Swedish musician Robyn opens up about her journey into solo motherhood, the surprising sexual awakening it brought, and confronting the past – themes explored in her highly anticipated new album, Sexistential, her first in eight years.
After a moment of thoughtful silence, Robyn, eyes closed, acknowledges the depth of the conversation, stating, “Wow, this is really deep.” Eight years have passed since the alt-pop icon last released music, a period during which she says her life underwent significant transformation and reconstruction.
Her previous album, Honey, concluded a chapter marked by the mending of her engagement to director Max Vitali. Today, the 46-year-old artist’s life looks different: she is a single mother to three-year-old son Tyko, conceived through IVF, and has confronted the lingering impacts of her own childhood experiences within a demanding and exploitative music industry.
Meeting in a bright London recording studio attic, Robyn discusses Sexistential, describing it as an exploration of vulnerability and the courage to feel profoundly. “It’s about defending my right to be myself and be vulnerable,” she explains. Dressed in biker boots and a mesh hoodie, she creates a cozy, personal space by arranging her bomber jacket, two large handbags, and a black leather sailor hat around herself on the sofa.
Expressing her excitement for her return, she shares, “I’ve never released an album as a parent, so it’s really exciting to work.” A laugh, revealing a chipped tooth, follows as she adds, “When I do get time for myself, it’s liberating and fun.”