Tove Styrke | KIDDO | Music Is My King Size Bed

Back in January I had tickets to see the talented Alex Winston at the Westway in Manhattan’s West Village. While the Westway (slated to shudder it’s doors July 1) IS one of the better small venues to catch buzzworthy new acts from all over the place, it’s not my favorite spot in town. That being said, on the bill that night-singer of catchy pop songs Chelsea Lankes and a Swedish siren by the name of Tove Styrke. Unfortunately Winston had to reschedule due to a vocal chord injury and the show turned into a free one, but Lankes and Styrke would go on as planned. Of course, I still went because who am I to turn down a free pop show?

That night, a laid back, CHILL-looking Tove Styrke rocked the stage at the seedy former strip club, including a previously unheard track called “Number One.” At the time, “Borderline” was the single being promoted, and as much as I love that song-“Number One” was the clear stand out for me. Right off the bat “Number One” gets things moving, thanks to some kick drum action. Accentuated by shimmery synths, Styrke swoops in with the first verse before quickly launching into the INFECTIOUS pre-chorus/chorus— “You’re only 18 / With stomps to the beat / But a killing machine / With stomps to the beat.” The 22 year-old sings with sassy schoolgirl confidence, especially on the punchy spoken-word bits that appear throughout the song. With “Na Na Na’s” a-plenty, “Number One” is one song that needs to be blasting out from every open car window this summer.

KIDDO, Tove Styrke‘s new album (her first in the U.S.) is out June 8th in the UK (iTunes) and the following day here in America-both through RCA Records. Pre-order KIDDO right now and you get 6 songs instantly, including “Number One,” and previous singles “Even If I’m Loud Doesn’t Mean I’m Talking To You,” “Ego” and “Borderline.”

Back in mid-March, Tove made her U.S. network TV debut with a performance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, as well as well received performances at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Having just finished a small U.S. tour tonight (playing the Troubadour in West Hollywood), Styrke will head back home to Sweden where she’s scheduled to play a string of festivals and shows through August.

While Tove Styrke is just gaining her pop foothold in America in 2015, she actually released her first album back home in Sweden in 2010, where it proceeded to sell like Swedish meatballs at IKEA (sorry-couldn’t resist), going platinum and earning her a Swedish Grammy nod. It’s always excited to see a bright, young talent who’s already proven herself at home, take a stab at the big scary American music market. I for one am rooting for her to succeed.