Writing music you have different emotions. It’s sort of like your diary, all your thoughts come alive.

What does Arizona Ice Tea, bucket hats and Pluto have in common?  Internet’s son- Yung Lean.

Photography and interview by Lauren Engel

You said before that Sid Vicious, Kurt Cobain, Lil Wayne, The Knife movies, and Bjork inspires your music. What about them inspires you?
Kurt Cobain writes really good lyrics and Sid Vicious was a fun character maybe he took the Nazi thing a little too far. probably Johnny Rotten was a more inspiring artist. Sid Vicious couldn’t even play the bass. Lil Wayne is one of the greatest rappers alive. I just grew up on The Knife.

Your first experience with music was Black Sabbath?
Yes Black Sabbath, Nina Simone, and Aretha Franklin.

Who showed their music to you?
My dad. He played in bands when he was younger but he just likes music.

Would you say that your musical interest spurred from your dad’s musical background?
I guess there was so much music around the house. We are good friends; we used to fight a lot back in the day. In the beginning I didn’t tell him I was making music. It was sort of a secret. I didn’t want to show him any of my videos or anything. He found out when people started writing about me. He was like are you doing this secretly?

Wow that’s crazy you did everything secretly.  How would you describe the music you made initially?
It was very emotional, a lot of reverb, auto-tune, kind of stupid lyrics but still music from my heart.

I see that your Pluto tattoo is relatively new.  I don’t remember seeing it the first time you performed two years ago.  What is the meanings behind your tattoos?
Pluto, he’s cool.  And this (tattoo) is my last name.  (Leandoer)

How would you say the music you make reflects you as a person?
Writing music you have different emotions. It’s sort of like your diary, all your thoughts come alive. Definitely reflects on me as a person.

You said before that your name started off as a alter ego?
I was just bored with Jonatan. I guess Jonatan wasn’t up to much and Yung Lean was everything that Jonatan wasn’t. It was fun to make up an alter-ego. I guess Yung Lean is like a crazy version of Jonatan. As the years go by, Yung Lean and Jonatan have become more and more friends.

Why do you think that your music got successful faster in the US than Sweden?
We just started getting fans in American.  I guess a lot of kids were rapping about every song we had then. We were sixteen. As a Swedish kid we are very exposed to American and Swedish culture, so I guess it’s a mixture of that. We just try to do our own thing.

What would you say is the mindset of Swedish people?
I think our country is sort of falling into pieces. We have a political party that’s super fucked up. The mindset is different. When we started making music Swedish people were like ‘oh this is retarted, what is he doing?’ But then when America liked it, they were like ‘oh America likes it?’ We have to like it too.

Have you seen your music trickle down to people in your hometown with kids creating similar music?
A lot of people in Sweden are buying our style. Ya they have gone that far and made similar music. They should just do their own thing. It’s always a blessing to be inspiring. But you can’t be Yung Lean.

Why do you think all your fans started from the US?
American kids have so much hip-hop and through the years they have been exposed to so much more than European kids.  They are a bit quicker on trends and after a while it comes to Europe. It’s the same with punk. Punk started in the UK then when it got to America everyone was crazy about it and afterwards it comes back to Europe. Everyone needs a subculture. Kids were just exposed to Lil B and music like that before. Europeans weren’t as up to date. Now they are for sure. It just comes after a little while. Not everyone in the Europe is like that though, some were hyped from the beginning as well.

What was it like growing up in Stockholm?
I don’t remember. I grew up in Russia too and Belarus. I just did a lot of stupid stuff.

Do you have memories of Vietnam?
Yes of course. I remember going to school and smoking opium

What would you say inspired your fashion?
I don’t really care that much about fashion. I like buying clothes. We just like making clothes.

You have a cult-like following, what was the biggest insight you’ve gained from having so much power?
It’s scary. One time I wrote fuck Vans on twitter and someone burned up a pair of Vans.  I don’t really like having all that power. But it’s fun that you can do what you like and people fuck with it. If you were in a room with all my fans it was just be very weird. I wouldn’t stand on a table and give them directions so it’s weird having fans. It doesn’t make sense.

What would you tell yourself at 13 if you could?
Never become a rapper. (Laughs) Don’t do drugs.