After years of playing in local bands, it all started in the early ’80s. My first real musical adventure was with a synth band called Svart Natt (Black Night). Later, influenced by the rising success of U2, I joined a band we named Criss 99. We recorded and released an album, which gained some local recognition. During this period, I realized that while I loved performing, the studio was where I truly belonged.
From Band Member to Studio Enthusiast
My big break came when I landed a job as a studio assistant at Europa Studios in Stockholm, thanks to Ola Håkansson, founder and CEO of Stockholm Records. I was in heaven! At first, my duties were simple—running errands, making coffee, and assisting the artists and engineers. But the real magic happened at night.
Once the studio emptied, I found myself alone in a world of sound—a professional recording environment all to myself. I spent countless nights experimenting, remixing, and developing my skills. I worked tirelessly, knowing that in the morning, I would have to present my work. Sometimes, they liked it. Sometimes, they didn’t. But I lived for the moments when they did. And over time, the rejections became fewer.
Becoming a Producer
As my skills improved, I transitioned into an in-house engineer, working on remixes during the night. Those years were filled with hard work, but also an incredible amount of fun. Slowly but surely, I honed my craft.
By the early ’90s, I was working with Swedish and international artists, including Army of Lovers (“Crucified”) and several local acts. 1992, I teamed up with Tommy Ekman, forming the production duo Adebratt & Ekman. Throughout the decade, we produced songs for artists like Inner Circle, Ace of Base, Aqua, Dr. Alban, Real McCoy, All-4-One, and Aaliyah.
Founding Sprinkler and Expanding Horizons
In the late ’90s, I co-founded The Sprinkler Production House, which included Sprinkler Studios—a four-studio complex in central Stockholm. We also launched Sprinkler Records, a label in partnership with Universal Music. A collaboration with Daniel Jones (Savage Garden) led to a project with the Australian group Aneiki, which became a success in Australia.
I also worked with C&N Productions, producing music for Antique, a Swedish-Greek dance/pop duo that blended ethnic influences with modern pop, achieving great success.
A New Chapter in Thailand
By the early 2000s, after an intense period of work, I decided to take a well-deserved break. I traveled to Phuket, Thailand, intending just to relax—but life had other plans.
While there, I ventured into film production for the tourism industry. Over the following years, I created films for dive companies, travel agencies, hotels, IT firms, and even an international school. Naturally, I composed my own soundtracks for these films, keeping my musical creativity alive.
The Shift to Business
In 2005, I returned to Stockholm and briefly continued working in music. But something had changed—it no longer gave me the same satisfaction. I knew it was time to explore new opportunities.
It wasn’t easy. For the first time in decades, I found myself lost, unsure of what to do next. Then, unexpectedly, I stumbled into sales.
At first, it felt like learning to walk again. I had to start from scratch, building knowledge and experience from the ground up. But soon, I realized something: the creativity I had used in music and visual arts could also be applied to business. Slowly but surely, I began to succeed.
I had taken a giant leap from music, film, and photography into sales and business development, and I loved it.
Where I Am Today
Today, I work primarily in Digital Sales, Performance Marketing, Growth Hacking, and Marketing Automation. But despite this shift, music has never truly left me. In my spare time, I retreat to my home studio, where I once again feel the same joy I did in those early days.
In summer 2023, I released the album “The 60th Playground Diary”—a collection of eight songs written, performed, and produced by me. It’s still a hobby, but I wanted to finalize and share some of my work. As a fun twist, I used generative AI for the album cover—Midjourney transformed a picture of me into a wild Pop Art creation, and I loved the result so much that I made it the official cover.
Even after all these years, the love for creativity, storytelling, and innovation remains the common thread in my journey.
Best regards,
Per Adebratt
per@adebratt.com
