The Idol makes a record with free reins
http://www.nwt.se/noje/article499085.ece

Lars Eriksson made headlines during his participation in the television program Idol. Now he has landed, taking it easy for a couple of months and continued to plan his solo career.

  He is still an Idol. It doesn't take a lot of steps until someone shouts "Hi Lars!" or asks for an autograph when Lars Eriksson walks about in the city. The Karlskoga guy caused a storm and attention when he chose not to go the given path through the television program Idol's labyrinths. Instead he went his own way with his sight on a career as a musician outside the "commercial shit" that was created in the Idol industry.
  - I'm very happy I got to be a part of Idol. It has given me attention and richly of contacts, Lars Eriksson said in the spring sun on a visit in Karlstad.
  - Idol is absolutely not a program I'd look at myself on a friday night. But right now, in the time we're living in in Sweden it's a way to reach out. It's this type of program that gets the most attention from media and I saw it as a possibility.
  You got a lot of comments in relation to Idol. Among other things your "behavior" was put in question. You nearly got the impression that people thought you were stupid?
  - (laughs) Yeah, it was strange in some periods. But seriously I had a good sight and I was fully aware that I would get those reactions.
  You sound like a real strategionist.
  - Yes, of course it's like that. I still laugh at the whole thing.
  It's been quiet around you since you got out of the competition. What have you been doing?
  - I've been waiting for my contract with Sony BMG to end. You get undertaked as a participant in Idol to make a record with them. But that wasn't in interest for me. It was too bad contracts. It was actually on Friday that the time of the contract ran out and I became a free man!
  So what's behind the corner now?
  - I've met musicians in Stockholm whom I have rehearsed my songs with. It will be like an accompanying band. And then I've had contact with Anders Bagge and we're talking about making a record on his company. I'm meeting him on Sunday to talk about all the practical things.
  The record - which eventually will come already in May - is going to give a new picture of Lars Eriksson. But he's not scared that he will lose the audience who found him through the television. His MySpace-page went past the millionth line in amount of played songs last week and he hopes that his music can get a broader listening crowd.
  - Many people think I'm some kind of troubadour who sits alone with my acoustic guitar but I have all the time made songs with a band in suggestion. That I choose to work with Bagge is because it clicked immediately between us. I will get very free reins in the work with my music.
  Lars Eriksson has already booked some performances. The 28th of March he will come to Ritz in Arvika.
  - It will be fun to play live. I have a very romantic picture of a touring life, where everything is like a touring circus! I really hope everything will be like I have planned.
  Is it hard as an prior-Idol participant to get respect outside the niched musical sphere?
  - I do believe so. I would probably myself have some problems to take a prior Idol artist seriously (laughs). But hopefully I will succeed in making a good record that can speak for itself.
  Would you recommend other musicians who are placed in the beginning of their career to do the same thing as you?
  - I can't answer that. Each indivudual has to feel that for themselves. It so much depends on what you want to do with it.