Los Angeles doesn’t get much rain, but on Wednesday night at the Fonda Theatre, hundreds of fans braved a record downpour to line up for blocks and see Swedish pop star Robyn perform new songs for the first time in seven years.
The event, a Hollywood celebration for Robyn, was styled by Stockholm’s Acne Studios in partnership with Spotify. It welcomed her top Spotify listeners and a host of VIP guests like Sky Ferreira, Adéla, Lykke Li, Kyle Maclachlan, Miranda July, Jordan Firstman, and Vivian Wilson. Before Robyn took the stage, opening acts DJ Brownskinhazel and singer Isabella Lovestory got the crowd moving with bass-heavy reggaetón that vibrated through the nearly 100-year-old theater.
By 10 p.m., the lights dimmed to a deep red. Robyn appeared through a haze of smoke, wearing an oversized bomber jacket over a black lace bodysuit and nylon tights, and launched into her emotional 2018 ballad “Missing U.” With arms reaching toward the audience, she sang the poignant lyrics: “All the love you gave, it still defines me.”
She went on to perform 15 songs, mixing classics from her 30-year career—like the dance anthems “Call Your Girlfriend” and “Dancing on My Own”—with her new single “Dopamine.” The track is a bright, steady-beat pop song inspired by the brain’s chemical response to love.
Before the show, the 46-year-old artist chatted with me in her dressing room, relaxed in a nude Acne slip dress and a patent leather blazer. She opened up about her personal style, creating new music, and her views on today’s pop landscape.
Vogue: How would you describe your style in general?
Robyn: I’d say it’s sort of homemade. I often return to what I wore as a teen—Doc Martens and hoodies. Acne is great because they’re based in Stockholm; I can visit and they tailor things to fit my body. Style is really about your body and what feels comfortable, since everyone looks so different. There’s nothing better than knowing you feel good.
You have a new album coming, possibly next year. What has your life been like since your last album, Honey, seven years ago?
I mostly stayed in Sweden and focused. I was still performing in early 2020 when everything started shutting down. Then we went into lockdown, and I didn’t leave Sweden for about three years. So I began working on new music. Since I usually collaborate with Swedes, I didn’t need to travel. I spent a lot of time in the studio at first, and then I had a baby.
Congratulations, by the way!
Thank you!
Let’s discuss your new song “Dopamine.” You actually wrote it ten years ago. What finally made it feel complete?
I’m not sure why it took so long. I wrote it with Klas Åhlund, my longtime collaborator, and held onto it for years. I even sent an early demo to Daft Punk to see if they wanted to produce it, before I knew I was working on this new album. Before Honey, I didn’t really know how to make a pop album, and I knew this was a pop song. My earlier work was more nonlinear, without traditional choruses, inspired by how music sounds in a club. “Dopamine” felt different. It was one of the first songs I revisited when I returned to the studio in 2020. Klas and I added verses in a conversational tone, and that’s when I knew it was finished.
Your music has always felt like healing dance-pop to me. What is your songwriting process like?
Klas and I always…We often discuss emotions. He reads books that aren’t academic science but more commercial—pop science, you could say. Yes, he reads pop-science books, and so do I. We both love writing about the raw emotion of love without overcomplicating it—getting to the science behind it, yet acknowledging how uncontrollable it truly is. When you’re in love, you’re aware you’re acting foolishly, swept up in the moment. It’s a vulnerable state, but also a beautiful one. I think people, or at least I have been, fear losing control. Yet, experiencing that intense emotion and vulnerability is so beautiful.
A song called “Dopamine” fits perfectly today, when so much of life revolves around chasing that feeling, especially online. We’re all trying to manage our doses, right? But this song captures that sense of being overwhelmed by it, which is just part of being human. Dopamine fuels popular culture now and always has—it’s that rush you get from music, too, and it’s not a bad thing. People seem to be seeking the dopamine hit of love in smaller ways: swiping on dating apps, posting on Instagram, getting likes and craving more. But love is the intense, scary one—it’s what we’re ultimately chasing, even if it frightens us. Human interaction has changed; physical meetings are rarer, so we turn to the internet for that dopamine. Yet, real-life connections are far more precious.
What keeps you and Klas collaborating after all these years? We both have the stamina to stay uncomfortable and work on things for a long time. When I work with others, my persistence can frustrate them, but I believe you can’t overwork something—you just reach a new level. I enjoy that process with Klas because he’s as obsessive as I am. We understand each other, which is crucial in such a relationship. It’s like an old marriage with its ups and downs, but this time we’ve reached a whole new level of excitement, and I’m really proud of us.
You should be! Your studio sessions sound therapeutic. We never went to therapy, but it feels like we did. We’ve shared our emotions and experiences for 20 years, doing more work than most couples. I love him; he’s one of my best friends.
It’s been 30 years since your first album, Robyn Is Here. What gives you hope for pop music since then? The music industry is much better now than when I started. Working with incredible songwriters has been key for me, though most have been men, and I’m trying to collaborate with more women. Writing a good song still excites me—it’s a hobby, an obsession, never about the industry or career calculations. From the beginning, I wanted to make pop music that felt human, even when others didn’t see it that way. I stuck to my ideas and brought people along.
You’ve been great at supporting new generations of women in pop; I hear your influence in Charli’s music. What was it like teaming up on the “360” remix? She asked me, telling me about her album Brat. I was thrilled. We had dinner six months before its release and talked before everything went crazy. In a way, I feel…I feel more connected to Charli’s generation in pop music than to the artists I began my career with. Her work introduced a flexibility and a more fluid perspective on pop. It’s an exciting time for the genre.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and clear FAQs about Robyns return to the pop music scene
General Beginner Questions
1 Is Robyn making new music
Yes After a significant break Robyn has officially returned to the pop music scene with new singles and performances
2 What was Robyns biggest hit before her break
Her most globally recognized hit is Dancing On My Own from her 2010 album Body Talk
3 Why did she take a break from music
Robyn stepped back to focus on her personal life take a creative rest and explore other projects outside of the constant albumtour cycle
4 What does her new music sound like Is it different
Her new music retains the signature emotional dancepop sound shes known for but it often feels more mature and reflective continuing to blend heartfelt lyrics with electronic beats
5 Where can I listen to her new songs
You can find her new music on all major streaming platforms like Spotify Apple Music and YouTube
Deeper Advanced Questions
6 How has her sound evolved since the Body Talk era
While the core of emotive dancepop remains her newer work often experiments with more atmospheric production intricate rhythms and a slightly less arenaready but more intimate feel
7 What are the common themes in her new lyrics
Themes often explore introspection the passage of time healing and the complexities of relationships and connection reflecting a more mature perspective
8 Has she collaborated with any notable producers on her comeback
Yes she has continued her longstanding collaboration with producers like Klas hlund and has also worked with other innovative figures in the electronic and pop world
9 What is the significance of her return for the pop music landscape
Her return is significant because she is an artist known for her integrity and for blending critical acclaim with pop success She brings a unique voice of authenticity and artistic depth that is often missing in mainstream pop
10 Are there any common criticisms of her new work
Some listeners familiar with her earlier more immediate pop hooks feel that her newer material can be more experimental or less instantly catchy requiring a few listens to fully appreciate
Practical FanFocused Questions
11 Is she going on tour
Tour dates