I’ve developed a mad crush on the saucy Swedish electro-Europop star Robyn, whose tracks are regularly inspiring spontaneous one-woman dance parties across the floor of my living room–and presumably, in living rooms across the world. Robyn’s got this vibrant talent and a drive that just won’t quit. She also possesses this sweetly peculiar elfin appearance that turns all the pop star stereotypes on their heads. How can someone be so adorably quirky and so wickedly tough at the same time? Swoon…
She’s been at this popscene for over fourteen years now, buying herself out of her global contract in 2002 in order to start her own record company, Konichiwa Records. Following the success of 2005′s Robyn, she set about releasing a trilogy of albums this year, Body Talk, the second installment of which was released last month as Body Talk Part II. It’s a kick-ass collection of fun, bringing on the sort of spine-tingling revelations of physical joy that only the best dance music can.
Collaborating with artists as varied as Royksopp, the Knife, and Snoop Dogg, Robyn produces epic pop masterpieces like “Hang with Me” (BT Part II) and “Dancing on My Own” (BT Part I) alongside experimental cult oddities like “Konichiwa B*****s” (Robyn, 2005) and “Don’t F*****g Tell Me What to Do” (BT Part I). Her refreshing appeal lies in her willingness to unapologetically step into the tried-and-true dance pop footsteps laid by Madonna, Kylie, et al, without ever dismissing her own unconventional sensibility. She embraces the music of the masses without losing her individual edge, an approach that lifts pop music to new heights and brings a semi-skeptic such as myself up on my toes, ponystepping and shaking it all around the room, completely at ease in my guilty pop pleasure.
Nicki Bluhm: One tall, cool glass of water
I recently had the pleasure of witnessing Nicki Bluhm perform with her Gramblers at the High Sierra Music Festival. This woman has a winning vocal presence and an exemplary personal style to match. Her clear-as-a-bell voice won the hearts of her eager audience as she swung through a variety of sweetly rockin’ tunes, occasionally sharing the mic with her hubby Tim Bluhm, one of her Gramblers as well as lead singer for the well-loved San Francisco-based rock outfit The Mother Hips. Oft compared to inestimable songstresses such as Bonnie Raitt and Joni Mitchell, Nicki has a warm, clear voice that breathes ingenuousness. With it, she smoothly traverses the pathways between folk, classic pop, and country rock.
Channeling the bohemian 1970s in a big way, Nicki rocked a pair of high-waisted bellbottom jeans and cropped vest in an appearance on the Big Meadow Stage. We know that not everybody can pull off the high-waisted jean look–in fact, next to nobody can– but Nicki is one tall, cool glass of water, and she owned it in her sweet, unassuming way. Elsewhere throughout the festival, she continued to betray a deep and abiding passion for late 70s vintage style, from a peasant halter dress to her layered shag haircut. Yves Saint Laurent would be proud.
The key to pulling off vintage or retro style is ensuring that the clothes do not wear you, and Nicki’s got that all sorted out. It doesn’t hurt that she’s a talented chanteuse with a doe-eyed, slightly androgynous beauty that shines out from beneath those dark bangs. As her song proclaims, she aims to Keep it Loose–and she does so with an easy, fluid grace.
Rebecca, June 2009
A quick watercolor sketch of an exquisitely talented friend and ally — distinctive photographer, fabulous mother, and fellow-traveler on the endless search for artistic inspiration.
I’ve developed a mad crush on the saucy Swedish electro-Europop star Robyn, whose tracks are regularly inspiring spontaneous one-woman dance parties across the floor of my living room–and presumably, in living rooms across the world. Robyn’s got this vibrant talent and a drive that just won’t quit. She also possesses this sweetly peculiar elfin appearance that turns all the pop star stereotypes on their heads. How can someone be so adorably quirky and so wickedly tough at the same time? Swoon…