Artist Cecilie and her partner create jingles for Eurovision – in Mariestad’s old town

Artist, entrepreneur and songwriter – Cecilie Thulin can introduce herself in many ways. But how come a Danish girl, raised in South Africa, creates Eurovision music in Mariestad’s old town? It all began with Ronja the Robber’s Daughter.

Cecilie Thulin was born in Denmark, raised in South Africa and has lived in both London and Berlin. But ‘home’ was always her grandma’s little cottage in Gullspång where, as a child, she played at being Ronja the robber’s daughter.

“My grandmother’s mother lived in Stockholm but would stay with a family over the summer in Gullspång. As an adult, she bought the cottage next to the farm where she had spent her summers, so the cottage has been in our family a long time. My grandma lived there when I was a kid, and when I moved to London at the age of 20, I began spending every summer at the cottage. I loved being so close to the forest. There I got to be the wild girl in the forest just like Ronja the robber’s daughter!”

As an 18-year-old, Cecilie left South Africa for London where she studied art and wrote music. Through her music, she resumed contact with an acquaintance from South Africa, a young man now living in Berlin and producing music.

In 2013, she set up a crowdfunding campaign to enable her to concentrate on music full-time for three summer months.

“I invited my friend to the cottage in Gullspång to make music that summer, and after a week we were in love with each other and the lifestyle we enjoyed there. We loved being so close to nature and getting to be creative through music and art.”

When the three months were up, they had to return to their homes in London and Berlin, but they were already determined to do one thing – to go back someday.

From Berlin back to the cottage

The year after Cecilie moved to Berlin where the couple lived, they had two children and built a company that produced music – Juki Music AB.

“When the pandemic hit, our children were two and four years old and we didn’t want to stay in the city. We are fortunate in that we can run our company from anywhere, and so we crammed ourselves into a van and headed for the cottage in Gullspång. It was the best decision we ever made!”

After one summer in the cottage, the couple rented an apartment in Gullspång as somewhere to stay when the little cottage grew too cold to live in during the winter.

“We’d decided we wanted to stay in Sweden but didn’t really know where we wanted to live. I’d begun working with my art again and was keen to find somewhere to use as a studio. I wanted a place where I could become part of the community and bring about a creative meeting place.”

One day, when Cecilie was walking in Mariestad’s old town, she saw a gallery in one of the old buildings.

“The gallery had big windows facing the beautiful street and I went in to find out how to get hold of a place like this. I couldn’t believe my luck when the artist who rented the premises said ’I’m moving out in January – it’s yours’!”

A creative meeting place

Cecilie was handed the keys to the gallery in January 2022, and soon after the family had another stroke of luck. An apartment in the same building became vacant and the family moved in.

“Today I can’t imagine living anywhere else! The old town is so beautiful and so close to everything we need. Both shops and nature are but a stone’s throw away. And the harbor! I just have to live close to water. We usually enjoy a staycation every summer – why would we want to leave when we have everything we could ever want right outside the door?”

Today, the former gallery is a forum for what Cecilie describes as natural, sustainable creativity. Cecilie organizes exhibitions, craft evenings and events for private occasions such as bachelorette parties and company meetings.

“Everyone is creative, and everyone enjoys being creative. Everyone is welcome to explore their own creativity here!”

Music for Eurovision

But what about the Eurovision jingles? Well, the company she and her husband started in Berlin has continued to do really well. Today, their customers include major media houses, and not only are the Eurovision jingles created in Mariestad’s old town, but the music in ads for e.g. Nutella also comes from here.

“We are living proof: People can enjoy life in a quiet, cozy little town close to nature while also working with major international customers. Looking ahead, we also hope to produce music for a band or two – pop music would be such fun!” 

“We still have plenty of dreams!” concludes Cecilie.