After almost a four-year hiatus, Swedish international pop star Tove Styrke returns with her new single ‘Prayer’ (out January 15th via Sony Music) – a hopeful, defiant opening to her new chapter. During her time away she became a mother, a garden witch, and quietly built her most ambitious project yet; ‘The Afterparty’, a full-length album due out this autumn.
“’Prayer’ is exactly what the title suggests – a prayer, an affirmation,” says Tove. “It carries a sense of hope and anticipation, like sundown in a city full of possibilities. It’s the opening track of the forthcoming album, and the only logical place to begin telling this story,” she continues.
With ‘Prayer’ Tove Styrke embarks on an overall more leftfield pop journey; a 5 minutes and 26 seconds alternative dance odyssey. The track features a distinct sonic palette of analogue synthesisers from the 1970s and 1980s, live drums, and electric bass. Every sound on the single, as well as on the upcoming album ‘The Afterparty’, was recorded live in the room or created using analogue machines. No samples were used.
On this new chapter Tove Styrke has worked with a tight, local Swedish crew throughout the entire album which is also co-produced by Tove herself. All collaborators are artists in their own right: producer and co-writer Magnus Larsson, Joel Kiviaho (drummer and producer of rising act Boko Yout), and songwriter Linnéa Martinsson (Lune).
Of the forthcoming album ‘The Afterparty’, Tove reveals: “It feels like we’re living in the afterparty phase of our time. The album reflects on what that does to a person, told through the lens of an actual afterparty”.
Reconnection with nature and parenthood have played a major role in shaping this next chapter of Tove Styrke’s artistry. “Becoming a mother has also meant a really powerful shift in my life,” she says. “I honestly don’t care what anybody but my daughter thinks about me anymore. It’s freeing.” Tove adds: “I’ve also spent the past few years studying to become a biodynamic gardener. What’s funny is I honestly feel like gardening, my reconnection with nature and parenthood have all influenced this music as much as any piece of art or music ever did.”
Critically acclaimed and internationally respected artist Tove Styrke has released four albums to date (most recently 2022’s ‘HARD’) and has amassed over 1 billion streams of her songs including ‘Say My Name’, ‘Borderline’ and ‘Show Me Love’. Her collaborations span artists like Clean Bandit, Ritual, ALMA and Cosmo’s Midnight. Most recently she expanded her creative world by appearing in a leading role in David Bowie’s Lazarus musical in Stockholm in spring 2024. With a new album on the horizon, the stage is set for her to usher in an exciting new era of music.
