Lykke Li releases "Sadness is a Blessing" video

Lykke Li is no stranger to theatricality, as fans most likely saw in her Solarium and "Untitled" videos. And Lykke Li has some rather talented friends: Remember Swedish/Lebanese actor Fares Fares in "I Follow Rivers" video? Well in her latest video for "Sadness is a Blessing" she combines the two - her first music video to actually feature parts sans music features Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard as her father. Lykke Li plays Skarsgard's attention-grabbing rebel daughter who manages to shock a roomful of affluent dinner patron with her vodka guzzling and dancing. The video was directed by previous collaborator Tarik Saleh.

Enjoy the video for "Sadness is a Blessing":

Lykke Li - Sadness is a Blessing (Director Tarik Saleh) from Lykke Li on Vimeo.

Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes (2011)

Lykke Li hinted at a darker, edgier sound with the initial release of "Get Some", and the rest of her sophomore album Wounded Rhymes does not disappoint. The new album isn't just packed with dance-y pop tracks but throws in the occasional ballad ("Love Out of Lust") and even 60s doo-wop inspiration ("Unrequited Love", "Sadness is a Blessing"). As you listen, one thing remains clear: Lykke Li's new album is an album where she remains fully in control. Her lovelorn claims aren't insincere, rather it becomes apparent that she will love on her terms or not at all.

With Wounded Rhymes, Lykke Li makes it abundantly clear she's no pushover and come a long way from the cutesy crooning of "Dance, Dance, Dance". She's no longer too shy to speak her feelings but has harnessed the power of both her voice and her sexuality. Though there are some similarities between her first and second album in terms of format. At no point does her album become stale, instead when you think you know what to expect: she changes it up in a way that's boldly different and doesn't sound like it belongs on another album.

You can currently listen to the new album stream in full on Soundcloud and pre-order the new album at her website here. Wounded Rhymes hits shelves March 1st on her own LL Recordings.

Now Streaming: Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

Almost a full week before its official release, Swedish siren Lykke Li is offering up her new album Wounded Rhymes for listening in full on Hype Machine and Soundcloud. What's most surprising about her decision to do so is that it happened at just about the same time she made her third track "Love Out of Lust" available for listening and download. Give Lykke Li's new album a listen:
Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes (Hype Machine Album Exclusive) by LykkeLi

Watch: Lykke Li - "I Follow Rivers"

When she's not selling out shows worldwide, Swedish siren Lykke Li is creating art. After an untitled video where Lykke Li gets in touch with her primal side and savagely attacking the sand on a beach. The video for her second single from upcoming sophomore album Wounded Rhymes "I Follow Rivers", finds Lykke Li traversing the snowy plains of Gotland with Swedish Lebanese actor Fares Fares. Well more like chasing after him. Even going barefoot in the freezing snow to catch up to him. And when she catches up with him there's like a minute of kissing. After the super fem-powered "Get Some", it shows a softer side to the take no prisoners persona established in her past couple videos. And yet, even when she's comforting a man, barefoot in the snow, a steely glance at the camera reminds you that she's still no pushover. Enjoy the video for "I Follow Rivers":

Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers (Director: Tarik Saleh) from Lykke Li on Vimeo.

Lykke Li announces new album

Fresh off the release of her sultry "Get Some" single and video, Lykke Li offered up some album details. The new album entitled Wounded Rhymes will be out in early March (the end of February if you're one of those lucky devils in the UK) and promises to be much darker than her sweetly innocent 2008 debut Youth Novels. Sure, the album had the Swedish singer declaring her fiery passion and work ethic on "I'm Good, I'm Gone" and banishing a lovelorn lover in "Breaking It Up" but they were done in kind of a cutesy way and Lykke Li is over that. Her sophomore album, produced by Peter, Bjorn, and John's Bjorn Yttling and released on her own LL Recordings, will see a more grown up but still remarkably independent Lykke Li. Not surprising with lyrics like "I'm your prostitute and you gon' get some" off the single. In an interview with Pitchfork, Lykke Li expresses her desire to be de-categorized as a cute Swedish female singer and instead for people to focus on her lyrics and what she has to say, instead of her looks. Here's hoping, Lykke Li.

Check out the tracklist for Wounded Rhymes out Febuary 28th in the UK, March 1st in the US, March 2nd in Swedish, and worldwide the first week of March:

1. Youth Knows No Pain
2. I Follow Rivers
3. Love Out of Lust
4. Unrequited Love
5. Get Some
6. Rich Kid Blues
7. Sadness Is a Blessing
8. I Know Places
9. Ladies Love
10. Jerome
11. Silent My Song

She's also heading out on another worldwide tour (after playing the last of her sold out shows in December) in March. See if Lykke Li will be in a city near you here.

Lykki Li releases "Get Some" video

Following the recent free digital release of "Get Some", Swedish lovely Lykke Li is already serving up a video for it. The video for the steamy single features some footage from girl-power sci-fi black and white B-movies and Lykke Li dressed as an alien strangely remiscent of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" while performing some scary witchcraft.

Enjoy the eerie yet somehow sexy video of "Get Some":

Lykke Li - "Get Some"

Lykke Li makes good on her promises of new songs by releasing a brand spanking new single "Get Some". The song with its hypnotizing drum beat and burlesque swagger is a sexier Lykke Li than her debut Youth Novels might have lead listeners to believe but also seems a natural progression. Lykke Li focuses her drive and passion established in "I'm Good, I'm Gone" and "Breaking It Up" into a sultry, come hither display of power.

The single along with B-side "Paris Blue" are available for free download at Lykke Li's website here.

Listen to "Get Some":
Lykke Li - Get Some by radarmaker

Lykke Li releases short film and announces select shows

Sometimes artist do just that: make art. Swedish indie-pop artist Lykke Li starred in a recently released short film by Moses Berkson called Solarium shot in the desert. The film has Lykke Li being all lovely and doe-eyed dancing in a multitude of outfits, in addition to playing with mirrors and digging with shovels. The film is silent except for a primal soundtrack created by Lykke Li and Bjorn Yttling. Of the film Lykke Li says:

A major heart break and a post tour depression drove a very delusional LL out to the desert with some friends and a super 8 camera.

A major sun burn later, some shattered mirrors, I found myself, my ego, my thoughts, my expectations and my image to be a burden, hard to get rid of, if ever possible?

Silence my dear, let the images speak and listen to the sound of my broken drum.

How can one just be?

To celebrate, Lykke Li is playing a small number of tour dates where she promises to play a bunch of new songs:
Nov 1 Berlin, Germany - Heimathafen
Nov 2 Paris, France - La Maroquinerie
Nov 4 London, England - Heaven
Nov 8 Stockholm, Sweden - Kagelbanan
Dec 1 New York City, USA - Le Poisson Rouge

And proving that Americans love their quirky Swedish artists, her NYC tickets have already sold out within about a week of her announcing it. Damn.

Watch the short film here:

Watch: Lykke Li - Possibility

Swedish lovely Lykke Li is one of a handful of artists that lended their talents to create exclusive tracks for the New Moon soundtrack among the likes of Thom Yorke, OK Go, Death Cab for Cutie, and Muse to name a few and despite my dislike of the movie series, any good music lover can't deny that of many of the songs are just plain good.

The video for the track "Possibility" was filmed live in a similar vein to her video for "Tonight" and the alternative version of "Breaking It Up" but her powerful tone and lyrical clarity will have you second guessing the video's authenticity. Don't. It's live. It's real. It's good.

Enjoy!: