In Conversation: Spike Festival’s Boyan Pinter with Janne Schaffer, one of Sweden’s most prominent and in-demand session musicians, talks solo career, ABBA, and finds his musical voice amidst a diverse range of influences and collaborations.

We caught up with the celebrated guitarist, songwriter, and composer on his day off from a long tour. Reclining in his garden, he shared with us the story of how he got started as a guitarist, his career in music: from a session player to an artist in his own right, and his friendship and collaboration with many of Sweden’s greatest artists, including ABBA, Björn J:son Lindh, and the famed Ted Gärdestad.