Kygo
Biography
Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll, known professionally as Kygo, is a Norwegian DJ, record producer, and songwriter born on September 11, 1991, in Singapore. He spent his childhood traveling with his family to countries like Brazil, Japan, Kenya, and Egypt before they settled in Bergen, Norway. Kygo began taking piano lessons at the age of six. Inspired by Swedish DJ Avicii, he started producing electronic music in his mid-teens using Logic Studio and a MIDI keyboard. He initially pursued a degree in business and finance at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland but left to pursue his music career full-time.
Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
Kygo first gained international attention with his remix of Ed Sheeran's "I See Fire" in December 2013. He followed this with his breakthrough single "Firestone," featuring vocals from Conrad Sewell, in December 2014. The track was a massive international success, accumulating millions of streams on platforms like YouTube and Spotify. This success led to him being contacted by artists like Avicii and Coldplay for remix opportunities. In 2014, he signed a record deal with Sony International and Ultra Music.
Rise to Fame
By late 2015, Kygo had become the fastest artist to reach one billion streams on Spotify. He released a series of successful singles, including "Stole the Show," "Here for You," and "Stay". In August 2016, he made history as the first house music producer to perform at an Olympic closing ceremony at the Rio Olympics.
Studio Albums
Cloud Nine
Kygo's debut studio album, "Cloud Nine," was released on May 13, 2016. The album featured a variety of guest vocalists and included hit singles like "Firestone" and "Stole the Show".
Kids in Love
His second album, "Kids in Love," was released in 2017. This was followed by collaborations with major artists, including "It Ain't Me" with Selena Gomez and "Born to Be Yours" with Imagine Dragons.
Golden Hour
"Golden Hour," his third album, was released in 2020 and featured collaborations with artists like OneRepublic and Zara Larsson. It included the singles "Lose Somebody" and a remix of Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do with It".
Thrill of the Chase and KYGO
He released his fourth album, "Thrill of the Chase," as a surprise in November 2022. His self-titled fifth studio album, "Kygo," was released in 2024 and featured collaborations with artists such as Ava Max and Nile Rodgers.
Musical Style and Legacy
Kygo is recognized for pioneering the tropical house genre, which blends elements of pop music with deep house. His sound is characterized by its relaxed, sunny vibe and melodic synth lines. In March 2018, Billboard ranked him third on their "Billboard Dance 100" list of dance musicians. He also launched his own record label, Palm Tree Records, in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment.