Tove Lo is The Queen of The Clouds; at least that’s what her debut album is called. She hails from Stockholm, Sweden and made her start as a songwriter. Notable artists she’s written for include Icona Pop and Cher Lloyd. Now she seems locked, loaded and ready for her solo career. Her mainstream success began after her song “Habits (Stay High)” got remixed, thus propelling her into possible stardom.
The original “Habits (Stay High)” is all about the struggles of substance abuse and partying away the pain. It’s very similar to Sia’s “Chandelier,” but rather than being a metaphor, Tove Lo is definitely not sugarcoating it. “I get home, I got the munchies/Binge on all my Twinkies/Throw up in the tub/Then I go to sleep,” she sings, not really leaving anything to the imagination. Her sound is similar to Sia, a Swedish native herself, but with a grudge pop twist. Like “Habits,” a lot of her music has realness to it. She is blunt with her lyrics, which makes for a shocking, fun ride through her musical world. The music video is pretty direct itself and gives a first-hand look into her nights out.
One example of this bluntness is “Talking Body,” her anthem of sex, passion and love. “If we’re talking body/you got a perfect one, so put it on me,” she coos to her lover, and those aren’t even the innocent lyrics.
It has an infectious beat and is the most “pop”-sounding song on her album. But, who doesn’t love a raunchy, upbeat pop song every once and a while? It’s the perfect guilty pleasure.
Her next song, “Timebomb,” is a screamer. It starts with this glorious piano that feels victorious, then Tove Lo comes in with a monotone, irregular verse. It feels odd over this triumphant piano but also uniquely her. She then breaks into a screaming chorus, belting, “you and I/we’re a time bomb.” She breaks the general rules of pop by being a nonconformist and making her own decisions. She really doesn’t seem to care what other people think of her, and I feel she truly means everything she sings. She doesn’t want to be–nor should she be–predictable.
“Not On Drugs” is Tove Lo’s best song if I’m being honest. “I’m not on drugs/I’m just in love,” she croons over heavy synths and a simple beat. Her newfound romance brings her to an ecstasy she has never felt before. She takes you on a trip (pun intended) that will have you lost in her beautiful lyrics and raw voice. She will take you on another trip in her crazy video that is full of bright colors and beautiful images that make you question whether or not she’s on drugs.
Tove Lo is blunt, strong and unafraid of who she is. I find myself falling deeper in love with her music just as I’m writing this. The great thing about her is she is different, but it doesn’t seem like she’s trying too hard. She’s being herself, which is always refreshing to hear in music.
