Wolf Alice

Deriving their name from a short story by Angela Carter, Wolf Alice was formed in 2010 by Ellie Roswell and Jeff Oddie. Shortly after, the band released an eponymously-titled EP featuring the tracks “Every Cloud”, “Destroy Me” and “Wednesday”, the latter of which was also made into a video. After two years of playing local shows and getting their name into the blogosphere, Wolf Alice became a four-piece with the addition of drummer Joel Amey and bassist Theo Ellis.

The band subsequently released the single “Leaving You” as a free download on their Soundcloud page which resulted in BBC Radio 1 airplay and a feature in NME’s ‘Radar’ section, significantly increasing the exposure of the group. After the release of the single Wolf Alice toured with Birmingham, UK band Peace and recorded a session for BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stevens in January 2013.

Wolf Alice signed with independent label Chess Club records in early 2013 who issued the band’s first physically released single “Fluffy” in February 2013. This was followed the by singles “Bros” and the EP “Blush” in October 2013. By December, BBC Radio 6 named the band as the single most blogged-about band in 2013 and a little while later signed with Dirty Hit Records. The new label released Wolf Alice’s second official EP “Creature Songs” on a 10” vinyl and digitally in May, which the the band supported by opening for a catalogue of UK indie bands including Alt-J, Superfood and The 1975.

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.