Tove Styrke

After Idol 2009, she started a solo career as an electropop singer and songwriter. She released her debut album Tove Styrke in 2010. The New York Post included Tove Styrke in its list of "10 Artists to Know in 2011".

Tove Styrke was born in Ume, Sweden. She has two sisters, one younger and one older.Her father, musician Anders stman, scored a Swedish number one hit in the 1970s. He opened a music store after he stopped touring.Anders stman introduced Tove to guitar when she was a child, but she preferred the piano, being encouraged by her piano teacher grandfather.

Her mother, Anna, a former dancer and ballet instructor, is the manager of a ballet academy and enrolled Tove in dance classes at an early age. Tove Styrke began performing as a vocalist in a local jazz band in her high school years.

Tove Styrke modeled for various publications including Glamour and Cosmopolitan, before she was discovered by Anders Bagge during his tour for Swedish Idol 2009. On this competition, Styrke performed songs by Whitney Houston, The Killers, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, U2, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Katy Perry, Sandi Thom, Eurythmics, Russ Ballard, Ted Grdestad, Bobby Darin and The Sounds. She finished third, after Calle Kristiansson and the winner Erik Grnwall.

After Idol 2009, Styrke was signed by Sony Music label in December 2009. In June 2010, she released her first single, "Million Pieces", co-written by Adam Olenius from Shout Out Louds and by Lykke Li.

In 12 November 2010, she released her debut album, Tove Styrke. The album has been produced by Patrik Berger, Lotus & 2manyfreckles, Peter gren, Janne Kask and Paw. Most tracks have been written by Tove Styrke, Patrik Berger, Peter gren and Janne Kask. The album will be later released in March 2012 in Germany with two new songs: "Call My Name" and "Sticks and Stones".

The second single, "White Light Moment", charted at number 5 on the Swedish top singles chart and has been certified gold. "White Light Moment" has been nominated for "Best Song of the Year" at Grammisgalan 2012 (the Swedish Grammy Awards).

In January 2011, Styrke won the "Best Newcomer" award at P3 Guld. At ceremony, she performed a remixed version by Familijen of "Million Pieces". At the end of February 2011, Tove Styrke issued her first EP, High and Low, featuring six remixes of the title track. In April 2011, Styrke featured in an IKEA commercial, where she performed the Swedish lullaby "Byssan Lull".

On 19 August 2011, the single "Call My Name" was released on digital download. The song has peaked to number 28 on the Swedish Singles Chart. "Call My Name" has been nominated for "Best Song of the Year" at P3 Guld.Also in August 2011, the temporary band Kedjan that included Styrke and various Swedish artists, released in Sweden the charity single "Ringar p vattnet" ("Ripple Effect").

In September 2011, the Swedish band Caotico released the single "Brains Out", featuring Tove Styrke. She also appeared on "Brains Out" music video.

According to Allmusic, Styrke combined "the bubbling electronica of Robyn with the hipster synth pop of Annie and the hook-laden Euro-disco of September". The German Kulturspiegel, a monthly extra to Der Spiegel, called Styrke's music "nonchalant, catchy boom-pop" and compared it to Robyn and Lykke Li.