Robyn

Prior to her life in the music industry Robyn found herself providing the voices for a number of animated films, including the Swedish/Norwegian film “The Journey to Meolonia” and “All Dogs Go to Heaven”. Having recorded and performed theme songs and self-written songs on the television at the age of twelve, following her graduation of middle school, the singer singed to Ricochet Records Sweden. The collaboration between Robyn and producer Max Martin and Denniz Pop provided the

Robyn’s first taste of the pop world was when she signed with RCS Record in 1994 and released her debut single “You’ve Got That Somethin’” and later the Swedish breakthrough track “Do You Really Want Me (Show Respect)” both of which subsequently found their way onto Robyn’s first full-length album “Robyn Is Here” released in October 1996. The album topped the Swedish charts and re-released over a year later in the U.S. the track “Do You Know (What It Takes)” reacher the top ten, as did “Show Me Love”.

Robyn’s sophomore release in 1999 of “The Truth”, an autobiographical album, didn’t receive the international release of its predecessor, as the record label didn’t think there would be any appeal in the U.S. The hit single “Electric” was extremely popular throughout Europe and the album was just pipped of the top-spot in the Swedish chart. The same year the singer collaborated with the Swedish musician Christian Falk, as well as becoming UNICEF ambassador, and left to travel the world for two years.

Her return brought a change of label, from RCA to Jive Records, and a new album “Don’t Stop The Music” released in 2002, which remained an exclusive Swedish release. Tired of the lack of creative control and inspired by fellow countrymen The Knife, Robyn terminated her contract with Jive records, formed her own label Konichiwa in 2005, which propelled Robyn’s creative license and musical success. Robyn’s self-titled album released in the same year saw the Swedish singer earn multiple Swedish Grammy Awards for, Best Album, Best Female Pop Artist, and Best Songwriter. The ballad “With Every Heartbeat” reconfirmed Robyn’s place within UK chart reaching No. 1.

2010 brought a whopping three albums from the songstress, the two mini albums “Body Talk Pt.1”, “Body Talk Pt. 2” and the full-length “Body Talk” choosing Diplo, Röyksopp and Snoop Dog to collaborate on the releases.

After spending three months in Brooklyn, New York at 19 years old, Lykke Li eventually returned to Sweden two years later to begin work on her debut record. The result was her first album, Youth Novels, which came out in January 2008, primarily in the Nordic regions before gaining a wider release months later.

Youth Novels received mass critical acclaim for its unique pop sentiments and found itself on many best-of-year lists. This helped Lykke Li secure important festival appearances at the Coachella and Glastonbury festivals among others. This expanded her fan base, who responded to the unique setup of her live shows.

As Lykke Li worked on her music and image, she got the chance to perform on shows like Later…with Jools Holland in the UK and Late Night with Conan O’Brien in the US. As her popularity increased with the release of her subsequent albums Wounded Rhymes in 2011 and I Never Learn in 2014, she continued to play on high-profile late-night shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman as well as more festival slots in Latitude and more.

During that time, Lykke Li also appeared in a series of high-profile collaborations which raised her profile significantly. A remix of her I Never Learn single "No Rest for the Wicked" featured A$AP Rocky. She would also appear on David Lynch’s 2013 album The Big Dream, performing on the lead single, "I'm Waiting Here." And in 2014, she collaborated with U2 on “The Troubles.”

In 2018, Lykke Li released her fourth studio album, So Sad So Sexy. She offered fans numerous singles in anticipation of its release, including “Deep End” and “Two Nights.” She toured extensively in support of the record, including at major festivals like the Osheaga Festival. Barely slowing down to catch her breath, Li released another major album, Eyeye in 2020.

To that point, Lykke Li has branched off into several other creative projects. In 2022, she partnered on an immersive art installation called “Ü & EYEYE,” at Los Angeles’ The Broad Museum. Described as a “hyper-sensory cathedral of female romantic fantasy" installation, it uses her most recent release to enhance the experience.

Li is also an accomplished actress, as can be seen in her performances in the 2014 Swedish crime film Tommy as well as in Song to Song, an experimental film by legendary American director Terrance Malick. On top of all that, she’s also a professional model and the official face for a whole line of Levi’s jeans.

Nevertheless, Lykke Li remains first and foremost a musician. She’s earned a whopping 44 nominations with seven wins, including winning the Swedish Grammys for Best Album and Best Artist back in 2012. She and her work are all over the European awards scene, with American wins sure to follow in the near future.