It was in 1992 that the Gothenburg band Ace of Base suddenly broke through the world. The four members Ulf Ekberg and siblings Jenny Berggren, Malin Berggren and Jonas Berggren subsequently lived a life marked by world tours, chart toppers and millions of records sold.
New documentary about Ace of Base on Viaplay
On May 1, Viaplay’s new documentary series “Ace of Base – All That She Wants” premiered, which is directed by Jens von Reis. The three-part documentary shows the band’s enormous success, but also setbacks, performance anxiety and broken friendships.
– It really is an unpolished documentary series about Ace of Base with unique material from the 90s and a deep, authentic and honest insight into our journey through both ups and downs, Ulf Ekberg has said in a press release.
All about Ulf Ekberg: Wife, fortune and Ace of Base
In an interview with News24 says Jenny Berggren about the documentary series, and what it was like to achieve such extreme success at such a young age.
Jenny Berggren. Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT
Was there anything that made you hesitate to make the documentary?
– This is actually in line with what I do. I’m out gigging, and at the same time I don’t really need anything else to do. But if it is still to be told, I can join in and tell it in my own way.
– I think it was crucial that I wanted my tone included. I like to talk about everything that has been dark, difficult, strange and chaotic. But then I also want to tell you about what is bright, what became whole and what became good. The thing that brought order to the chaos.
Malin Berggren left Ace of Base – that’s how she lives today
Jenny Berggren about the documentary: “It rubs”
Is there something that feels extra fun or extra hard to relive with the documentary?
– What I think will be complicated is precisely the dark that actually happened. I was surprised that there was a lot of fuss about Ulf and his history backwards, and it’s hard. It rubs. When it becomes clear that we are too tired. It got boring and you got tired. They traveled between time zones. You didn’t sleep.
– But the funny thing is all this stuff that is never seen. It never came to light. The giggles, the jokes and an incredible sarcasm dripping in the comments. That interpersonal thing that no one ever saw. It’s in this documentary, and I think that’s so nice.
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Photo: Stella Pictures
What was it like to achieve such extreme success with your siblings, and to work so closely together?
– I don’t know anything else. I graduated, and immediately started working with my siblings. I’ve worked musically with Jonas and Malin since I was 14 years old, so we’ve been at it for a long time. And then we became Ace of Base with Ulf. But we have had a very good time.
– At the same time, we had buttons to press on each other like siblings do. Irritation. Love. Heat. Sour. But it probably meant that we could work quite well together, because we could trust each other.
Everything about Jonas Berggren: Wife, children, siblings and Ace of Base
Jenny Berggren on the relationship with the Ace of Base members
What does your relationship with the other members look like today?
– That’s great, but we have our own lives. We don’t sit on each other’s laps. No one comes home and runs down my door. And I don’t run down the others either. But it’s an adult sibling relationship where everyone has their own lives really.
– It’s more the children and cousins who get tangled up in all sorts of ways. Jonas has four children and I have two. They hang and it’s a lot of fun. I had a lot of fun with my cousins and both me and my brother wanted to be able to pass that on. We have cherished both our relationship and our children’s relationship.
– I give a certain picture of reality. When the children see how Jonas works and when they see how Malin works, they get a slightly better picture of how things have been, and who you are.