Photography by DT

Vancouver has now been lucky enough to experience Lykke Li live a few times. And on February 11, two of us ‘Beez got to hit up her sold-out show at the Commodore Ballroom, thanks to Timbre Productions.

When we arrived, openers Wildbirds & Peacedrums was warming up the crowd. The husband and wife duo from Sweden consists of Andreas Werlin on drums and Mariam Wallentin on vocals. While their experimental folk-rock sounds more subdued on records, their live performance is a no-holds-back semi-spiritual experience, complete with Werlin’s forceful and complex rhythms and Wallentin’s Bjork-like wails. By the time their set ended, the energetic audience was stoked for the main show.

After a quick set change, Lykke Li’s minimalistic stage set was ready to go. Rising up from the smoky stage was a drum set, a guitar, and synths. Lykke Li’s single mic stood center stage.

As “Melodies & Desires,” the opening track on Lykke Li’s 2008 debut album, Youth Novels, filled the room, the Swedish songbird graced the stage. Lykke Li looked stunning in a simple, black painter’s smock-inspired dress, opaque black leggings, black high-heeled ankle boots, and a leopard-print scarf draped around her neck. As she hushed the almost-rowdy crowd, she began tapping the beat to “Dance Dance Dance” on a cowbell and sang a capella over top. Midway through the first verse, her three-piece band joined in, and Lykke Li switched to tambourine. What was obvious right from the start is that Lykke Li’s raspy, almost child-like vocals sounded almost identical live as they did on her album. What heightened the live version of “Dance Dance Dance” was the heavy, militaristic drumming.

After finishing her first song, Lykke Li asked the crowd, “How you all doing?” The audience erupted in a cheer, but not before the blond-haired singer could start the cute, wallflower anthem, “Everybody But Me.” Near the end of the track, which is only available on the North American release of her album, Lykke Li began to break out her vigorous, disjointed dance skills. She threw it all out on stage before going right into the next song, “I’m Good, I’m Gone.” This song was almost identical to the recorded track, except for featuring more thrashing guitars and once again, heavy drumming in the live version.

Next, Lykke Li broke out folksy, tribal beats in “Hanging Me High” before starting up the hit love song, “Little Bit,” which energized the crowd from the opening four notes into a full-fledged sing-a-long, despite the overall angelic airiness of the single.

For the second half of the show, Lykke Li was ready to turn the night into a party. “Are you ready to get down?” Lykke Li shouted into the crowd. Then the more electro-sounding “Complaint Department” started up. Next, Lykke Li performed the first of three of the night’s covers. She sang “Knocked Up” by Kings of Leon passionately into the mic, and the crowd responded. But that was not enough for the singer. “You’re awfully quiet today,” she said after the song. “I have a question for you, Vancouver, have you ever had a bad boyfriend?” The audience cheered and shook their fists towards the stage while Lykke Li sang the last track on her album, “Window Blues.” At the chorus, she invited the audience to sing along and shout out the numbers one to six in French. Then, she finished the song on a megaphone.

For “Let It Fall,” which came up next, Lykke Li called for dancers to join her on stage. Immediately about 20 girls leaped onto the stage for a chance to dance with the singer. After that, Lykke Li sprang into a relatively unknown track called “I Don’t Mind (Jump On It)” which broke into a cover of Lil Wayne’s “A Milli.”

“Thank you for tonight,” Lykke Li cooed into the audience. The singer left the stage just for a minute before coming back on to perform her hit single, “Breaking It Up.” She then slowed it down with very beautiful and sensual performances of “Time Flies” and “Tonight,” which flowed from one into the other. And to end the night, Lykke Li brought the energy back up by spitting out Tribe Called Quest’s “Can I Kick It.”

Overall, Lykke Li’s show was nothing short of amazing and impressive. Her stage presence and command of the room is outstanding, considering the songstress has yet to celebrate her 23rd birthday. Lykke Li will continue her North American tour into the States until the end of April. Props again to Timbre Productions for hookin’ us up and continuously bringing in stellar shows.

Check out the rest of the photos over on our Flickr page.

Swedish songstress Lykke Li is all but 22 years old, but her debut album, Youth Novels, is making heads turn. An explosion of electronic pop-rock with a little new age thrown into the mix, Lykke Li’s raspy, almost childlike vocals transcend lightly-layered, minimalist instrumentals. Singles “I’m Good I’m Gone,” “Little Bit” and “Breaking It Up” are already impacting global airwaves, not to mention Lykke Li’s avant-garde sense of personal style, which has been heavily noted by more than one fashionista. Despite her busy touring schedule (read: over 25 stops which include Paris, London, New York, Vancouver, San Francisco and Copenhagen), Lykke Li gave Killahbeez a hot minute to answer a few questions that have been on our minds.

You’ve been touring a lot lately! First with El Perro Del Mar and now, solo. How is that going?

It’s going very well, thank you. Over my expectations!

You’ve got a ton of dates scheduled for the U.K. in the fall. Is that where your main fan base is outside of Sweden?

I think so, since I’ve been spending more time there lately then in Sweden. Also my label is signed there.

You’ve been doing the whole summer festivals thing. How do you find that in comparison to playing smaller venues? Do you have a preference?

I find it quite intimidating sometimes ’cause it’s hard working up a vibe if its daytime and thousands of people. My favorite is always to play really late at a really small club.

How did you get started in the music biz? Is it something that you knew you always wanted to do?

You never know exactly what to do ’cause the picture you have in your head does not really fit into reality, but I always knew I wanted to be an artist. And about the biz, it’s just a struggle!

If you weren’t a singer, what would you be doing right now?

Finding myself, educating myself, releasing myself, somewhere down south…

How was it recording the tracks for Youth Novels? What was the process? How was working with Bjorn Yttling and Lasse Marten?

The whole project started kind of loose and spread out, and I love those two guys. It was only in the final recordings in NY that got really intense, but it was a lot of laughter and brainstorming going on… and champagne.

What were your goals and expectations when you recorded the album?

To make an honest and complete album and to not limit myself. I didn’t think about anyone else but me during that period. No expectations but my own.

It seems like a lot of your songs are about unrequited love and love lost. Even with the more upbeat songs or brighter melodies, your lyrics are quite sad and dark. Was that a purposeful theme when writing the album?

No, those were just the things I was going through at the moment…

While dark, your album is very danceable. You once worked as a dancer on a TV show and you dance a lot in your videos too. Is that something that was important to you when writing songs? Making them danceable?

I did not really work as a dancer on TV, as people would like to think. I danced behind another artist ONCE when I was 15. I don’t intend to make dance music, I don’t even like dance music, but I guess it kinda happens naturally…

Who are some of your musical inspirations/ influences?

Edith Piaf, Nina Simone, Dr. John, the Shangri-Las and the Fugees.

You lived in a lot of different countries growing up… Sweden, Portugal, Morocco, India… Has living in these places informed your music and style?

I only lived permanently in Sweden and Portugal and traveled to the other places, and no, I don’t think it influenced my music. Solitude in Stockholm influenced my music.

You left home for New York to record your album when you were 19. How was that experience?

I did not record the album that time. I actually did it the second time I got to NY when I was 21. They were both amazing experiences in very different ways.

Who would you love to do a collaboration with in the future?

Bon Iver, Beirut and Phil Spector.

You’ve become a bit of a style icon yourself. How would you describe your personal style?

Hmmm, have I really? My style is a bit schizo but I have a lot of black clothes and a lot of vintage.

What are three items you can’t live without?

Water, music and family.

Any upcoming plans you’d like to share with your fans besides touring?

I like to keep my plans secret until they’re accomplished. It’s a too high risk of failing otherwise.

Anything else you’d like to say to your fans?

I’m really thankful you’ve given me the oppurtunity to express myself at such early stage, and this is just the first shaky baby steps of my career. I will grow as well as you! One love.