He may find the winters “brutal,” but Lenny Kravitz’s love affair with Stockholm goes well beyond its midnight sun. From late-night gigs and partying at Café Opera to collecting vintage Swedish furniture, the rock legend now channels that bold spirit into his latest album — and a fiercely intense campaign for Y Le Parfum
“I love Stockholm, but winter's brutal though.” They’re the very first unprompted words out of rock 'n’ roll legend Lenny Kravitz’s mouth. We’re speaking on a bleak January afternoon, reminiscing about the never-ending sunshine in summer. “Whenever I was there, I would do these late gigs. We'd finish at one in the morning, and it was still light out. I was blown away by that.”
Early on in his career, Kravitz would spend a lot of time in the Swedish capital. “There were so many musicians and artists I met because you guys have so much music coming out of there,” he says. “I’ve always enjoyed the city, how clean and fresh it is and how chill people are.” In fact, he used to have a girlfriend from Motala. Pausing for a moment, he continues: “What was that place called? Café Opera? We used to party there in the early ‘90s. We had so much fun in that place.”
What was that place called? Café Opera? We used to party there in the early ‘90s. We had so much fun in that place.
Lenny Kravitz
Photo: Courtesy of YSL Beauty
Photo: Courtesy of YSL Beauty
Old girlfriends and gigs aren’t the only connection Kravitz has to Sweden. As an interior aficionado (having established his own creative studio Kravitz Design), he is also a big fan of Scandinavian furniture design. “I’ve been inspired by so many different styles, but I used to collect old Swedish furniture, particularly these old couches or chaise lounges from back in the day,” he says. “I forget the boutique in New York that I used to get them from, but they had Swedish furniture from the late 1800s and the early 1900s.” While he draws inspiration from a vast array of references, those clean lines and the minimalism of mid-century Swedish design is a treasure trove according to Kravitz.
Kravitz has had a busy year, releasing his latest album Blue Electric Light and touring since summer. An intense lifestyle. But intensity suits Kravitz. A fitting fact considering he is the face of Y Le Parfum, the most intense release of YSL Beauty’s Y family. “I love intense fragrances. That is bold, that isn’t going halfway,” he says. “It also matches my sensibility in life. Like if you're gonna go there, go there. Right? Whatever it is, make the statement.” For Kravitz, in the getting ready process perfume is the exclamation point. “It's a finishing note to everything that you're doing. It seals the deal.”
For Kravitz, working with YSL Beauty was fated. “My mother used to wear Saint Laurent clothing, and when I started doing my thing, I got into it as well,” he says, noting how every part of Yves Saint Laurent's entire body of work – “his designs, his home, his lifestyle” – has been a source of inspiration. An individuality that fed into Kravitz’s latest work with the brand, as the face of Y Le Perfume. “It's perfume, yes,” he says. “But there's an identity to it. There's a message.”