Swedish pop singer Tove Styrke performed for the first time in the U.S. in four years, and she delighted fans with newer tracks and hits Tuesday at West Hollywood spot The Peppermint Club. The lively set precedes the pop star’s tour with MARINA, which starts tonight at San Francisco’s The Masonic, before trekking all over North America this month.
LA-based performance artist, singer and multi-instrumentalist Buzz opened, sharing her avant-garde pop music including two recents 2021 tracks, electro-pop bangers “Misfit” and “FTN”. She sang center stage, played the synthesizer and a keytar, joined by a keyboardist/drummer. Buzz performed a song she said she had never done before called “Lifted”, ad-libbing “ahhhs” beautifully like her voice was another instrument. Then her statement piece and new single “Liberation” brought the chatter to a hush. She described it as a poem she wrote about being a struggling artist one day when she pulled her car off the road, telling the crowd, “I want to give myself a gift, the gift of being myself”. Buzz’s voice floated along a vocoder on this track, morphing like the very best of Imogen Heap or Kate Havnevik. It was an extremely emotional ballad with intense vocals and production, hitting on the lyric “even if nobody’s watching me”.
Tove Styrke’s set was a little of everything, she is a pop artist whose range encompasses rock, R&B, reggae and dance-pop. Styrke was joined by a percussionist/guitarist, opening with “Changed My Mind”, smiling and working the stage, dancing in a lilac corset with glitter sparkling around her eyes.
Styrke addressed the crowd, realizing she hadn’t played the States in four years, saying “My favorite thing about my job is to perform”, and she was grateful to be back on stage. The rhythmic “Mistakes” got fans singing along the whole time, swaying as Tove gyrated and teased. “Mood Swings” was next, with Styrke nailing her vocals on the verses, giving that extra emphasis on the chorus, “I’m a mess, I’m a wreck, I’m a savage”.
The earworm “On The Low”, which Styrke described as “a proper love song” was next, its mid-tempo percolating production driving home the song along with Tove’s incredible vocal. She stretched her arms out during part of the song and really reflected what she was saying. Following the popular tune, she said, “I grieved, ’cause I didn’t get to go to that country across the sea where they think I’m exotic”.
After some laughter, Tove Styrke asked if the crowd knew ABBA, and of course they did, so she played a cover of her favorite, “Super Trouper”. It was an unexpected and stunning, stripped-down version, with Tove’s eyes closed for most of the song, arm out during the lyric “lights are gonna find me, shining like the sun”. She danced in place and let her arms float around her during the amazing vocal, in moments sounding like early Gwen Stefani on a ballad.
It was clear Styrke was excited about 2021 track “Start Walking” keeping the energy up while fans danced to the 80s groove, and her guitarist was rather strong as well. She could do a collaboration with The Weeknd after recording this song, or at least she should.
Tove’s biggest hit “Say My Name” got her crowd crazy, singing along and dancing to “up up up up up”, during the playful bounce in the song. Her brand new single “Show Me Love” showcased a timeless surf-rock vibe, with Styrke displaying a different side, almost a cry in her voice, all while remaining her charismatic and sassy self.
The rock portion of the set continued with the slightly punky, but totally badass “Even If I’m Loud Doesn’t Mean I’m Talking To You”, giving off so much attitude. The sweet pop track “Number One” was next followed by new song “Hardcore”, a breathy, sensual downtempo performed almost entirely on the floor, smashing her notes and screaming in a few moments during the powerful song as the guitar tagged along.
“Borderline” offered another groove, a dance-pop tune with reggae flair that continuing to keep the crowd moving and clapping prior to the final chorus. For her last song, Tove Styrke’s melodic control was on point on “Sway”, beautifully carrying the mid-tempo bop while hands swayed in unison.
Having already toured alongside Lorde and Katy Perry, Tove Styrke’s return to North America is sure to make a splash this month joining Welsh singer MARINA on the road. Popular electro-pop duo Sofi Tukker was present at The Peppermint Room show. She’s become a mainstay for pop and electro-pop collaborations with strong records with Cheat Codes & Travis Barker, NOTD, Clean Bandit and Lost Kings, and though she didn’t perform any of these, she has enough of her own material to make an impact. Tove Styrke’s a versatile entertainer who can simply sing anything with a magnetic stage presence and an attitude that ignites the stage.
Photos by Justin Higuchi
Tove Styrke Live Dates (supporting MARINA):
2.2.2022 San Francisco, CA at The Masonic
2.5.2022 Portland, OR at Keller Auditorium
2.7.2022 Seattle, WA at Paramount Ballroom
2.11.2022 Denver, CO at Paramount Theatre
2.14.2022 Minneapolis, MN at Orpheum Theatre
2.15.2022 Chicago, IL at Chicago Theatre
2.17.2022 Detroit, MI at The Fillmore
2.18.2022 Toronto, ON at Rebel
2.19.2022 Pittsburgh, PA at Stage AE
2.21.2022 Boston, MA at Orpheum Theatre
2.22.2022 Philadelphia, PA at Metropolitan Opera House
2.24.2022 Washington, DC at The Anthem
2.25.2022 New York, NY at Terminal 5
