Chapter Text
New Music Friday
Following a tumultuous week, Om Monster och Män has released a brand new single along with an announcement for a new EP.
“These songs are some that, though we adored them, never made it onto our first album and we felt that it was the right moment to finally put them out into the world for you to listen to.” Lead-singer Simon Eriksson explained via an Instagram post. “We played Sugar in a Bowl live at one of our Stockholm shows and your reactions to it made us realize that maybe you would like to hear them, after all.”
The EP consists of six newly recorded songs, though die-hard fans who’ve been there since the beginning might recognize them, as the band played them at a few of their very first gigs. Among others, the tracklist includes Sugar in a Bowl, Phantom and Beneath My Bed.
The announcement comes at a time when the band, or specifically one of its members, is already on every front page because of his private life. Thursday morning Crown Prince Wilhelm took to Instagram to share a picture of himself and Eriksson in baking attire, along with the caption “Caught red-handed.”. The hashtag, “sometime the rumors are true”, is of course alluding to the on-going speculation that during this year’s Hela Kändis-Sverige bakar, the singer and the heir to the throne started dating.
Since then, no formal statement has been issued by the royal court, but an interview with Crown Prince Wilhelm is slated to air in the following week, as insiders have reported. What the subject matter might be is, as of yet, unclear, but it is safe to assume that it will touch on his unconventional coming out.
Either way, fans should be excited for the new release; especially since it doesn’t seem to be the only thing the band has been working on in recent times.
Listen to the single and pre-save the EP below.
Click here for the full story of how a small Swedish indie band rose to international stardom.
PRINCE WILHELM CAUGHT RED-HANDED
Get ready for the newest, hottest gossip in town. The Crown Prince just dropped some scalding hot tea and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
The entire nation of Sweden (and, who are we kidding, the rest of the world, too) has been watching Hela Kändis-Sverige bakar with bated breath as it replaced even the Bachelor as the most watched and streamed TV show of this year so far.
Crown Prince Wilhelm and lead-singer Simon Eriksson (OMOM) have seemed like anything but friends from the start, their chemistry tangible even through our screens, as they delivered touching and electric moments from the get-go. Fans have been dying to know if their favorites are actually dating or just platonic friends after all, but a recent Instagram post from Wilhelm confirms what we’ve known all along.
Captured in a swoon-worthy moment, Simon Eriksson and Crown Prince Wilhelm are wearing casual outfits, flour on their faces (see here for their viral flour fight in episode 6) as they pose for a picture together.
Eagle-eyed fans have commented that Wilhelm seems to be wearing the button-down Eriksson has been seen wearing the past few weeks after shooting wrapped, fueling the rumors that it may have been a loan from his lover. But, even if this weren’t the case, we’re giggling and kicking our feet anyway, because the caption itself, though rather short, confirms with certainty the rumors about their relationship.
We reached out to some of the other contestants to get their tea on the hottest couple of Sweden right now, though most of them remained rather tight-lipped.
Selma Blom, best known for her role in the action thriller “Rousseau’s confessions”, let us know through her rep that the entire cast got along well and both Simon and Wilhelm were a pleasure to work with.
Marcus Bergman was a little more forth-coming, stating that “I never had much to do with either of them.”. In the brief phone-call he sounded rushed and, when asked for more specific information, snapped that it was “clear from the beginning- they were never really apart, it was them against everyone else”.
Do we sense some bad blood and hurt feelings here? And who is the heir to Bergman enterprises hung up over? The Crown Prince, or singer Eriksson? Vote below!
Most puzzling, perhaps, was the response of former contestant Hjalmar Nordström, who had to leave the show in episode six.
Asked to give us an account of how the couple was on the show, he said: “Simon makes a mean cake. So does Wilhelm. Don’t know about their bread baking skills, really. The first time I saw Simon and his curly head I knew he was going to win. All his genius is stored in his curls, I think. They’re his secret weapon, it’s where the magic resides. But, really, I don’t know about Wilhelm. He’s good with yeast, I’ll give him that. Otherwise… He has such queer takes on things. Did you know that he is strictly against hot chocolate in the summer months? Once, I was vacationing on Ibiza at that time, I met this nice old lady, and she gave me the perfect recipe for hot chocolate. I can’t tell you the secret ingredient of course, but-“ (the interview was cut short for editorial reasons, as the following accounts were in no shape related to the actual question). (Click here to see a break-down of Hjalmar’s worst comedy shows and why they still sell).
We are still waiting for an official announcement from the royal court, but is it really needed? The fan community clearly doesn’t think so, as dozens of new edits are posted every hour, some of them already dreaming of a royal wedding next year.
Though this might be speculation for the future, we want to know YOUR opinion: will it be a summer wedding? Where will the honeymoon lead the couple?
Read our news ticker for #Wilmon here.
A break-down and exact timeline for the tender but passionate beginnings of their love story all the way to now can be found here.
Crown Prince Wilhelm: Queerness and self-discovery under a public microscope
“I didn’t feel ready, not in the aftermath of my brother’s death, not with the pressure that came with my newly inherited role. What I didn’t realize then, is that it would be equally difficult to lock myself in the closet.”
It is a sunny afternoon when LGBTQIA activist Tarin meets Crown Prince Wilhelm to talk about his recent rather unconventional coming out- at least unconventional as far as royal announcements go. During an almost one-hour long conversation, they got to ask Wilhelm personal questions, all of them centered around queerness, our right to choose when and how to come out and the difficulty of growing up under a magnifying glass while struggling with the same problems as many other teenagers.
T: […] you stepped away from the spotlight almost entirely. I guess those years were very transformative for you in many ways?
CP W: Yes. My mental health was in shambles. I was grieving my brother while trying to come to terms with my newly appointed role, one I’d never been trained for and never wanted, either. On top of that I was starting to realize that for me, sexuality wasn’t as clearcut as for many of my peers. I’d never learned how to handle such extreme emotions as I was feeling then; I don’t think anyone does, not until they’re forced to.
T: Is this the point in our conversation where I casually bring up the video?
CP W: (laughing) Probably. I mean- I think it was pretty clear that it was me. Even more so now, after my coming out. Bach then, we were still under the illusion that we would manage a smooth transition from Erik as Crown Prince to me as Crown Prince. But being outed in such an awful way, especially when I hadn’t really figured any of the details out for myself, was the last straw. My family and I made the decision to deny the video, minimize all my public appearances until I graduated from school and get me a good therapist. I don’t think denying the video was a wrong decision per se, but it wasn’t the right decision either. There’s something awful and dehumanizing about denying such an integral part of yourself. And it makes the real coming out so much worse, because now you’ve lied and have to remedy that lie. It’s why it’s so important to let people set the terms of their coming out themselves. Outing someone is appalling, but keeping them closeted is also detrimental.
T: […] but the last few weeks you’ve been the focus of international news for much different reasons. Care to share something with the class? How is Simon doing?
CP W: Yeah, that was a new experience for me. I don’t think I’ve ever been in the news for as long for just being happy. It’s probably the first time my name isn’t connected to some kind of “scandal”. The Instagram post was a spontaneous decision. It felt right in the moment; I’ve never wanted to make my coming out into some kind of spectacle. I understand that it is important for others, that, due to my position, I act as a role model of sorts, that me finding the courage to do this could have a meaningful impact on others. But that post was for myself. I need to be able to still decide things on my own terms, especially such deeply personal matters. And I need to be able to protect my private life to some degree. Otherwise, I stop feeling like a human.
T: […] will you keep baking?
CP W: (laughing) Sure. I had a fun time baking with the others and have made friends I hope to stay in touch with for a long time. Just- Hjalmar, please, stop drinking hot chocolate in the height of summer.
[This is an excerpt of the interview. Watch the full video here or go here for a full transcript.]
Simon settled down in the backseat next to Wille. By now, it was an almost automatic reaction for Wille to scoot a little closer, even if the seatbelt was already stretched to its limit. Their fingers tangled in the middle of them as the car left the parking lot.
Wille’s nerves felt frayed, his heart beating too fast. But Simon’s touch calmed him, even if not entirely.
“What did you get?” he asked, peering curiously at the grocery bag sitting next to Simon’s feed.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Simon waggled his eyebrows suggestively, then laughed at Wille’s overexaggerated pout. “Just some snacks for the car ride. Crisps, chocolate, that weird cookie you like as much.”
“It’s hazelnut-raisin! Just because you’re against raisins…”
“And I got us this.” Simon pulled out one of the gossip magazines Wille hated with a passion.
“Why would you buy that?” he asked, confused, and reached out for the magazine.
Simon handed it to him and tapped the front cover.
“Because Hjalmar, bless him, had nothing but nice things to say about me and I intend to frame his quote and hang it on my wall.”
“Well, make sure you keep his quote about me as well. I don’t think anyone’s ever been as complimentary, ever. At least not in one of these.”
Hjalmar had been gleeful like a child that had done mischief and gotten away with it when he told Simon and Wille how long he’d kept the reporter on the phone for. Apparently, the story about Ibiza had unfolded into one about hotel bathrooms, which led him to talk about toilet paper, the paper industry, deforestation, and the jungle. There had apparently also been a tale about banana smoothies, but Wille had been helplessly lost by that point, so he wasn’t entirely sure if it had actually been part of the phone call or just Hjalmar voicing what he wished to have in the moment.
Wille just knew that, somewhere along the way, he’d had gotten lost in the convoluted explanation, and he felt sure the reporter had, too.
He felt rather vindicated imagining a frazzled reporter trying to keep an enthusiastic Hjalmar on track; an impossible task, as he knew.
They’d already had a good laugh about Marcus’ quote, too. Wille’s PR team had sent it to him the morning the magazine had come out. In a strange way, it felt like a compliment, too.
“I’ll keep the entire article. It’s a real gem. Did I ever tell you that Marcus once told me, very vehemently, that he has a big horse?” Simon stressed the big and fluttered his eyelashes at Wille.
“Is it just me or does that sound weirdly suggestive?”
Simon threw his head back in laughter, baring one of Wille’s favorite spots, his throat, and the long expanse of skin that led up to another one of his favorite spots, right behind Simon’s ear.
“Yeah, I still haven’t figure out if he was talking about horses or his own anatomical features. I did look up the horses he owns. They are big. So, who knows?”
“Talking about horses. Did I ever tell you the secret to my yeast doughs?” Wille asked, turning his head to see Simon’s full reaction.
“Hm?” replied Simon, currently occupied with tracing his fingers up and down Wille’s arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
“It’s because I’m really good at getting things to rise.” He dragged his gaze down to Simon’s lap, letting it linger there.
Simon snorted, hit Wille, and then groaned in exasperation.
“I can’t believe I’m taking you to meet my mother and sister. If I have to put up with puns like that, maybe I should just call it off right now.”
“Are you dissatisfied with my skills? If I recall correctly, you do have a certain appreciation for my mouth.”
“Yes, but only if there are no words involved. At least none on your part. You’re so much prettier when you just shut up,” he said, jokingly lowering his voice for the last part.
Their resulting laughter lasted for a while until Simon, suddenly, sat up straight.
“Shit.”
“What is it? Did you forget something?”
“No, it’s just- I had a realization.”
Noticing the shift in Simon’s mood, Wille forewent the joke he could’ve made and instead regarded him with a serious look.
“And that is?”
“I’ll now have to meet the Queen. Who just so happens to be your mother.”
Ah. Well. Wille understood how that could be nerve-wrecking. After all, he was nervous as hell about meeting Linda in just under two hours. He imagined meeting your partners’ parents was always slightly exciting; but if said mother also happened to be the Queen, he could see how that would worsen it.
Wille smiled gently and leaned over to press a kiss between Simon’s brows. He’d come to realize that doing so made Simon blush and unfurled a feeling of warmth in Wille’s chest that left his entire body tingling pleasantly.
“You’ll manage. Just don’t mention my skilled hands or mouth. We’ll get through it together.”
“Promise?” Simon asked, holding eye contact.
It felt like he was asking something else- promise that we’ll take on all challenges together.
Wille could see their future, stretching out in front of them.
The crossroads he’d eventually reach, that would test Wille’s familial relationship and put him on a new path. But the prospect didn’t scare him, not much.
Simon’s hand was warm in his.
Summer was coming to an end, the crops were harvested, the afternoon sun already weaker than a week ago, birds migrating to flee the ruthless chill of winter.
This morning had been crisp; the first foray of autumn. He’d put on a jacket over his hoodie, though the day had warmed up enough for him to take it off as he’d picked up Simon from the studio, where he currently recorded a very secret project, that Wille knew to be a solo album.
But with Simon next to him, he felt neither cold nor scared. Wille didn’t believe in a god, but he believed in them.
Wille hoped that Simon would catch the meaning of his answer; that they would face whatever would come together. All changes, big and small, all difficulties, miniscule and overwhelming.
“I promise.”