Tove Styrke

Tove Anna Linnéa Östman Styrke^[1] (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈtuːvɛ ˈstʏrːˈkɛ]; born 19 November 1992^[1]) is a Swedish singer and songwriter. She gained popularity as a contestant on Swedish Idol 2009, finishing in third place.^[2] After Idol 2009, she started a solo career as an electropop singer and songwriter. She released her debut album Tove Styrke in 2010. The New York Post included Styrke in its list of "10 Artists to Know in 2011".^[3]

Biography

Styrke was born in Umeå, Sweden. She has two sisters, one younger and one older.^[1][4] Her father, musician Anders Östman, scored a number one hit on the Swedish radio chart, Svensktoppen, in 1975 with the song "Vindens melodi" performed by his dansband Max Fenders. Her mother was a ballet instructor and Styrke took classes from her at an early age.

Music career

Tove Styrke and "Call My Name" (2009–2011)

After competing on Swedish Idol 2009 and finishing in third place, Styrke was signed by Sony Music label in December 2009.^[5] In June 2010, she released her first single, "Million Pieces" which was co-written by Adam Olenius from Shout Out Louds and Lykke Li.^[6]

On 12 November 2010, she released her debut album, Tove Styrke. The album has been produced by Patrik Berger, Lotus & 2manyfreckles, Peter Ågren, Janne Kask and Paw. It peaked at #10, spending 35 weeks on the top album charts in Sweden. It was first certified gold, then later received platinum certification in Sweden. The majority of the album was co-written by Styrke.^[7] The album was later re-released in March 2012 in Germany with two new songs: "Call My Name" and "Sticks and Stones". Her second single, "White Light Moment", charted at number 5 on the Swedish top singles chart and received gold certification. It eventually peaked at #2.^[8] "White Light Moment" was later nominated for "Best Song of the Year" at Grammisgalan 2012, the Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Awards.

In January 2011, Styrke won the "Best Newcomer" award at P3 Guld.^[9] At ceremony, she performed a remixed version by Familjen of "Million Pieces". At the end of February 2011, Styrke issued her first EP, High and Low, featuring six remixes of the title track. In April 2011, Styrke featured in an IKEA commercial, where she performed the Swedish lullaby "Byssan Lull".^[10]

Styrke in 2010.

On 19 August 2011, the promotional single "Call My Name" was released on digital download. The song peaked at number 6 on the Swedish Singles Chart. "Call My Name" was later nominated for "Best Song of the Year" at P3 Guld.^[11] Also in August 2011, the temporary band Kedjan that included Styrke and various Swedish artists, released in Sweden the charity single "Ringar på vattnet" ("Ripple Effect" in English).^[12] In September 2011, the Swedish band Caotico collaborated with Styrke on their single released "Brains Out". She also appeared in the music video for the single.^[13]

Borderline (2013–2014)

In 2013 Styrke signed a contract with Sony Music UK. On 22 May 2014 she released her comeback single, "Even If I'm Loud Doesn't Mean I'm Talking To You", on iTunes in Sweden. On 9 October 2014, her next single "Borderline", the first from her upcoming EP of the same title, was released worldwide on iTunes. A remixed version of "Borderline" was previously released for the Swedish compilation album, F! on 22 April 2014 on iTunes in Sweden and for online streaming on Spotify. The music video for "Borderline" was filmed in Svalbard in September 2014 and premiered exclusively on website, "Fader", on October 15, 2014.^[14]

Styrke performed songs from the EP and new material at two debut UK shows in London on 5 and 6 November. The song "Brag" premiered exclusively for Nylon on 20 November 2014.^[15] The Borderline EP was released worldwide for digital download on 23 November 2014.^[16][17][18] On 17 November 2014, RCA Records announced that Styrke had signed with the label. The label confirmed Styrke's plans to release a her first US album via RCA and Sony Sweden in the spring of 2015.^[19]

Kiddo (2015–present)

On 23 January 2015, Styrke premiered the single "Ego" from her upcoming sophomore album, Kiddo. The single was available for streaming via her official Soundcloud account and later was released that same day on iTunes. The music video for "Ego" was filmed in Tokyo and premiered on Styrke's VEVO channel on 2 February 2015.^[20]

Kiddo was released in digital, vinyl, and physical format on 8 June 2015.^[21] The next single "Number One" was released for streaming on Spotify and digital download for iTunes on 13 May 2015. To promote the album, Styrke attended the annual SXSW festival in March 2015; she later embarked on a small tour of the U.S. in May 2015.

Four days prior to its release, Kiddo exclusively streamed in its entirety for Spotify listeners in Sweden on 5 June 2015.^{[22][23][24][25]}

On July 23, 2015, a cover version of "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears was released on iTunes as a single. A music video for the cover was filmed and premiered on Vevo the same day.

Influences

According to Allmusic, Styrke combined "the bubbling electronica of Robyn with the hipster synth pop of Annie and the hook-laden Euro-disco of September".^[26] The German Kulturspiegel, a monthly extra to Der Spiegel, called Styrke's music "nonchalant, catchy boom-pop" and compared it to Robyn and Lykke Li.^[27]

Discography

Styrke performing at Granny Goes Street Festival 2011

Albums

Extended Plays

Singles

Other appearances

• "Hot n Cold" on Det bästa från Idol (2009)
• "Byssan Lull" (2011)
• "Ringar på vattnet" (with Kedjan) (2011)
• "Brains Out" (with Caotico) (2011)

Music videos

• "High and Low" (2011)^[30]
• "Call My Name" (2012)^[31] (two versions)
• "Ringar på vattnet" (with Kedjan) (2012)^[32]
• "Brains Out" (with Caotico) (2011)^[33]
• "Bad Time for a Good Time" feat. Gnucci Banana (2012)
• "Even If I'm Loud It Doesn't Mean I'm Talking to You" (2014)
• "Borderline" (2014)
• "Ego" (2015)
• "Number One" (2015)
• "...Baby One More Time" (2015)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tove Styrke.

• Official site
• Agency Profile
• RCA Records Profile