Tag: robyn

Uncover the Best Artists of the Nordics on Oyster, Spotify’s New Playlist and Studio Program

April 24, 2020

The Nordic region has long been a hotspot for game-changing and globally beloved music. Countless artists, producers, and songwriters (ranging from established names Robyn and Yung Lean to newcomers girl in red, SASSY 009, and Augustine) have made their mark on the industry and inspired fans around the world. But with so many of these impactful artists spanning multiple diverse genres, it can be difficult to experience them all in one place. That’s where our new playlist Oyster comes in.

With this playlist, Spotify listeners can discover the best and most relevant work across the Nordic region and beyond—just as they would discover a pearl within an oyster. 

“In a lot of the music I listen to, there’s an array of influences that come from everywhere,” says Swedish indie-pop artist Augustine. “It’s hard to categorize artists in one simple genre nowadays. I’m really excited that Spotify is creating a new space for this kind of music with its launch of Oyster, and I look forward to being a part of it.”

Swedish Pop Star Tove Lo Kicks Off New Nordic Spotify Studio Program With Veronica Maggio Cover

April 1, 2020

From ABBA to Robyn, pop music remains one of Sweden’s greatest exports. And among the artists who have risen to international acclaim is Tove Lo, who helped us kick off the new Nordic Spotify studio program Studio It’s Hits by covering Swedish pop star Veronica Maggio’s “I’m Coming.”

Studio It’s Hits is an extension of Sweden’s most popular playlist, It’s Hits Sweden. The program invites some of the region’s top artists and songwriters to showcase their talent and creativity—whether by recording a cover, remaking one of their own songs, or releasing something totally new. 

“Our ambition is always to support artist creativity and make a positive impact in their career,” says Johan Seidefors, Head of Content Nordics, Spotify. “Through combining this new studio program with the extension of our biggest and most popular playlists, we can give more artists the chance to come to our studio, record something new, and present themselves to existing and new fans.” 

Tove’s cover was recorded earlier this year in Spotify’s headquarters studio in Stockholm. You might be familiar with the original version, “Jag kommer,” which has remained popular since its release a decade ago.

“This song has been one of my absolute favorites since it came out,” Tove told For the Record. “I have so many memories of it, and I’ve always been so impressed with Veronica Maggio’s way with words. I could never write in Swedish the way she can. It’s the perfect mix of poetic, ‘everyday romance’ and making the Swedish summertime feel epic and melancholic all at once.”

While the original song—which has amassed over 65 million streams on Spotify—was written and recorded in Swedish, Tove recorded her version in English. The song was produced by up-and-coming producer Elvira Anderfjärd.

“It was such a cool challenge to translate something so close to my heart and to work with my band and Elvira in the Spotify Studio. Experimenting and playing around with the sound was the perfect studio experience I know and love.”

Pop Star Robyn Empowers Girls in Tech at First International Tekla Festival

March 11, 2019

You may know Swedish recording artist Robyn for her hits “Dancing On My Own” and “Missing U,” but she’s also the voice of a movement supporting young women and girls in STEM fields through her initiative, the Tekla Festival. This past weekend, Robyn took Tekla to the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, DC, to inspire girls to explore technology and challenge norms and stereotypes.

The two-day event, the Tekla Dialogue, began with an invitation to girls, ages 11-14, who live in disadvantaged areas, to experiment with technology and engage with speakers and role models. It was followed by panel discussions on Saturday that addressed pertinent questions, such as: Who gets to shape our future? What are the roles and responsibilities in closing the gender gap?

Workshop for girls ages 11-14 hosted by Caroline Dahl, Chairman of Makers of Sweden

Robyn was joined by Ann Linde, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Trade; Leslie Cruz, CEO of STEMconnector; Yamilée Toussaint Beach, Founder and CEO of STEM From Dance; Kate Rabinowitz, Reporter at the Washington Post; Aerica Shimizu Banksa, Cofounder of BEACON: The DC Women Founders Initiative; Tom Manatos, Vice President of Government Relations for Spotify; and Caroline Dahl, PhD, Technology Innovator, RISE and Chairman of Makers of Sweden, to discuss these issues across two riveting panels. The moderator for the event was none other than Natalia Brzezinski, the CEO of Brilliant Minds Foundation and host of the Brilliant Minds Podcast on Spotify.

Aerica Shimizu Banksa, Cofounder of BEACON: The DC Women Founders Initiative

Together, they addressed the underrepresentation of women in technology and explored various solutions. Read on for several of their thoughts.

“If you don’t feel like you can mirror yourself in someone and if you don’t feel seen, you can’t learn. And that’s the most important part about Tekla.” — Robyn

Center: Robyn, singer and founder of Tekla

“Our team did a survey and asked women, ‘What’s the biggest barrier to success in tech?’ We found that by far, the most regular response was that they don’t have enough role models. That even if they had the capital and time, they wouldn’t know what to do with it. And that’s something we need to solve.” —  Leslie Cruz, CEO of STEMconnector

“It’s critical to have various voices represented in our work. Conversations that exclude a diverse set of opinions lead to worse products and worse innovation. That’s a tangible problem impacting our immediate future.” — Tom Manatos, Vice President of Government Relations for Spotify

L-R: Natalia Brzezinski, Leslie Cruz, Kate Rabinowitz, Aerica Shimizu Banksa, Tom Manatos

“Given the right opportunity and the right resources, you have the opportunity to change not only your life, but a generation.” — Veni Kunche, web developer and entrepreneur

With mic: Veni Kunche

The Brilliant Minds Podcast celebrates entrepreneurial thinking and creativity through conversations with musicians, artists, fashion icons, creators, and tech founders about using their voices to knock down barriers. Take a listen: