It’s 2009, and Tove Styrke has just finished third on Swedish idol. The singer quickly releases a self-titled album of archetypal Scandinavian pop, which, to put it candidly, is a washout. Styrke’s recent admission that the record didn’t represent what she ‘stood for’ was therefore par for the course, and, contrary to its title, Kiddo is the product of this realisation, following what appears to be a six year long voyage of self-discovery. It screams, ‘I have arrived now and have something to say – so you’d better bloody listen.’
Opening with the punchy ‘We Ain’t Got No’ is somewhat a telling move, as Tove asserts that she won’t take anyone ‘pushing (her) soul around’, perhaps alluding to her unwillingness to conform to the platinum locks and mini-skirts of her female counterparts. This was blatantly obvious when I saw her in concert last October, as Styrke chose what can only be best described as a non-conventional ensemble for the evening: an orange boiler suit. Being the cynic I am, it was refreshing to learn that she would not later whip this off to reveal more raunchy attire beneath.
As a ‘Swedish pop star’, Styrke continues to defy our expectations with ‘Borderline’, a reggae-esque track, during which she condemns the ‘Trance of the empire’ via an array of feminist lyrics. The single’s message is undeniable – to ‘burn down the hierarchy’ as Styrke put it herself, and its rhythm is guaranteed to make you want to get up and vent your frustrations along with her.
The contentious lyrics reach their peak abundance on ‘Even If I’m Loud’: “You got a true mad deep big crush on yourself / I hope you hit the ground hard when you fell for yourself’”. Ouch. Although you certainly wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of Tove’s deliverances, they are wonderfully relatable, and this accessibility is a feature that crops up throughout the album. ‘Ego’ is a vent about that one person who just can’t get over themselves, and although its high pitch doesn’t always allow Styrke to give the lyrics the gusto they deserve, the single is proof that pop music can be snappy yet meaningful.
Given the watery lyrics and mechanized nature of her first album, the fact that Kiddo is even from the same artist is almost incredulous. It is a culmination of Styrke’s sheer hard graft and determination following her stint on the talent programme, which can only be commended. Whilst Kiddo is not exactly an era-defining masterpiece, it is undoubtedly great fun – something our current climate could probably benefit from.
Kiddo is available to buy now.
Words by Charlotte Hughes
@_charlottehughe