ABBA’s Frida on reunion: “It’s fun to work together… a little bit tense”

ABBA's Anni-Frid Lyngstad (second from right) has revealed it's "a little tense" to be working with her bandmates again, releasing their first new music in nearly 40 years.

In an exclusive interview with Zoe Ball on Radio 2 Breakfast this morning (November 11), Frida described meetings that had led up to the reunion - with bandmates Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog.

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"When this idea with the Abba digital or the avatars... came out then Benny suggested we maybe have a couple of new songs on that show so that’s how it started."

"So with anticipation, I went into the studio to meet with the others because it’s always fun to work together with them... a little bit tense maybe, but we also decided on if it doesn’t go well then we don’t have to release it.’

The Swedish foursome debuted their new album 'Voyage' last week, the LP had broken the UK pre-order record upon its announcement - overtaking Take That's 'Progress'. While greatest hits compilation 'Gold' became the only album to manage 1,000 weeks in the official albums chart in July.

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Frida revealed the key to the success of the new record is the fact the band no longer "take it that seriously" as they did in their younger years.

"It meant so much [then], but as Benny said in an earlier interview, we don’t have to prove anything so we have just done it for the fun of it and that’s a good feeling actually. And then when people like it, as they seem to do, then, of course, it’s wonderful.’

Frida also talked about 'Voyage' track 'Bumble Bee' dedicated to the importance of bees and the need to protect them, "I sing this song with my heart because if we don't have the bumble bees or the bees in general we [don't] have a lot of other things either so they are very important."

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She expressed fears for the environment, but relief in the engagement of young people - particularly fellow Swede Greta Thunberg, "I think we have a little Queen in Sweden, Greta Thunberg, raising her voice and I must say I’m very proud of her, this young person getting all these young people with her."

You can listen back to Zoe Ball's interview with Frida on BBC Radio 2.

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter