Idde Schultz is a Swedish singer, guitarist, and educator known for the 1995 hit “Fiskarna i haven,” her solo albums, and work with Zzzang Tumb, Docenterna, Hovet, Anna + Idde, and Sulo & Idde. She later moved from music teaching into school library and special-education work after developing Ménière’s disease.
Background
Idde Schultz was born Eva Ann-Ida Schultz on September 1, 1963, in Stockholm, Sweden, and grew up on Södermalm. She began performing during her teenage years with her sister Irma Schultz, who later developed her own career as a singer, actress, and writer.
Schultz entered Swedish popular music during the early 1980s, a period when independent rock and pop groups were gaining visibility through small labels, touring networks, and youth-oriented cultural venues. Her early work with Zzzang Tumb established a continuing connection with Stockholm’s band scene and preceded her later work as a solo singer and member of established Swedish groups.
Education
Schultz's documented professional development is primarily connected with practical musical work, recording, touring, and later pedagogical training rather than a publicly detailed university education. She subsequently studied to qualify for teaching work in music and developed a second professional direction in school-based education.
Her teaching career was connected with Fryshusets gymnasium in Stockholm. Fryshuset is a Stockholm youth and education organization known for combining upper-secondary schooling with cultural, sporting, and social activities; during Schultz's years there, the gymnasium provided an institutional setting in which music education formed part of a broader youth-oriented educational environment.
Career
Schultz began performing in the early 1980s with Zzzang Tumb, the group she formed with her sister Irma Schultz. The band released the albums 37 Minuter i Stockholms City in 1982 and Zzzang Tumb in 1983. She later worked with Torpederna and appeared with Docenterna, continuing her development as a vocalist and guitarist within Swedish pop and rock.
Her breakthrough as a solo artist came in 1995 with the album Idde Schultz. The album reached number two in Sweden, and the single “Fiskarna i haven,” written by Staffan Hellstrand, became a major Swedish hit and topped the Swedish singles chart. She followed the album with Vad man gör (och inte gör) in 1997, whose songs continued her collaboration with Swedish pop and rock musicians.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Schultz performed with Lars Winnerbäck's band Hovet and contributed vocals to recordings associated with Lars Winnerbäck and Hovet. She later formed the duo Anna + Idde with Anna Stadling, releasing Anna + Idde in 2005, Vägar hem in 2006, and Hjärtat fullt in 2008. In 2011 she collaborated with Sören “Sulo” Karlsson on the album Kocksgatan Revisited.
Schultz worked as a music teacher at Fryshusets gymnasium from 2003 until 2018. After developing Ménière’s disease in both ears, she stopped performing and teaching music because of severe hearing loss and later worked at the school as a librarian and special educator. Her later activities have also included yoga instruction.
Achievements
Schultz achieved a major Swedish popular-music breakthrough with “Fiskarna i haven,” which topped the Swedish singles chart in 1995 and became her best-known recording.
Her 1995 self-titled solo album reached number two in Sweden and established her as a leading Swedish pop singer during the mid-1990s.
She sustained a long career across solo recording, band membership, duo performance, music teaching, and later school-library and special-education work.
Works
album
37 Minuter i Stockholms City
(Album by Zzzang Tumb, the group in which Schultz performe...)
1982
Med solen i ögonen
(Album by Lars Winnerbäck and Hovet on which Schultz perfo...)
(Schultz's debut solo album, produced by Staffan Hellstran...)
1995
Hjärtat fullt
(Album credited to Anna Stadling and Idde Schultz.)
2008
ep
Anna + Idde
(Collaborative release by Anna Stadling and Idde Schultz, ...)
2005
live album
Live för dig
(Live recording by Lars Winnerbäck and Hovet featuring Sch...)
2001
single
Fiskarna i haven
(Single recorded by Schultz and written by Staffan Hellstr...)
1995
Views
Schultz has expressed a view of music as an emotional and embodied form of communication, emphasizing interpretation, feeling, and expressive presence. Her later career change also reflects a practical approach to adapting professional life after serious hearing loss, moving from performance and music teaching into library and special-education work.
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
Schultz has described music as an activity that engages emotion and the body, emphasizing the importance of feeling and expression when interpreting songs. She has also spoken publicly about the personal difficulty of losing the ability to perceive music after Ménière’s disease affected both ears.
Interests
Yoga instruction and school-based educational work.
Writers
She has spoken favorably of the Swedish author Susanna Alakoski.
Music & Bands
Schultz has identified singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile as a favorite contemporary artist.
Connections
Schultz is the sister of singer, actress, and writer Irma Schultz. The sisters began singing in bands together during their school years and were members of Zzzang Tumb in the early 1980s.
Schultz has two daughters. Her long-term professional connections include Anna Stadling, with whom she formed the duo Anna + Idde, and Sören “Sulo” Karlsson, with whom she recorded and performed as Sulo & Idde.
Sister:
Irma Schultz
Singer, actress, and writer who began performing with Schultz in Zzzang Tumb.
References
Idde Schultz
Biographical and discographical reference covering Schultz's birth, musical associations, recordings, and teaching work.
Idde Schultz: Musik sätter i gång saker
Interview describing Schultz's musical career, work with Hovet, collaboration with Anna Stadling, teaching at Fryshusets gymnasium, family, and musical interests.
2013
Idde Schultz fyller 60 år: “Känns mäktigt”
Interview documenting Schultz's Ménière’s disease, the end of her performing career, her work as a special educator and librarian, her daughters, and the continuing significance of “Fiskarna i haven.”
2023
Idde Schultz: Sångerskan på biblioteket
Fryshusets profile describing Schultz's upbringing on Södermalm, work at Fryshuset since 2003, transition from music teaching to school librarianship, and diagnosis with Ménière’s disease.
2020
Idde Schultz — Discography
Discographical reference documenting Schultz's solo releases, Anna + Idde recordings, Zzzang Tumb appearances, and other contributions.
Release “Idde Schultz” by Idde Schultz
Bibliographic record for Schultz's 1995 solo album, including release information, label, tracks, and production credits.
