After "Dancing on My Own," Robyn was tired of the "sad" love songs and the "heartbroken, sad saint" she had used in her music so many times. When she started writing "Sexistential," she found herself there privately, but she didn’t intend to repeat herself musically.
"I was heartbroken. It was an existential period in my life when I was wondering how I was going to be a parent. Then it felt like I could take on that hero again, but with enthusiasm and of my own accord. I could place her where I wanted instead of feeling forced," says Robyn.
Feminist record
"Sexistential" is rich in contrasts. Minimalist productions meet strong emotions about being 45, having one-night stands, and, at the same time, being ten weeks pregnant after IVF. "Really real" describes how a relationship ends in the middle of a sex act. "Dopamine" explores the chemical reaction during a love affair.
"I never think about the audience. I write what feels exciting. If someone had told me a few years ago that I would make a feminist record about my body, IVF and sex, I would have just laughed. I would have thought it felt like a cliché or very difficult to do," says Robyn.
"A shock"
No one else has done it as far as I know.
"No, that's why I chose to name the album "Sexistential". It was a bit of a scary, embarrassing word that I knew would upset. It was a shock to me when I felt that if I wrote about what I'm experiencing now, it would still be provocative. I wasn't looking for something provocative to write about, I just had an idea about the music and these love songs," says Robyn.
According to her, "tantric" - a spiritual and sexual practice of Indian origin - is a word that describes the new album in many ways.
"For me, music is very sensual. The music I like most is quite repetitive - that's what I mean by 'tantric'. That something can be sensual and not effect-seeking."
Facts: Robyn
Name: Robin Miriam Carlsson.
Born: 1979 (46 years old), Stockholm.
Profession: Artist, producer, songwriter, DJ.
Family: Son Tyko.
Current: The album "Sexistential", her first full-length album in seven years, and an upcoming world tour. Includes three concerts at Avicii Arena on July 16, 17 and 18, 2026.
