Q&A: Exploring the Cosmos of Boy in Space and His New Single “Finally Fine Without You”
IN THE CONSTELLATION OF RISING POP ARTISTS — Robin Lundbäck, who goes by the moniker Boy in Space, is shining brightly as a captivating presence. The Swedish pop sensation is known for his whimsical writing style and evocative melodies and has been making waves ever since his solo career began in 2018.
Now, Boy in Space is back from his hiatus with a new single, “Finally Fine Without You,” which is sure to capture the pop world. After being born out of a time of reflection following ups and downs in his life, physical struggles, and wrestling with ADHD, “Finally Fine Without You” is a reflection on a reintroduction of Boy in Space with those beloved pop qualities that were originally introduced to listeners across the globe.
Receiving international success at a young age, Boy in Space decided to transition to his solo career in 2018, which, to this day, has resulted in over half a billion streams on Spotify. While continuing to create pop hits, he has many plans for 2024, including a brand new visual identity and future artist collaborations.
In this Q&A session, Luna delves deep into the universe of Boy in Space, as he shares the origin of his celestial moniker, insights into his musical journey, and the inspiration behind his latest single. From family musical roots to navigating the complexities of the industry, Boy in Space opens up about his creative process, aspirations, and what lies beyond the horizon. Read below as we embark on a cosmic voyage through the mind and music of Boy in Space
LUNA: Your stage name is so captivating — it drew me in when I first heard about you. How did you come up with the name Boy in Space?
LUNDBÄCK: Ever since 2016, I was in the headspace of building an artist’s profile and having a creative project where I’m in charge of everything. I started playing around with a few names, and I even thought of just going with Robin, my name, but I thought it was boring. The Weeknd had a song called “Starboy” and I thought it was the best title ever — it sparked my imagination so much. I started playing around with the positioning of the name and eventually landed on Boy in Space. It felt creative and it sparked inspiration for beginning projects.
LUNA: For some background context, I would love to hear more about how Boy in Space came into existence and how you found yourself in a music career.
LUNDBÄCK: My family is very musical. My mom’s a songwriter, my dad used to play in an old Swedish rock band, and my uncles are producers. Growing up and attending family reunions, someone was always playing the bongo drums or the piano. It was a music fest every time we got together. At the age of 10, I decided that I wanted music to be a big part of my life and [I] wanted to be a songwriter. I also wanted to be a pizza maker, because that’s the best job ever, but those were the two biggest goals.
From there, I just started to write a lot. We had a studio at home, so I had Logic and all of the music software I needed. I would work on really bad songs and pitch them to my family. I'd ask if this song could be sold to someone. They were polite, but would give me constructive criticism. They always kept me going and encouraged me to continue developing. A few years later, I was in a band with my brothers. We were kind of like the Swedish Jonas Brothers. We did harmony singing and wrote all the music together. But after a while, I felt confined and the band felt forced. I always wanted a solo project so I could just do the things that aligned with my creativity. That happened eventually, and it felt amazing to be able to write music on my own.
LUNA: How would you describe your new single, “Finally Fine Without You”? What can listeners expect?
LUNDBÄCK: “Finally Fine Without You" is a heartbreak anthem. It’s a very honest and real perspective of being over someone but also wanting the best for the person you loved.
LUNA: You’ve mentioned before that you were on a break for a bit. Did you learn anything or have any takeaways from that break?
LUNDBÄCK: One thing I learned was to never take anything for granted. Be thankful for what you have in the moment and take advantage of what you have. It’s so easy to become comfortable in situations, and I feel like that’s been my biggest setback with Boy in Space. I’ve always tried to find an escape from work or from reality, but now I really try to appreciate the moments where I’m in the studio or when I’m traveling. I understand why I felt worn out and I was going through a lot in life, but if I were to just change my mindset, it would’ve helped so much.
I’ve been going through a lot of anxiety and a lot of impulse behavior with my ADHD, and I’ve just had to teach myself that feelings are feelings — they come and go. Some days are wins, and some days you’re gonna wake up and it’ll be a storm. But if you just stay on track, do the things that are good for you, it’ll all be okay. Even if it’s not gonna be okay, what are you gonna do about that? It’s not going to help to sit and whine about it. Put one foot in front of the other, don’t look at the huge mountaintop, and just take one step at a time.
LUNA: What lyric sticks out to you the most from “Finally Fine Without You”?
LUNDBÄCK: The first day writing it was amazing, and it really felt like we were on to something special. One lyric that sticks out to me is, “And life’s not a race / I really hope you find your own place / And I wish someday you’ll feel the same / ’cause I’ll be okay / I’m finally fine without you.”
LUNA: Do you have any big artist inspirations?
LUNDBÄCK: I haven’t had huge pop influences lately. I think the only one has been Holly Humberstone — she’s been a big rotation on my playlists when it comes to pop. I’ve been listening to a really cool indie pop group called Infinity Song. They’re so underrated and have a great bedroom indie pop vibe. Otherwise, I’ve been into old school music, like Simon & Garfunkel, Fleetwood Mac, even Black Sabbath, and of course Dolly Parton. I listen to a bunch of random music, and I just get inspired.
LUNA: Who are your dream collaborations?
LUNDBÄCK: Although it doesn’t make sense for my type of music, I would love to do a feature with the Foo Fighters. Musically, it’s weird, but it would just be cool to be in the studio with them to write a song. Even doing something with the Gorillaz would be insane — they’re a childhood band that I’ve listened to pretty much my whole life, and I love their latest album.
LUNA: Any future plans you can share with us?
LUNDBÄCK: I have so much music that I’ve been working on recently. There will definitely be at least two projects released this year, so there’s a lot of content coming. I’m also working a bunch to become better at keeping people updated on social media.
