Lykke Li
Biography
Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson, known professionally as Lykke Li, is a Swedish singer, songwriter, model, and actress born on March 18, 1986, in Ystad, Sweden. Her music is a blend of indie pop, dream pop, and electronic elements. Raised by artistic parents—her mother a photographer and her father a musician in the band Dag Vag—Li had a nomadic childhood, living in places like Portugal, Morocco, Nepal, and India, which exposed her to a variety of cultural and musical influences. At 19, she spent three months in Brooklyn, New York, to immerse herself in the music scene.
Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
Lykke Li's career began with her debut EP, "Little Bit," released in 2007, which garnered attention from the indie music community. Her debut studio album, "Youth Novels," followed in 2008. Produced by Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John, the album received critical acclaim for its minimalistic production and confessional lyrics. It was released in the Nordic region initially and later received a wider European and US release.
Musical Evolution and Success
Her second album, "Wounded Rhymes" (2011), showcased a more mature and emotionally charged sound. It featured the hit single "I Follow Rivers," which became her best-performing single to date, topping charts in several countries. This album earned her Swedish Grammy Awards for Best Artist and Best Album in 2012. Her subsequent albums include "I Never Learn" (2014), a more melancholic and introspective work, "So Sad So Sexy" (2018), which shifted towards a mainstream pop and trap-influenced sound, and "Eyeye" (2022), which returned to a more experimental and intimate style.
Other Ventures
Beyond her music career, Lykke Li has ventured into acting, appearing in the 2014 Swedish film "Tommy" and Terrence Malick's 2017 film "Song to Song." She has also been involved in the fashion world, modeling and partnering with various brands. In 2016, she co-founded the band LIV with members of Miike Snow and Peter Bjorn and John. Additionally, she curated and headlined the female-focused music festival Yola Día in 2019, hosted by Yola Mezcal, a brand she creatively contributes to.
Collaborations
Throughout her career, Lykke Li has collaborated with a diverse range of artists. She was featured on the N.A.S.A. track "Gifted" and contributed the song "Possibility" to the soundtrack of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" in 2009. She has also worked with artists like Kleerup, Röyksopp, David Lynch, and Mark Ronson.
Personal Life
Lykke Li has a son named Dion, born in 2016, with her former partner, musician Jeff Bhasker. The period around the birth of her son and the death of her mother shortly after heavily influenced her album "So Sad So Sexy." She announced her second pregnancy in April 2023.