve always loved being on stage and dancing. When I was three years old, my grandmother always put me on a table when we had family gatherings and parties. Then I was the family, basically. I always had to make a show out of every single family gathering that we had. I don’t know, it just started so early. For me, it was always a little kick being on stage and entertaining people.
That’s my biggest passion in life, I would say. Being on stage, doing a show, having all these dancers with me, that’s a dream come true to make a huge show out of my music one day, and to let people know what I actually am capable of doing on stage to show my full potential. Yeah. No, I love being on stage. That’s my thing.

Troy Murphy:
Let’s talk fashion. Is there anything that you do not look good in? You wear the most amazing outfits and you wear it well. Have you ever put an outfit on and just gone, “No, this doesn’t work,” or are you just blessed to make everything that you wear work?

Omar Rudberg:
Well, I wouldn’t say like that. Well, it depends on my taste, really. When I have fittings, I choose the best outfit that I actually like, and maybe change something or something like that. I don’t know. I feel kind of insecure whenever I have hats on, like bigger hats or small, little hats. Hats for me is a little hard to, I could pull it off on a shoot or something like that, because you choose the posts and you have the lighting and all of that.
To walk around in the city with a big hat on, that wouldn’t really be my thing. There’s a few things that I wouldn’t really wear, maybe because I’m insecure. I just like being comfortable and feeling great about myself. Then that’s literally the key to pulling off an outfit, looking good in an outfit. You have to feel good and comfortable and confident.

Troy Murphy:
Now, you were recently in LA for, what your Instagram tells us, meetings and to write songs. Can you tell us how that trip went?

Omar Rudberg:
It went amazing. I’ve been to LA a lot of times, but I think this was the fastest trip, but also the most booked and busy trip. I really think that it went so, so well. I got to know some great producers and songwriters that literally works for the biggest artists out there. I’m so lucky that I even got to work with these people. I really hope that we can work a lot more together. It went great, and I have new friends.
I also met some old friends in the city that I have since way back. Actually, during the boy band days, we toured the US and I got to know some friends over there, so we had to meet up. No, it went amazing. I had some exciting meetings as well, and yeah, it was great.

Troy Murphy:
Let’s talk your fan base. They are dedicated. If you could say anything to your fans, what would you say?

Omar Rudberg:
Thank you, and I love you.

Troy Murphy:
Good answer. Now …

Omar Rudberg:
Yeah, that’s it. I don’t even know how to thank them enough. Yeah, I will do my best to make them feel seen and to make them feel what I feel about them.

Troy Murphy:
Do your fans ever get a little too excited on your social media? How crazy are your DMs?

Omar Rudberg:
They’re pretty crazy, but I think it’s fun. If you are a fan, then it’s just good vibes and good energy that they sent my way. I love checking out social media and seeing what they’re saying. They also keep me so updated. They tweet information stuff about me that I don’t even know. For example, how my songs are going, if they’re on a playlist, all that kind of stuff. I’m like, “Oh, shit. That’s so cool.” Sorry that I said a bad word, but …

Troy Murphy:
It’s okay.

Omar Rudberg:
I say bad words in Australia.

Troy Murphy:
Now, Omar, what is the most amazing thing you’ve seen a fan do or create online for you?

Omar Rudberg:
Oh, man. Actually, the other day, I saw Italian fans in Italy, they printed out my Spotify profile picture, and they put out a code where you take a picture of that code, and then you go straight to my Spotify account. They actually spread those picture out everywhere in the city, and they gave it to people to promote my music and my Spotify. I think that’s so beautiful and I’m so grateful for that. It’s just crazy to me that people actually care so much. I’m so thankful. I would never take that for granted. Yeah. I have to go to Italy now to bring them a big-ass show for them.

Troy Murphy:
Well, I want …

Omar Rudberg:
They deserve it.

Troy Murphy:
I do want to talk about taking your music around the world a little bit later, but before I do, you also got to perform music on the hit Netflix show that you are also a star of, Young Royals. What was that like as an experience?

Omar Rudberg:
Oh. Well, so my character, Simon, he sings in this school choir. It was actually very hard for me in the beginning, because I’ve never sang in a choir before. The tempo and how you singing melodies with all these students singing, it was so, so hard for me, because it’s a whole nother temple. The keys goes up and goes down. It’s just a whole different world when it comes to singing.
I had to learn how to sing in a choir, but it was so much fun. I love singing. That’s what I want to do my whole life. It was so much fun to learn all of that. I think it’s really good for me also, because I’m in the studio all the time. You develop and you grow. Yeah, it was an amazing experience.

Troy Murphy:
Now, while we are talking about Young Royals and I say we, I mean the world is on the edge of our seats waiting to know what happens in the third and final season, which was in the top 10 in Australia when it was released, which I’m so happy for. Can you share anything about season three? Have you seen scripts? When does filming start? When can we expect it to hit Netflix? What can you share with us?

Omar Rudberg:
We have started seeing the script, and I’m loving it so much. We are starting shooting very soon, and that’s going to be so exciting. It’s the final season, so it’s going to be a lot of shooting days, but I’m so excited. It’s going to be amazing. We’re going to do literally our best ever. This final season is just the best thing you’ve ever seen in your life. Yeah, that’s what I can say. I don’t know if I can say anything else, but we’ve seen the script and it looks really nice.

Troy Murphy:
You’ve seen the full script?

Omar Rudberg:
No, I know what the storyline is about and all of that, but I haven’t read the whole script yet.

Troy Murphy:
Right. We’re o.

Omar Rudberg:
N the way, so we’re getting started, so it feels really nice.

Troy Murphy:
Yeah. Hypothetically, do you think that your character, Simon, could get used to royal life?

Omar Rudberg:
Well, no, I don’t think so. Simon is very strong. He got some a really strong personality, and he knows his worth. He got his dreams and the things that he wants to do in life. I don’t think that the royal life would be anything that he would want, really. I don’t think so, but you never know.

Troy Murphy:
What about …

Omar Rudberg:
You never know.

Troy Murphy:
What about you personally? Would you like to live the royal life?

Omar Rudberg:
Oh, I would definitely want to try that out, but I don’t know if I would live in that all my life, but maybe a week or something.

Troy Murphy:
Yep, fair enough, as would we all now.

Omar Rudberg:
Yeah.

Troy Murphy:
Even though you know, I was going to ask you, what do you hope happens to your character, Simon, in season three? You’ve read the script, so I guess whatever you tell us might give it all away. We don’t want to give too many secrets away.

Omar Rudberg:
Yeah, that’s the thing. I don’t know if I actually can say what I would hope. Well, I feel like it’s so hard to say now when I actually know what’s happening. As I said before, when me and Edwin, we were in New York doing some promotion November last year, we said that we hope to see them smile, and to feel Simon and Wilhelm love for once.
I love Simon and Wilhelm, and they’re forever. They will always be my little babies because they changed my whole life. I love them and I just hope that they are happy. It sounds so weird talking about that, because it sounds like I’m talking about real people, but they’re actually not real.

Troy Murphy:
Oh, I’m sure to many, they are real. Now, Netflix is a …

Omar Rudberg:
Well, yeah.

Troy Murphy:
Netflix is amazing for green lighting a gay coming out, coming of age story like Young Royals. For you, how important is it that we continue to see shows this?

Omar Rudberg:
It is very important to me, and for a lot of people out there. I also feel like it’s very important for people that isn’t really in the LGBTQ+ community, because they have to learn and they have to see what it’s like in understand people that go through stuff, and understand people that are in the LGBTQ+ community to understand and to be more educated, basically. It’s so important for the whole world to see it. I really hope that it keeps on going.
Also, I really hope that in a real way that we show that gay and queer people actually are people like everybody else, and that they actually also can love and be in love and have a normal life, being normal teenagers and being people like real people. That’s what I would want to see more in the world. Not only showing this facade or a picture that people might sometimes see LGBTQ or queer or gay people as. I don’t know.
I feel like Young Royals shows queer and gay people in a different way, in a real way. That’s what I really like about this show, and I hope that I can see more of that now in other shows.

Troy Murphy:
Alongside Young Royal, Netflix also released Heart Stopper, pretty much at the same time, and in a very similar coming of age. Gay story, kind of the same, but just less royalty. Fans of both shows went absolutely crazy when they saw you and Edwin interact with a Heart Stopper cast online. Have you guys developed a friendship with the Heart Stopper cast offline?

Omar Rudberg:
Well, maybe not friendship, but I actually met Jake Hunter at Fashion Week. I think it was for [inaudible 00:24:29] as well. Yeah, in Paris I think it was. We met, I would say hi, and it was fun meeting each other finally, after a year of just seeing each other through the internet. We met, and a lot of fans have been asking us on Twitter and Instagram everywhere, “Have you guys met? Have you guys met?” Yes, we met. We got to know each other a little bit. Yeah, that’s pretty much it, basically.

Troy Murphy:
What’s he like?

Omar Rudberg:
It was really nice meeting him.

Troy Murphy:
What’s he like in person?

Omar Rudberg:
He was so nice. I didn’t expect, I didn’t even know that he was coming. Then when I saw him, I got super excited and I went to him and I said hi. He said hi, and it was a fun moment. It was nice. He was really nice.

Troy Murphy:
Now, Omar, there’s a lot of information about you online. A two-part question here: what’s something out there that you’ve read about yourself that is incorrect and that you would like to correct?

Omar Rudberg:
Oh, wow. Oh, man. What can that be? I don’t even know. I don’t really, I’m not really in the internet that much to know what people actually say about me or maybe like a rumor. I don’t know. I don’t think there’s a rumor about me anywhere. No, I actually don’t know. I don’t have anything.

Troy Murphy:
All right. Well, then, answer me this. What’s something about you that no one knows out there, especially in your fandom or the media, that you would like to share with your fans today?

Omar Rudberg:
Hmm, that they don’t know about me? Well, actually, maybe some knows, but I actually saw yesterday that this came out. Well, I don’t know if this is interesting even. I saw that the news came out, fans already know, but maybe some of you don’t know. If you like Drag Race, I’m going to be a guest on the Drag Race Sweden this Sunday.

Troy Murphy:
Oh, fantastic. Well, that’s …

Omar Rudberg:
That’s a little surprising.

Troy Murphy:
There we go. Now, let’s go back to talking about your music, because that’s why you are here today. We’re about to play your song, I’m So Excited, for the very first time. I’ve got to ask, because this is the biggest question your fans have wanted to know when I hinted that you’d be on the show today: is a world tour on the cards?

Omar Rudberg:
A world tour, wow. That’s my dream and goal in life, but not really yet. I feel like a world tour, it has to go a lot into that in making it really, really great. In the future, I would love, I would love, that’s like what I want to do literally. It takes work and in time, but hopefully it will come a time where I do it.

Troy Murphy:
I’ve just heard a collective sigh all across the listening audience, as everyone was hoping to hear that you were coming to Australia soon or anywhere around the world. Ladies and gentlemen, them, they, and all, the amazingly talented Omar Rudberg. His new single, I’m So Excited, is available as a three track EP and available to buy now.
A must for everyone who loves Omar and great music. Omar, thank you so much for your time today. I’ve really enjoyed chatting with you. I wish we had more time, but thank you so much for joining us on the show today.

Omar Rudberg:
Thank you so much for having me. I hope to come to Australia soon and to see you in person.

Speaker 3:
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