
Although the Robyn and Röyksopp is still relatively new (and as such still fairly limited in terms of material,) it was pretty evident on Monday night that they know how to play to their crowd. Packing in fans to Toronto’s Echo Beach – a venue Robyn actually opened three years ago – the Swedish pop star and the Norwegian electronic duo proved their capabilities as performers: both holding court individually and as a combination.
Of course if you were looking to start your night weird there was ample chance for that with Sweden’s self-described “futuristic cosmic pop” artist Zhala opening. Her solo performance made use of a laptop and fog machine, also sharing stage space with a plant. Exaggerated hand gestures and quirky dance moves made up much of her – one that was profoundly confusing to photograph but inherently interesting to watch (specifically: to watch from a safe distance of her spray bottles that seemed to be full of some sort of oil.)
A soaring voice and danceable beats warmed things up for the crowd, especially given the proximity of Zhala’s music to Robyn’s. While slightly less pop than her Swedish contemporary (think more industrialized Grimes, with elements of Röyksopp or Freezepop for good measure,) it was absolutely complimentary to what was to come.
Röyksopp took to the stage as dusk began to settle, emerging to thundering electronics that brought the hoards of well-dressed 20-somethings from the bars to the beach, the stage awash in lights and fog. The duo – both wearing fluorescent yellow hoodies – were backed by a supporting seven-piece band and were quick to turn the outdoor venue into an electronic paradise, picking up wherever Digital Dreams may have left off with an impressive laser show and a wall of thumps, beats, and bass.
Second song “Happy Up Here” (from 2009’s Junior) was carnivalesque and particularly fitting given the proximity of the venue to Toronto’s CNE. It wasn’t simply an instrumental affair either, with Svein Berge stepping away from the electronics to the front of the stage for the Pet Shop Boys inspired “Remind Me”, a song off the band’s 2001 debut.
The excitement escalated even further as Röyksopp finished up their seven-song set, leaving the stage for Robyn – an artist who’s certainly seen a huge resurgence in her career over the past few years. Opening with 2005’s “Be Mine!” (from her 2005 self-titled fourth album,) the general sentiment of the crowd was pretty clear: Queen Robyn is here.
The pint-sized Swedish star brought a big sound and a fun show – dancing around and shaking her assets, much to the crowd’s delight as she introduced the rap-like, almost Iggy Azalea type “Love Is Free”. There’s something to be said for her pop as well: it’s obviously a lot of fun, but also quite intelligent – a fine line very few contemporary artists are able to navigate. Backed by heavy electronics and percussion, it was hits like “Call Your Girlfriend” and “Dancing on My Own” (both from 2010’s Body Talk) that had everyone in the crowd singing back every word.
But just when you thought the night had reached its climax, things got even weirder with Robyn and Röyksopp finally coming together for their set-closing six-song finish.
Taking on some of the dramatics, Robyn thrashed around on a riser (reminding me very much of Janelle Monae in the process) while Röyksopp and the backing band donned sparkly, disco ball hoods. Playing almost the entirety of their five-song collaborative EP Do It Again (only “Inside the Idle Hour Club” was left off) was like an explosion: a theatrical mish-mashing of club anthem electronics and pop – complete with confetti.
While the encore of Robyn’s 2010 collaboration with Röyksopp, “None of Dem”, was a bit of an underwhelming closer, it was an all-round flashy show for a happy-to-be-there crowd, with both Robyn and Röyksopp capable of holding their own on stage. Put together? Dance floors (or in this case beaches) shook. Everyone should be eternally grateful that the Nordic musicians thought this match-up was a good idea. It was.