Icona Pop

Considered one of the most anthemic musical duos around, the Swedish electropop pair known as Icona Pop have been influencing the charts and dance floors since 2009. Made up of Stockholm natives Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo, who met by chance at a party, Icona Pop aims to produce some of the world's finest dancepop and synthpop music. They first gained attention with the energetic track “Manners” from their 2011 EP Nights Like This, recognized by publications like NME and The Guardian.

In late spring 2012, Icona Pop released a pre-release single from their debut album Icona Pop and the EP Iconic: the eventual massive hit “I Love It,” featuring up-and-coming UK artist Charli XCX and producer Patrik Berger, known for working with Robyn. This maximalist, anthemic, and nihilistic track was featured in numerous major projects, including Girls, The Vampire Diaries, Glee, and various commercials. “I Love It” went on to reach Top 10 status on the Billboard charts and topped the UK Singles chart, selling over 4 million downloads globally. Although their debut album didn't fare well chart-wise, the rest of the album was equally significant in developing their signature synthpop sound. They also opened for Marina and the Diamonds during the North American leg of her tour promoting Electra Heart.

In 2013, the duo released “Girlfriend,” a feminist anthem that incorporated elements from a 2Pac track, previewing Icona Pop’s first international album, This Is…Icona Pop, following the 2012 releases of “I Love It” and “We Got The World.” Not long after, “All Night” topped the Billboard dance chart. This Is… solidified the Swedes' place in the dance scene, offering a collection of maximalist, genre-blending tracks with youthful, emotionally charged lyrics. In 2014, they released “Get Lost” and opened for Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry.

In 2015, Icona Pop released the dance chart hit “Emergency,” which was featured in the highly popular video game FIFA 16. This catchy track previewed an EP of the same name, and soon after, Icona Pop was announced as an opening act for the hugely popular One Direction tour in 2015. In March 2016, they introduced their track “Someone Who Can Dance” at the Swedish Grammys, receiving notable critical attention. Later that year, in October, they released “Brightside,” an anthem celebrating their friendship. In June 2017, they dropped “GIRLS GIRLS,” and in October 2018, the duo returned with the disco track “Rhythm in My Blood.” It's evident that Icona Pop has the potential to reshape the realm of musical maximalism and synthpop if given the right opportunities – who knows what kind of anthem they’ll create next?