During a recent NPR Tiny Desk Concert, Swedish pop icon Robyn presented a captivating stripped-down performance of songs from her latest album, Sexistential, while also revisiting cherished classics. The intimate setting allowed Robyn to showcase her unique sound and deep connection with her audience.
Robyn’s Intimate Four-Song Set
Robyn launched her four-song set with a relaxed rendition of “Ever Again,” the powerful closing track from her 2018 album Honey. Following this, she introduced “Light Up,” which is featured as the penultimate track on Sexistential.
Reflecting on the Past
Before transitioning to her reimagined version of “Show Me Love,” Robyn shared a poignant memory about her early career. “For me, this is where it all started, in a way,” she reflected. The 1997 single helped introduce her to American audiences, alongside the notable track “Do You Know (What It Takes)” from her debut album, Robyn Is Here.
In a lighthearted moment, she humorously mentioned having to modify her jeans because her son had an accident on the way to the performance. Robyn closed her Tiny Desk set with “Sucker for Love,” showcasing the emotive quality of her latest work.
Insights on Success and Culture Shock
In a recent feature for Rolling Stone’s Musicians on Musicians issue, Robyn engaged in a discussion with fellow Swedish pop artist Zara Larsson about achieving success beyond their homeland. Robyn, who worked alongside songwriter Max Martin on the classic “Show Me Love,” spoke candidly about her experiences as a pioneer of Swedish pop music.
“It was a special moment at that time, also with Max Martin starting and everything that came with it,” she shared with Larsson. “It was really hard to navigate it, actually, because no one else was doing it. So it felt very lonely. There was a total culture shock for me coming to America at that time, not having anyone else to look at from where I came from. Because the cultures are different, it was definitely lost in translation.”
