Tove Lo

Tove Lo, born Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson on October 29, 1987, in Helsingborg, Sweden, is a singer and songwriter who has earned the title of “Sweden’s darkest pop export.” Raised in the affluent district of Djursholm, just north of Stockholm, Tove Lo grew up in a well-off family, with her father, Magnus Nilsson, co-founding the financial technology company iZettle, and her mother, Gunilla Nilsson Edholm, working as a psychologist. Her nickname and stage name, Tove Lo, were given to her by her godmother after she fell in love with a lynx, “Tove,” at a zoo—a name that stuck with her ever since.

Tove Lo showed a passion for music from an early age, forming a girl band with her friends and writing her first song at the age of 10. By her teenage years, she had already performed on stage and was writing lyrics that no one else had seen. Her love for music deepened during her time at Rytmus Musikergymnasiet, a prestigious music school in Stockholm, where she befriended Caroline Hjelt, who would later become one-half of the Swedish duo Icona Pop. After graduating from Rytmus, Tove Lo was determined to pursue a career in music, despite her parents’ hopes that she would choose a different path.

In 2006, Tove Lo formed the rock band Tremblebee, where she honed her songwriting and performing skills. However, after the band disbanded, she decided to pursue songwriting more seriously. In 2011, she secured a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music and began working with prominent producers like Max Martin and Alexander Kronlund. Her songwriting talents flourished, and she quickly made a name for herself in the industry, even while independently recording and releasing her own music.

Tove Lo’s breakthrough came in 2014 with the release of her debut studio album, Queen of the Clouds. The album, which reached number 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, featured the hit single “Habits (Stay High).” The song became a sleeper hit, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and catapulting her into the international spotlight. The album also included another successful single, “Talking Body,” which solidified her reputation as a pop star with a raw, grunge-influenced sound.

Her subsequent albums, Lady Wood (2016), Blue Lips (2017), Sunshine Kitty (2019), and Dirt Femme (2022), continued to build on her unique style. Lady Wood debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200, and its lead single, “Cool Girl,” became an international hit. Tove Lo’s music, often described as dark, idiosyncratic, and raw, has earned her comparisons to artists like Kesha, Lorde, and Robyn. Her lyrics are known for their brutally honest, autobiographical nature, often exploring themes of love, sex, and failed relationships.

In addition to her successful solo career, Tove Lo has written songs for other artists, including Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me like You Do,” which earned her Grammy and Golden Globe nominations, and Lorde’s “Homemade Dynamite.” She has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, from Duran Duran to Charli XCX to Coldplay.

Tove Lo’s influence in the music industry is undeniable, and her willingness to explore darker, more complex themes in her music has set her apart as one of pop’s most compelling and innovative voices. Despite her success, she remains deeply connected to her Swedish roots and continues to push the boundaries of pop music with each new release.