Tove Lo can do it all.
The Grammy-nominated artist has been one of the most successful chart-topping artists of the last decade, writing some of the biggest songs both for herself and artists such as Lorde, Ellie Goulding and Icona Pop, and toured with the likes of Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Coldplay and Dua Lipa.Not satisfied with that resume, Tove Lo also takes the reins as producer, recently executively producing Pussy Riot's debut mixtape 'Matriarchy Now'.
Infamous for her shockingly honest lyrics delving into drugs, relationships, and the beautiful mess of human existence, Tove Lo expertly crafts a sonic landscape of addictive beats and lush instrumentation to keep you holding on through the raw pain of emotional divulgence, all the while weaving it seamlessly between chord structures and patterns the likes of which songwriters dream of being able to create.
In true Tove Lo style, prior to the release of her fifth album 'DIRT FEMME', she donned yet another cap, announcing the launch of her own record label Pretty Swede Records.
'DIRT FEMME' followed in October 2022, a sweaty, heaving dance-floor of a record, lathered with emotional wrestling underpinning euphoric, transcendental moments.
The record showcases a more tender, feminine side of Tove Lo with grace and nostalgia. "When I was coming up, I would lean into my masculine traits, because it's how I thought I would fit into every room of the boys' club," Tove Lo shares.
"However, that has shifted. The feminine traits of all people, not just women, are celebrated. And I have my own definition of feminine now.
"Honesty will wake emotion, so I love keeping the filters off. When you listen to 'DIRT FEMME', I hope it makes you feel like dancing naked in the street and crying at the same time," she laughs. "That's how it felt for me to write this. It's every side of my femininity.
"Songs on this album will contradict each other, and will probably upset some of you. It's extremely personal, and is all my feelings, thoughts, and questions put together in under 50 minutes with no answers."
Fittingly, Tove Lo released a stripped-back EP of select 'DIRT FEMME' tracks that allow the deep nature of the record to shine through in a tender way.
"All of a sudden, I had pretty much the whole album acoustic. And then I was just like, 'Why don't I put these out?'" Lo told NME.
"They're very raw, in the moment recordings. There's something to hearing the melody and lyrics in that way, it gives the song a different life."
Lo admits that heading into her third year of marriage has changed her life's emotional dynamic, however it is no less intense.
"I try to have the ability to be in touch with all my emotions as a creative person. Even though I'm better now and have a great relationship, it doesn't mean I'm not the emotional roller coaster that I am anymore," Lo told Mondo Sonoro.
"Maybe I no longer have the need to create drama to draw inspiration, maybe because I've already lived a bit," she laughs. "Many times I remember things I've done that I regret.
"Memories can come suddenly and knock you out: 'f... this hurt me so much', or 'f... I hurt this person so much'. I also keep writing breakup songs because, for me, the worst scenario would be that Charlie leaves me, so that inspires me.
"I write about those scenarios that appear in my head, that fear of losing him, which is crap because I hate needing someone so much. I don't feel so independent anymore. I'm always going to find inspiration to be intense and dramatic because that's how I am.
"But, do you know what's good? When I write about it, I feel better. It helps me a lot to write about my states and my feelings, I guess it's a bit like therapy."
Lo's vulnerable songwriting has touched many artists seeking to work with her, yet she is ever gracious of the talents of others, recounting her experience working with Lorde on 'Homemade Dynamite' to Mondo Sonoro.
"I keep very good memories of that composition. Working with her is a luxury, because she is a tremendously talented person, and incredible with lyrics.
"I am remembering a specific moment. She was telling me, 'I have this car accident in mind on an emotional level, but I want to describe it as a real car accident, and in turn I want it to be something beautiful'. And I'm like, 'I have no idea', because I'm usually very direct with my lyrics, right?
"And suddenly, out of nowhere, Lorde jumps out with, 'we'll end up painted on the road, red and chrome, all the broken glass sparkling'. She came up with it like nothing, man, that phrase would have taken me three days.
"She has an incredible vocabulary, a very cool way of playing with words. We have a similar freakishness in which we like to stay thinking about syllables for hours for some letters. It was fun."
Tove Lo plays Splendour In The Grass at North Byron Parklands, which runs 21-23 July. Tove Lo also plays Forum Melbourne 19 July (sold out) and Roundhouse (Sydney) 25 July.
