Lykke Li at the Hammersmith Apollo

Swedish indie-pop singer/songwriter Lykke Li first came to our attention with her stunning performance of Little Bit on Later…with Jools Holland way back in 2008. The world fell in love with her “powdered-sugar pop”, and since then her music has been used in films like Sorority Row, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and the Vampire Diaries series.

But Lykke Li has returned with something altogether different with her latest album I Never Learn, inspired by a devastating break up à la Adele. Supported by Sting’s daughter Eliot Sumner, Lykke Li brought her new sound to Hammersmith Apollo for a sensation of a show.

Opening her set with the new album’s lead single I Never Learn, the singer emerged all in black, cutting a mysterious and floaty figure, comparable to that of a grieving widow. Backed up by her band and an impressive, dramatic light display, the set was visually stunning.

Lykke Li’s new tracks are melancholy by nature and yet somewhat eerie, but the young crowd had no qualms singing and swaying along. A beautiful cover of Drake’s Hold On, We’re Going Home had every audience member singing along as the singer’s haunting vocals possessed the venue. Lykke Li teased us for a while with the instantly recognisable buzzing synthesiser sound of Little Bit, before lurching full force into the crowd favourite. Gunshot silenced the arena, Lykke Li’s powerful vocals touching every heart, after which came the beloved I Follow Rivers, which sounded even more beautiful live than the original recording, and had every single body in the room dancing. Sumner joined the singer for some serious tambourine shaking on the comparably upbeat Get Some. 

The set closed with The Beatles’ Don’t Let Me Down – Lykke Li and her posse certainly did not let London down tonight with a mix of the old and new, reminding us why we are all a little bit in love with her.

Gemma Whitfield

For further information about Lykke Li and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Gunshot here: