It was no random coincidence that Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson came to be one of Sweden’s most recognized artists of the 21st century. Her talent took her beyond the Scandinavian borders, and the twenty-eight-year-old girl from Ystad has made a career in the United States as well. Born to parents Kärsti Stiege and Johan Zachrisson – both part Swedish of prominent progressive rock bands Tant Strul and Dag Vag respectively – her early introduction to music came completely natural. Spending her earliest years in Portugal, India Marocko and Naples, and moving to Stockholm when Lykke Li entered adolescence, most likely enriched her vision of the world and seems to be influencing her vivid song writing.
She debuted with the album Youth Novels at the age of 22, and was produced by Peter Bjorn & John member Björn Yttling–prominent in the peripheral Swedish music industry. Meaning he’s the brains behind some of the greatest music of the ´00s and ´10s. However, her debut-EP came in 2007, and was mentioned by the indie music site Stereogum.
Now, Lykke Li is gearing up for the release of her third studio album, I Never Learn. Two singles have been uncovered, and only yesterday we were blessed with a remix of the first single, No rest for the wicked, featuring Harlem representing A$AP Rocky. Perhaps not as fun as Rocky’s collaboration with Lana del Rey a while back; this is however only a remix, but with Rocky’s eclectic lyricism it makes the song a bit more interesting.
Lykke Li is at Berns on April 24.
